Renewable Energy and Alternative Fuels
Renewable Energy Technologies
Yale has launched a series of demonstration sites across campus to test a variety of emerging technologies. At each site Yale is assessing the technology’s performance capabilities, ease of campus integration, short-and long-term costs (based on the technology’s carbon reduction per capital dollar invested), and opportunities for student and public education. The information gathered will allow us to make informed technology selections that best fit the long-term needs of the University while also mitigating its greenhouse gas emissions.
A 250kW Fuel Cell at the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center was installed in 2003. It produces 40-50% of the electricity for the Science Center, which is equal to 1, 413,000kilowatt hours a year. This equivalent to powering approximately 168 homes a year.
All Yale Shuttles began running on a blend of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) and B20 biodiesel in 2006. This transition to a cleaner fuel has resulted in a decrease in sulfur content from 500 parts per million (ppm) to 50 ppm and reduced Yale’s transportation based petroleum consumption by 20% or 20,000 gallons.
Solar photovoltaic panels are installed on both the Divinity School's Fisher Hall and the School of Forestry & Environmental Study's Kroon Hall. A thin-film solar system was also installed on the Yale College Swing dorm.
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Microwind turbines were installed on Becton Engineering and Applied Science Center in the spring of 2009. The turbines are expected to generate 26 megawatt hours of electricity annually, reducing Yale’s carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 pounds.
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