Endicott College Awarded Grant to Explore Construction of Zero Net Energy Building
Endicott College has been awarded $24,500 by the state to study the feasibility of designing and building a zero net energy building (ZNEB) on its campus in Beverly, Mass.
Endicott College has been awarded $24,500 by the state to study the feasibility of designing and building a zero net energy building (ZNEB) on its campus in Beverly, Mass. The grant is one of 25 awarded by the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Maeve Bartlett, as part of the Pathways to Zero Grant Program.
ZNEBs are optimally efficient, consuming no more energy over the course of the year than they produce from on-site renewable sources such as solar, wind, biofuels and solar thermal collectors. The benefits include reduced operating expenses, healthier and more comfortable buildings, energy independence and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
"Endicott is working hard to decrease our own energy demand and this grant will help us to understand how to make that possible in future construction projects," said Sarah Hammond Creighton, Director of the Office of Sustainability at Endicott College. "With natural land all around us – forests, wetlands, oceans – it's important to maintain an environmental impact that's as low as possible. If we have the ability to make our next project a zero net energy building, that will be a huge step we can be proud of."
This study furthers the college's comprehensive energy efficiency work that has reduced electricity use by 7percent over business as usual. In addition, Endicott hosts a solar parking lot canopy that generates almost 10percent of the campus electricity.
Campus-wide initiatives in sustainability and efficiency have been a priority for the College for many years, and have not only helped reduce the resources used on campus but to also help educate students on the importance of governance and engagement. Endicott was recently identified by The Princeton Review as one of the country's 332 Green Colleges.
The Pathways to Zero is a new initiative launched by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to support the emerging zero net energy building market in Massachusetts, primarily through residential and commercial demonstration projects that are on the pathway to achieve or exceed a ZNEB goal.
Further reducing the use of fossil fuels and securing the Commonwealth's energy future, the Patrick Administration has made investments in renewable energy. In 2007, Massachusetts had just over three megawatts each of solar and wind capacity installed; today there are 664 megawatts of solar installed, with a goal of 1,600 megawatts by 2020. Endicott's solar array is one of those projects.