In October, the NIU Board of Trustees gave its approval for the university to proceed with plans to finance the $56 million initiative through the sale of certificates of participation (COPs), provided that the final financing terms would not increase the university’s deficit. Following successful financing, the contract is being finalized, according to an NIU Board of Trustees update today.

Campus upgrades will be funded through a combination of federal, state, utility, energy and operational savings.

By leveraging Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC), this approach will enable substantial progress toward improving facilities while reducing NIU’s carbon footprint, and it will result in overall budget savings for the university.

“By collaborating with Trane, the university can tap the expertise of this large company and develop a strategy for facility improvements which can be funded with the projected energy savings, without tapping into our existing capital budgets,” said John Heckmann, associate vice president of Facilities Management and Campus Services.

The campus-wide initiative supports NIU’s social, environmental and financial goals, delivering sustainable benefits to the community.

“In collaboration with Trane, we are excited and thrilled to be pursuing a greener future for Northern Illinois University, our community and our world,” NIU President Lisa C. Freeman said. “NIU already plays critical roles in education and research related to sustainability, but this effort demonstrates our commitment to modeling sustainable behavior and environmental stewardship.”

In 2023 the university developed a comprehensive Sustainability and Climate Action Plan that called for NIU to “chart an ambitious path forward to become an innovator and leader in sustainability.” The collaboration is a major step in that direction. The annual impact of the new campus improvements on greenhouse gas emissions will be equivalent to removing 6,552 cars from the road or planting 455,169 trees, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Work on the comprehensive energy-savings program will be conducted over the next two years and includes several key components: LED lighting, water conservation measures, building weatherization improvements, Solar Photovoltaic installations at multiple locations, EV charging stations, Thermal Energy Storage for cooling, high-efficiency heating and cooling system upgrades, and HVAC building controls.

“This effort is an exciting and important step toward reducing NIU’s carbon footprint and enhancing energy efficiency,” NIU Director of Campus Sustainability Courtney Gallaher said. “As a result of these improvements, NIU is projected to achieve over a 26% reduction in energy consumption and an 11% reduction in carbon emissions. This will demonstrate measurable progress toward our fiscal year 2030 goal of reducing our total carbon emissions by 50%, further solidifying our commitment to sustainability leadership.

“The effort also sets the stage for us to use our campus as a living laboratory to leverage these projects for student engagement, research and community outreach.”

The impact of the energy-saving and carbon-emissions-reduction program will be campuswide, with about 50 buildings receiving energy, water and/or lighting-efficiency upgrades and improvements to building automation systems, such as control over temperature regulation.

Solar panels with a total capacity of 3.2 MW will be installed on the rooftops of DuSable Hall, the Stevens Building and the Chessick Practice Center, as well as over the Visitor Parking lot and on the ground near the Convocation Center. Additionally, three dual-port EV charging stations will be placed under the solar carport in the visitor lot, and thermal ice storage tanks will be installed outside the East Chiller Plant, Convocation Center and Barsema Hall.

“NIU’s commitment to both sustainability and the comfort of students and staff created a strong foundation for this extensive sustainability program,” said Jon Dunlap, Upper Midwest Area Director of Energy Services, Commercial HVAC Americas. “We are proud to collaborate and help them achieve their energy efficiency goals. These improvements will help reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions and create more resilient and sustainable learning spaces for students and more comfortable working environments for staff.”

In addition to on-campus sustainability goals, the program will incorporate significant social impact elements. These include green workforce development through student capstone projects, internships and employment opportunities. The program also emphasizes community engagement and uplift around sustainability, energy career paths and STEM education.

According to niutoday.info