Energy
Mission Statement
- Energy is a topic of hot debate in the environmental demographic. Our current system relies on largely non renewable sources of energy; a system that will not last us forever. In addition, the processes of acquiring useable energy are notoriously degenerative to both natural and human environments. Energy keeps our society moving, our homes heated and our lives productive. This section measures Marlboro's stewardship to this precious resource. We will look at the College's utilization of renewable energy and the care taken to use energy most effectively.
Electricity
Efficiency
- Marlboro College is in a state of efficiency transition. Many of the lights have been replaced with more efficient fluorescents with fixtures that allow them to work most effectively. Many of the lights on campus also have motion sensors with timers that turn off after a set time.
Consumption
- At the bottom of the page are two downloadable spread sheets. The file labeled 'Marlboro Electric_Current.xls' is a complete collection of electrical use for every building on campus documented every month over the course of several years. December of 2010 could not be included.
- The file labeled '2008-2010_monthly_electricity_consumption.xls is a line graph that shows three overlapping lines that illustrate the trends in energy use over the course of a calendar year. The line for 2010 appears to have smother jumps and dips than other years, possibly the result of increased efforts towards better energy efficiency.
Sources
- Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power (35%), Hydro Quebec Hydroelectric (28.6), Other Purchase (20.4%), Instate Hydro (9.2%), McNeil Generator (4.9%), New York Power Authority (1.2%), Instate Thermal (.6%).
- Vermont has the most carbon-neutral electricity per kW in the country, at .06 pounds of CO2 emission per kW
Natural Gas
Consumption
I couldn't get a graph made for natural gas for some reason. I think that the formatting wasn't working. The complete campus spread sheet is at the bottom of the page labeled 'Marlboro_Propane_Current.xls'
Oil
Consumption
The downloadable file labeled '2010-2005_monthly_electricity_consumption.xls' contains two graphs demonstrating the monthly fluctuations of oil use, as well as the progression of the annual use of oil. The results for 2010 are off because December reads as zero gallons used. In another month that information could be fixed. The bar graph for annual oil consumption doesn't decline over time, rather fluctuates. This shows that over ten years Marlboro's oil use hasn't gotten any more efficient.
Initiatives
Energy Efficiency
- Fulfill the recommendations of an in depth energy audit by Thermal House in Mather, the Library, and Howland.
- Talk of spending extra money from Mather, the Library and Howland on the dorms.
- Plans to replace outdated boilers with new, smaller ones.
- Dining Hall and Dalrymple buildings fitted with new cellulose insulation.
Renewable Production
- The EAC (Environmental Advisory Committee) is currently discussing the possibility of photovoltaics on the south-facing library roof.
- Also talk of solar hot water heaters on Howland.
- Discussion to fit the Dining Hall and Mather buildings with Photovoltaics.
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