Campus Planning & Energy Allocation: A Sustainable Campus

In 2022, US universities emitted almost three times more CO2 than one of the most populated US cities: New York City.

As universities strive to lead by example in the fight against climate change, the concepts of campus planning and energy allocation have emerged as critical components of a sustainable university strategy. Effective campus planning goes beyond mere expansion and development; it involves thoughtful design and resource management that prioritize environmental sustainability. Energy allocation, on the other hand, focuses on how a campus consumes and distributes energy, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and responsibly. Together, these strategies play a pivotal role in reducing carbon footprints, lowering operational costs, and creating a more sustainable future for both the institution and the planet.

Current State of CO2 Emissions in Universities

Universities are significant consumers of energy due to the scale and complexity of their operations. Campuses typically consist of a wide range of buildings, including classrooms, laboratories, dormitories, libraries, and recreational facilities, all of which require substantial amounts of energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and powering equipment.

The energy used to power these facilities largely comes from fossil fuels, which are major contributors to CO2 emissions. As universities strive to support thousands of students, faculty, and staff, their cumulative energy consumption leads to a significant carbon footprint and thousands of metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. Moreover, universities often host events, operate transportation systems, and manage dining facilities, all of which further increase their energy demands and environmental impact. This makes higher education institutions key areas for implementing sustainability measures to reduce their contribution to climate change.

Challenges of Campus Energy Management

Energy management on large campuses is a complex task due to the sheer scale and diversity of energy needs across various buildings and facilities. Our studies show that the average university between 20,000 - 50,000 students consumes a total of 343,086,415 kWh in utility bills. Furthermore, the average university with more than 50,000 students consumes a total of 366,512,182 kWh in utility bills.

Traditional energy management practices often rely on static schedules and historical data, which can lead to inefficiencies and waste. Realistically, they don't adapt well to real-time changes in energy demand. When campuses expand to accommodate larger student populations, challenges involving new buildings, increased technologies, and greater demand for heating, cooling, and electricity bills are amplified.

How can AI aid Energy Allocation?

AI-driven technologies are revolutionizing energy management on campuses by enabling smarter systems. AI can analyze vast amounts of data from sensors placed throughout campus facilities. This allows for real-time adjustments to energy use based on factors like occupancy, weather, and time of day. AI can predict when a building will be in high demand and automatically optimize heating, cooling, and lighting to match, reducing waste and lowering costs. If universities implement AI-driven technologies to distinguish building occupation, there can be a significant reduction in overall utility costs, subsequently contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions.

How much CO2 do universities actually emit?

To analyze universities’ CO2 emissions,  their average annual utility spendings (on heating, cooling, electricity, and others) were acquired and compared to their size (in terms of students, buildings, and acres). The total findings were divided into sets of four depending on different ranges of students. Using this data, the cost of electricity per kWh per university location, emission factors, and transmission & distribution losses were used to calculate total CO2 emissions in metric tonnes. The table below illustrates the distribution:

Take university X, with about 14,000 students. They spend approximately $22,900,000 on electricity, heating, and cooling. AIRIA forecasts being able to help University X save 10-40% on these utilities, which will cutback annual CO2 emissions. Now, take university Y, with about 52,000 students. They spend approximately $45,500,000 on electricity, heating, and cooling. AIRIA forecasts being able to help University X save 10-40% on these utilities, which will cutback annual CO2 emissions.

‍Even with a 10% reduction in utility costs, each university can save millions of dollars and thousands of tonnes in CO2 emissions. However, with a predicted 40% reduction, there is a significant cutback in money and emissions. For University Y, a 40% reduction approaches $18 million in savings, and 43,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved - that’s 49,500 flights from New York to Los Angeles.

AIRIA predicts being able to help universities save between 10-40% with real-time monitoring of energy usage and subsequent management. Let’s visualize an average reduction of 25% in utility costs and CO2 emissions with AI implementation.

Now, imagine if we save up to 40%!