MIT Energy Initiative
MIT Energy Initiative
Campus Energy
The Campus Energy Program extends the impacts of MITEI research and education by developing and demonstrating sustainable energy practices on campus.
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Not only does this help to foster a more sustainable campus and local environment, but it can also help to inform and enhance the innovative energy education and research that MITEI seeks to develop. The goal is to lead and educate by example by increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, utilizing renewable energy, and reducing energy costs on campus. The Campus Energy Program has built awareness and allowed many more people across campus to engage with, learn from, and enrich the MIT Energy Initiative in different capacities
The Campus Energy Program has three goals:
- Reduce MIT’s energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions economically.
- Enhance student energy education and learning by using our campus operations as a living laboratory for discovery and innovation.
- Serve as a model of intelligent, effective action to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions-- a model that can be used by others in the United States and worldwide.
The Campus Energy Program is guided by these principles:
- Comprehensive - Utilities, transportation, computing, sustainable design, education; including both engineered and behavioral solutions.
- Inclusive - Students, staff, faculty; focus on multidisciplinary and collaborative problem-solving.
- Disciplined - Sound ROI, portfolio approach; focus on modeling best practices for global impact.
A comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory (pdf) was first completed for MIT in 2003 and helped inform and focus Campus Energy efforts. Specifically, MIT is taking action to address campus energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by:
- Making a commitment to reduce GHG emissions.
- Opening our campus as a living laboratory for students, faculty, and staff.
- Investing in energy conservation.
- Increasing energy efficiency in campus energy production and use.
- Applying advanced energy technologies and management approaches.
- Embracing sustainable design in building and campus development.
- Creating campus-focused energy research and education opportunities.
- Applying innovative and entrepreneurial financial strategies to enhance campus energy performance.
In January 2010, President Hockfield deepened MIT’s commitment to transforming the global energy system and advancing sustainability by joining 25 of her national and international counterparts in signing the World Economic Forum’s Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) Sustainable Campus Charter. The charter commits MIT to embrace a series of sustainable development principles that guide campus operations towards a more energy-efficient and sustainable future. This commitment will be a guiding feature in many aspects of our campus development, and we look forward to engaging the broad MIT community in shaping our progress.
