Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant
In a significant step toward meeting its Climate Action Plan goals, Cornell brought its new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant on line. Before the CHP facility was built, 65,000 tons of coal were being burned each year to provide steam heat for approximately 150 of Cornell’s buildings. By switching fuel sources from coal to natural gas and producing heat and electricity together via the CHP facility, the university has reduced coal usage by 80%, associated carbon emissions by 28%; the facility provides about 85% of the electricity needed for campus. Cornell plans to eliminate coal as an energy source by mid-2011, reducing the university’s carbon footprint by 30%.
