Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.13
Liaison Brandon Trelstad
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

Oregon State University
IN-4: Innovation 4

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Brandon Trelstad
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability Office
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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

OSU Energy Center

OSU's 1920s era heat plant provided steam to most campus buildings until 2009 when the new OSU Energy Center went online, producing steam and electricity to efficiently heat and power OSU's main campus. This co-generating, or combined heat and power (CHP), technology greatly increases efficiencies by utilizing waste heat from the electrical generation process. This "waste" heat it utilized to heat campus buildings. Additionally, the close proximity of the electricity generating source to electrical loads on campus means transmission line losses are greatly reduced, improving overall efficiency of the electrical grid and postponing the electric utility company's need for increased capacity.

Energy Center systems are configured for future use of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and methane. CHP facilities are an emerging technology because of high efficiency and enhanced reliability. This facility will reduce OSU's emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon
monoxide (CO), and greenhouse gases. Additional benefits of this project include:
• Reduced air emissions, including an estimated 38% reduction in greenhouse gases
relative to the old heat plant
• Reduced water consumption through rainwater capture and by modernizing systems
• Lower transmission losses by generating about 50% of OSU's annual electrical demand
on site
• Partial power to campus in the event of a power grid outage

The Energy Center was designed to LEED green building standards, and in January 2011 received a Platinum rating from US Green Building Council. It is the only facility of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, and the only Platinum operations building within the Oregon University System.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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