Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.76
Liaison Krista Bailey
Submission Date July 29, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

Pennsylvania State University
OP-8: Clean and Renewable Energy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.18 / 7.00 Shelley McKeague
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Engineering Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Option 1: Total clean and renewable electricity generated on site during the performance year and for which the institution retains or has retired the associated environmental attributes :
48 MMBtu

Option 2: Non-electric renewable energy generated:
0 MMBtu

Option 3: Total clean and renewable electricity generated by off-site projects that the institution catalyzed and for which the institution retains or has retired the associated environmental attributes :
0 MMBtu

Option 4: Total RECs and other similar renewable energy products that the institution purchased during the performance year that are Green-e certified or meet the Green-e standard's technical requirements and are third party verified:
285,243 MMBtu

Option 5: Total electricity generated with co-generation technology using non-renewable fuel sources :
39,639 MMBtu

Total energy consumed during the performance year :
3,076,995 MMBtu

A brief description of on-site renewable electricity generating devices :

Penn State has three different solar arrays on campus:
The first is a 2 KW array that was installed in 2001. This array is thin film panels with a grid-tied inverter and is fixed roof mounted on our Physical Plant Building.
The second system is a 1.75 KW pole mounted array and uses passive tracking. It is installed on our Center for Sustainability greenhouse and is mono-crystalline silicon panels with a grid-tied inverter.
The third system is an 8 KW array which is roof mounted onto our MorningStar home, which was PSU's 2007 entry into the Solar Decathlon. This array is mono-crystalline silicon panels with a grid-tied inverter.


A brief description of on-site renewable non-electric energy devices:

not applicable


A brief description of off-site, institution-catalyzed, renewable electricity generating devices:

not applicable


A brief description of RECs or other similar renewable energy products purchased during the previous year:

Penn State's Renewable Energy Portfolio currently consists of the following:

* Pennsylvania Based Wind Energy - 17,600 MWH
* National Based Wind Energy - 16,500 MWH
* National Based Biomass - 16,500 MWH
* National Based LIHI Hydro - 33,000 MWH
* Total Purchase - 83,600 MWH


A brief description of co-generation technologies deployed:

The main function of the plant is to furnish steam to the campus for heating, cooling, and processing. Steam supply to the campus is at 13.0 and 150 to 190 psi. (Processing includes such uses as energy for cooking, experimental work, and laundry.)

Generation of electricity is a cogeneration feature of the plant. The amount of generated electricity is proportional to the demand for the 13.0 psig low-pressure steam, or approximately 6% of the campus electrical demand in one year.

http://www.opp.psu.edu/about-opp/divisions/ee/util/steam-services


The website URL where information about the institution's renewable energy sources is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.