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The University of Notre Dame is committed to becoming a carbon neutral campus by 2050 and a reduction of at least 65% of carbon dioxide from 2005 levels over the next nine years, announced today the president of the university, the Reverend John I. Jenkins, CSC, during the opening remarks at the first main event of Notre Dame Forum this year, which has the theme “Caring for our common home : a just transition to a sustainable future ”.
“Thanks to the conscientious work of Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan and many others, I am pleased to announce that Notre-Dame is committed to achieving a carbon neutral goal by 2050 – in less than 30 years. “said Father Jenkins. “Using more large-scale geothermal solar panels, hydroelectricity, recovered energy, conservation and other emerging technologies and fuel sources will hopefully allow us to achieve a 65% reduction. of CO2 by 2030 and zero net carbon neutral emissions 20 years later. .
“Since 2008, the need for additional space at the University, especially in the area of research, has increased the square footage of our buildings by a third, requiring more heating, lighting and air conditioning. Despite the increase in space, energy consumption fell by 11%. I thank the dedicated and imaginative people responsible for these remarkable accomplishments.
Father Jenkins made the announcement during a fireside chat this afternoon in Washington Hall with NBC News chief environmental affairs correspondent and Notre Dame former and administrator Anne Thompson and U.S. Senator Chris Coons, co-chair of the bipartisan Senate committee on climate solutions. Their conversation focused on the theme “Call to Action: Crossing the Political Divide to Address Climate Challenges”.
Achieving the energy goals set out by Father Jenkins will require a multi-faceted approach, likely including:
- Develop the use of geothermal wells on campus.
- Addition of various photovoltaic solar projects.
- Use of green fuels in existing or new boilers.
- Battery storage technology assessment.
- Improve energy efficiency.
- Capitalize on emerging technologies.
Spurred on by Pope Francis ‘2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, Father Jenkins announced this fall that the University would stop using coal by the end of 2020. This goal has been met more than ‘one year in advance when the last piece of coal was used up on October 14, 2019.
Starting with a baseline year in 2005, the University has already surpassed its 2010 target of achieving a 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions per gross square foot by 2030. Major projects have included:
- Two new combined cycle combustion gas turbines powered by natural gas with heat recovery steam generators.
- Three geothermal well fields located under the East Quad, the Ricci Fields and the parking lot south of Notre Dame Stadium, which provide hot water for the Walsh Family Hall of Architecture, Ricci Band Rehearsal Hall, Pasquerilla Center, the future Raclin Murphy Art Museum, and Dunne, Flaherty, Johnson and McCourtney Halls. New geothermal systems at the plant east and south of Notre Dame Stadium also provide chilled water which is routed to the campus-wide chilled water distribution system.
- Solar energy panels at Fitzpatrick Hall, Stinson-Remick Hall and the Kenmore warehouse in South Bend reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 680,000 pounds per year, the equivalent of removing more than 240 automobiles from the road, thus reducing more than 2.5 million kilometers traveled or planted. over 1331 acres of trees.
- A 2.5 megawatt hydroelectric power station located at Seitz Park on the St. Joseph River in downtown South Bend will soon supply about 7% of the University’s electrical needs starting next year and will offset nearly 9 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
- Through a partnership with Indiana Michigan Power, Notre Dame is now receiving carbon offsets from the output of the 20 megawatt St. Joseph solar farm in eastern St. Joseph County.
A strong set of conservation measures on campus include:
- Install energy efficient lighting.
- Establishment of temperature set points.
- Tightening of building operating hours.
- Optimization of lighting and HVAC controls.
- Use of low flow water devices.
- Installation of a computerized irrigation system.
- Application of energy analysis.
- Application of variable frequency drives on pumps and fans.
- Installation of the largest collection of green roofs in the state.
- Drastically reduce food waste through strong donations of edible food to local agencies and by capturing non-edible food waste to convert it into energy through anaerobic digestion.
- Construction of 21 LEED-certified buildings representing 23% of the campus area.
The decarbonisation plan was led by Paul Kempf, assistant vice president for utilities and maintenance, and his team.
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