We’re putting our plan to be net carbon neutral by 2040 into action.

Reducing Emissions through Efficiency

A prime example of thoughtful design for sustainability is the Center for Computing & Data Sciences, now under construction. The center will be Boston’s largest fossil fuel–free, carbon-neutral building. Energy efficiency begins with the building enclosure. The new center is designed with external sun shading to keep the sun’s heat out in summer and—thanks to windows with three layers of glass—to keep heat in, in winter. Maximizing the energy efficiency of systems used for heating and cooling the building is also crucial, and will be achieved with an enhanced HVAC system using water, rather than air, to circulate and moderate ambient temperature.

The new center is not the only construction project on campus with an eye toward sustainability. The Climate Action Plan calls for pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold certification for new construction, and to date, the University has over 1.1 million square feet of LEED-certified space, of which 89% has achieved Gold certification. In 2021, three projects achieved LEED Gold status: The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, the Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, and the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground.

Shifting to Clean Energy

The Climate Action Plan recommends electrification of the energy source used for heating buildings, then sourcing that energy from renewables. Here, also, the CCDS illustrates BU’s progress: the center uses the capacity of the Earth to store thermal energy from the building and eliminate the need for fossil fuels. The center’s electricity consumption will be matched with carbon-free electricity generated from BU Wind for its needs.

Sourcing Renewable Energy

Beginning December 1, 2020, with the completion of BU Wind, the University reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 53% through a power purchase agreement (PPA) designed to match 100% of the University’s electricity consumption of 205,000,000 kWh/year. This wind farm is located in South Dakota, where it will have more of an impact on global greenhouse gas reductions than if a similar project was located in New England — as much as two to three times more. Greenhouse gases mix globally, so as far as emissions are concerned, it does not matter where we achieve our emissions reductions. For this reason, the University chose to find a project that displaces the most carbon-intense emissions from electricity generation possible.

Due to the high reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation in South Dakota, this new wind-generated electricity reduces the amount of time coal-fired power plants are in operation. BU worked with environmental tech nonprofit WattTime to help identify a project with maximum avoided-emissions impact. The ongoing partnership will continue oversight and documentation of avoided-emissions impact.

According to the US EPA, Boston University has the largest single active PPA of any of the 126 colleges and universities in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, a consortium of organizations that voluntarily commit to clean power.

Transitioning to Electric Vehicles

In November 2021, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recognized BU as a participant in its Recharge Massachusetts campaign, in support of the transition to zero-emission vehicles for operations, employees, and communities. MassDEP’s workplace charging incentive program has played a crucial role in our continued expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities, with BU Parking & Transportation Services adding more commuter charging stations.  

The University has begun the transition to an electric fleet, purchasing one EV for the Campus Planning & Operations group in summer 2021. As other University-owned vehicles are replaced, electric models will be prioritized. A network of fleet charging stations is in the planning stages. 

Watch BU at the Third Annual MassEVolves (now Recharge Massachusetts) Recognition Ceremony.