UNH, Eversource unveil sustainable energy partnership

DURHAM — The University of New Hampshire and Eversource announced an energy-saving and cost-effective partnership on Wednesday that is not only the first of its kind in the state, but also a continued effort to address the larger issues of climate change and carbon dioxide emissions at a local level.

The three-year partnership with Eversource New Hampshire will assess several areas across campus that could use and produce less energy, cut carbon dioxide emissions and save the university money in the long run. The partnership is predicted to save UNH 3 to 4% of energy received from Eversource annually. UNH is the first institution of higher education to partner with Eversource in an effort to use energy sustainably.

Over three years that will equal nearly 1,170 tons of avoided CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by nearly 1,000 acres of forests.

Eversource N.H. President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Quinlan said, “UNH is leading the way and providing a model for other New Hampshire schools to follow.”

UNH is one of five colleges that has received the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System Platinum (STARS) rating through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The rating cites UNH as a leader in sustainability making many of its decisions around the idea of whether they are best sustainable practices. These include decisions like composting food from the dining halls, enforcing recycling, having the buses run on biomass fuel and sourcing food locally.

UNH’s recent decision to partner with Eversource demonstrates the idea of partnering with outside perspectives and disciplines to collaborate on solving sustainability challenges, which is number 17 of the university's Sustainable Development Goals.

“This is a regional, national and global problem that is being tackled right here at UNH,” said Tom Kelley, chief sustainability officer of the UNH Sustainability Institute.

One of the first of nearly 20 projects underway is installing SmartStack exhaust systems in labs within Parsons Hall. This technology was created by Measured Air Performance, a New Hampshire-based company. Experiments within the labs create chemical air waste and the idea of the SmartStack is to reduce how much energy the current fans and exhaust systems are using to safely filter out that air.

“We are excited to move the needle and make a big difference,” said Eric Desrochers, chief technology officer and founder of Measured Air Performance.

Students are primarily the ones who will be experiencing the energy-saving changes and Jackson Kaspari, a graduate student who uses the labs in Parsons, said decisions like partnering with Eversource to reduce energy usage are practical and effective. Kaspari said he represents the student voice.

“I think to achieve a more sustainable world, we’re going to need to partner higher education with businesses,” he said.

According to Kelley, Kaspari, Quinlan and many others present at an event Wednesday, there’s a common misconception that academia is set apart from society. This partnership represents that sustainable change can happen when the public and private sectors work together, they stated.

“Sustainability is a core value and strategic priority for UNH and energy efficiency continues to be an essential part of that commitment,” UNH President James W. Dean Jr. said in a statement. “As we continue to grow, add new buildings, or renovate existing facilities to accommodate campus life, our partnership with Eversource will help our overall energy efficiency and sustainability mission."

UNH and Eversource already have nearly 20 energy efficiency projects underway or completed, including:

Whittemore Center: new dehumidification, reviewing options and equipment for ice-making systems;

Gregg Hall: New magnetic bearing chiller equipment with smart pumping controls for research air systems;

Spaulding Life Sciences Center: Significant renovation and new addition incorporating energy-efficient technology and building practices;

Tirell Stables: Lighting retrofit that reduced building energy usage by 50% with a payback of less than six months;

Memorial Union Building: New LED lighting upgrades and installation of variable-frequency drives to regulate air handlers, exhaust heat, and cut energy use;

Dimond Library: New LED lighting upgrades;

Field House: New LED lighting and upgrades to HVAC and variable-frequency drives;

Classroom and residence hall improvements: New lighting, HVAC, variable-frequency drives and other future upgrades at Adams Tower, Elliott, Gregg, Horton, Huddleston, Kendall, and Nesmith halls.