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Decarbonizing Miami's Campus: Energy-Based Emissions

Decarbonizing Miami’s Campus: Energy-based Emissions

Strategy: Further reduce energy consumption, complete the transition of building heating and cooling systems off steam; electrify campus systems to reduce burning fossil-fuels on site; generate electricity from solar energy (zero-emissions energy) on-site; procure purchased electricity from renewable sources; and offset the remainder.

Miami University’s path to carbon neutrality began with our historic residence halls (Elliott and Stoddard) in 2010, when they were converted off steam heating to geothermal heating and cooling. Miami’s Utility Master Plan provided a roadmap for the transformation of nearly all the building heating and cooling systems off steam.

Since 2008: Miami has reduced its energy-based carbon emissions by 51.5% and by 62.5% per gross square foot (as of FY23).

By 2040, Miami will decarbonize our energy-based emissions as much as possible, and offset the remainder.

Decarbonizing campus

Western pond beauty

Approximately 300 geothermal wells are situated under Western Upper Pond (pictured above) and Lower Pond (a first-of-its kind use). Coils of piping, buried under the sand of Upper Pond, act as a heat exchanger and can provide the heat exchange of 30 geothermal wells.

north geothermal banner millet lawn

Construction fence banner for the North Geothermal Expansion project. Drilling for the first of 520 geothermal wells, 850 feet deep, began this summer (June 2024) under the front lawn of Millett Hall.

Goal 1

By 2040, achieve carbon neutrality for emissions associated with fuel combustion on campus, including electricity production and campus fleet (Scope 1). *Expand the Targets below to view the Actions

Target 1: Complete the transition of building climate control systems from energy-intensive steam to high-temperature heating hot water by 2030 and to low-temperature heating hot water and simultaneous heating and cooling by 2040

Target 1: Complete the transition of building climate control systems from energy-intensive steam to high-temperature heating hot water by 2030 and to low-temperature heating hot water and simultaneous heating and cooling by 2040.

  • Action: Miami’s utility master plan, implemented in 2012, takes an eight-phase approach to convert buildings to more efficient heating and cooling systems. Many of these buildings will utilize geothermal exchange to enhance efficiency further and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By 2030 Miami’s steam plant will be converted to Heating Hot Water. For a summary of the utility master plan, contact the office of sustainability at Sustainability@MiamiOH.edu.

Target 2: Increase building energy efficiency by 45% by 2030 from the 2008 historical baseline.

Increase building energy efficiency by 45% by 2030 from the 2008 historical baseline.

  • Action: Require that all major campus renovations reduce energy consumption (kBtu - kilo British thermal units) per gross square foot (gsf) by 20% from the site-specific pre-renovation baseline.
  • Action: Continue to meet or exceed annual energy performance goals set by Miami’s Director of Energy Systems (“continuous improvement” kBtu per gross square foot reductions).

Target 3: Electrify campus equipment and appliances to reduce fossil fuels burned on-site as much as possible.

Target 3: Electrify campus equipment and appliances to reduce fossil fuels burned on-site as much as possible.

  • Action: Electrify all domestic water boilers in residence halls by 2030.
  • Action: Electrify clothes dryers in all residence halls as rental contracts are renewed or machines are replaced by 2030.
  • Action: Accommodate steam-based laboratory equipment such as autoclaves and cage washers and kitchen equipment such as dishwashers when the steam plant is retrofitted for heating hot water (HHW) utilizing building-level electric steam boilers by 2030.

Target 4: Reduce emissions from electricity produced on-site. Action: Investigate alternative fuel sources such as biogas to reduce the carbon intensity of electricity produced on-site.

Target 4: Reduce emissions from electricity produced on-site.

  • Action: Investigate alternative fuel sources such as biogas to reduce the carbon intensity of electricity produced on-site.

Target 5: Electrify the campus fleet and utility vehicles where possible.

Target 5: Electrify the campus fleet and utility vehicles where possible.

  • Action: Electrify lightweight vehicles when cost-effective or by 2040. 
  • Action: Electrify heavy-duty vehicles, off-road vehicles, grounds equipment, and other fossil fuel-powered machinery where and when possible.

Target 6: Offset unavoidable emissions from scope 1 sources beginning in 2040.

Target 6: Offset unavoidable emissions from scope 1 sources beginning in 2040.

Goal 2

Goal 2: Achieve carbon neutrality for GHG emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2)

Target 1: Produce zero-emission electricity on-site

Target 1: Produce zero-emission electricity on-site.

  • Action: Implement On-site Solar. The Oxford campus base load capacity is 7 megawatts. Exceeding this threshold would require a net metering agreement with the utility provider (Duke Energy) or on-site battery storage. Several sites on campus have been assessed for potential solar infrastructure installation.
  • Action: Procure purchased electricity from renewable resources.

Target 2: Explore the feasibility of renewable energy credits (RECs) from off-site clean energy.

Target 2: Explore the feasibility of renewable energy credits (RECs) from off-site clean energy.

  • Action: The base load at the Miami Regionals Hamilton campus is 200 kW. Representatives from the City of Hamilton have met with Miami energy systems staff to discuss the potential for net metering which would allow for excess production of electricity. This is not currently feasible but will be continuously reassessed. **Emissions from Miami’s regional campuses are not included in the Oxford carbon footprint, but initiatives on these properties can count as internally produced renewable energy credits (RECs) or carbon credits.
  • Action: Contract with a developer to build a solar array on-site or at an off-site location, and purchase the power and associated RECs.

Target 3: Offset unavoidable emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) sources beginning in 2040

Action: Establish a university-wide policy for Purchasing of Carbon Offsets by 2035.