The Mount Wachusett Community College in Central Massachusetts has evolved significantly and has paved the way for other colleges to emulate and follow its model of energy consumption.
Creative Commons/Harvey McDaniels
In the 1970’s, the school became an all electric model to get rid of its dependence on foreign oil.
A somewhat similar scenario led the school to turn to renewable energy to avoid the rising electricity bills. Installing the biomass heating system was its first tentative step towards renewable energy. Next came, the installation of solar panels with a capacity to produce 100 kilowatts of energy. However, the crowning touch was when the school installed two wind turbines this year in spring. The turbines will be able to generate about 97 percent of energy required by the school for consumption.
Apparently, the school was not at all hesitant to install the wind turbines. The strategic position of the school gains the school a lot of wind. So, the decision to turn towards wind energy was logical and natural.
The two windmills together have a capacity to produce 3.3 megawatts of energy. They have already helped the school cut down its dependence of electricity from 9 million kilowatts per year to 5 million kilowatt a year. If this positive trend continues the school could achieve its target of 4 million kilowatts per year. This would mean that the school is generating more energy than is required for its consumption.
The school campus is a role model that is fast accelerating towards a zero carbon imprint and zero net energy. A reason more to accolade the school measures is that it is not purchasing this energy from another source but is producing it itself.
It was possible for the school to take such green measures due to the financial backing from a grant of $3.2 million by the Department of Energy, a low interest bond of $2.1 million from Clean Renewal Energy Bond and a bond from Massachusetts of $3.7 million.
The American College and University President’s Climate Commitment is an organisation that aids schools to achieve a zero carbon imprint by turning towards renewable energy and effective management of energy. The Mount Wachusett Community College was at the forefront of this organisation as a charter signatory.
The school officials are boastful and rightly proud of their measures in effectively managing the energy consumption of the school.