Facilities management operations is deeply involved in many projects that help promote sustainability on campus. Projects like the biodiesel program, composting facility and the EV charging station are all developments that have been quickly integrated into the university's operations.
Clemson University has set a 2030 goal of being net-zero. This initiative will require multiple large scale sustainabiilty projects. One of the main ways Clemson will reach its Net-Zero goal is by purchasing wind turbines. Clemson has already invested huge sums toward this project including a $98 million wind-turbine testing facility funded equally by Clemson and the US Department of Energy. As the wind industry continues to increase reliability and efficiency, the goal of the testing facility is to provide high quality testing services to wind turbine industry for up to 15 MW turbines, drivetrains or gear boxes and establish long term partnerships with industry for work force development, research and education.
The recent Lee Hall addition is a candidate to become net-zero. Utilizing geothermal energy for its energy production, Lee Hall currently uses only 1/4th of the energy of other similar buildings. The geothermal pipes cool and heat the building by pumping water underneath concrete slabs, which then radiate it into the area. Natural sunlight is also used to minimize energy usage.
Through the left-hand navigation, you can learn more about the current sustainability projects at Clemson.
One current project is replacing lights with LEDs from Mell Hall to the Reflection Pond. Over 150 lights will be replaced with LED lamps that will achieve a cost savings of $2800/yr and save around 65,000 lbs of CO2 emissions. This project will also help to increase visibility around campus.
Clemson Unversity is leading research in clean energy technologies and evaluating the feasibility of new technologies like hydrogen, wind and solar. Our research institutes provide critical information and studies to our facilities members. This information is used to maintain operational excellence and reach university sustainability goals. The Clemson University Restoration Institute and Clemson South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies (SCIES) are two of the main institutions that provide this information and are the main drivers toward expanding our realm of clean energy production and management. These institutes conduct many projects and studies over a wide range of energy focus areas. For more information on their on-going projects and studies please click on the pictures below.