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Northern Kentucky University
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  1. Inside NKU
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Energy

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ENERGY

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Central Plant with metal roof and concrete walls

Central Plant:

The central plant on campus supplies buildings with climate control through its boiler and chiller plants. The facility houses primary and secondary water pumps and electrical switchgear, which allow it to seamlessly provide heating and cooling to all buildings on campus. 

 

The university recently made a committment to reduce consumption of electricity purchased from energy companies. One way of doing this is through exploring viable renewable energy options. Currently, our campus is home to solar and geothermal energy that is harnessed and used in everyday operations! Find out more below:
The university recently made a committment to reduce consumption of electricity purchased from energy companies. One way of doing this is through exploring viable renewable energy options. Currently, our campus is home to solar and geothermal energy that is harnessed and used in everyday operations! Find out more below:
The university recently made a committment to reduce consumption of electricity purchased from energy companies. One way of doing this is through exploring viable renewable energy options. Currently, our campus is home to solar and geothermal energy that is harnessed and used in everyday operations! Find out more below:
The university recently made a committment to reduce consumption of electricity purchased from energy companies. One way of doing this is through exploring viable renewable energy options. Currently, our campus is home to solar and geothermal energy that is harnessed and used in everyday operations! Find out more below:

RENEWABLE ENERGY 

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Solar


(Solar cross walk sign)

Solar:

Solar panels can be found scattered throughout campus. The largest array sits atop what is known as the old Honors House and is a 4.16 KW system. There are also solar panels on many crosswalk signs across campus. NKU plans to invest in more solar as finances allow.

Geothermal (Campus Recreation Center)

Geothermal:

In 2015, NKU opened the newly renovated and expanded Campus Recreation Center. The building, totaling over 169,000 square feet, achieved a LEED Gold building certification upon completion. The sustainable features of the building include native landscaping plants, abundant natural lighting, and 80 geothermal wells. 

The Campus Recreation Center geothermal wells extend 400 feet below the ground and taps into the renewable heat energy of the Earth's crust. This geothermal energy is used to help heat and cool the building. 

Actions You Can Take

At work:

  • Turn off the lights. When you leave the office for the day, or even for an hour or less, turn off your lights. This small act leads to huge savings over time. You can also consider using less lighting, such as a lamp with an LED bulb, or no lighting at all if your office is bright from natural light.
  • Unplug. Does your office have a coffee maker or other appliance that sits for long periods of time without use? Unplug it! Many appliances use "vampire energy" when not in use to power a clock or a standby light. While this usage is low overall, it does add up when you multiple that by thousands of appliances on campus using vampire energy. Unplug unused appliances and help save.
  • Take the stairs. Elevators, especially older ones, use an enormous amount of energy. Consider taking the stairs whenever possible. It's better for the environment and for your health!
  • Sleep mode. Set your monitors and computer to go into sleep mode more quickly. This will reduce the amount of energy they consume when they are not in use. Best overall, turn off your monitors when you leave for lunch and at the end of the day.

At home:

  • Same as work. Many of the same energy saving techniques for the office can be applied at home. Look around your house and see what appliances you can unplug. Turn off lights in unused rooms. Shut down your computer and turn off monitors at the end of the day.
  • One degree. Changing your thermostat setting can produce significant savings on your energy bill. Even altering it just one degree can save you up to 3%. Turn the heat down at night when you're sleeping or leaving the house for an extended time.
  • Change your bulbs. Changing out old light bulbs to LEDs can save up to 40% on energy usage for lighting. Don't wait for bulbs to fail; change them out now and start saving on energy costs.
  • Decorating. Spice up a room with coloful heavy curtains. They will help keep the cold out and the heat in. Make sure furniture is not blocking vents so your HVAC is not overworking to get air in and out.

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