The ENGS 44 (Sustainable Design) and ENVS 80 (Regenerative Design) classes came up with a cost effective plan for Dartmouth to achieve carbon neutrality though building efficiency, behavior modification, and waste heat capture. This plan needs to be put in place before a new heating plant is built and while the new hot water system is being installed in buildings to include installing super insulation with already scheduled renovations. If that was done, beyond the planned geothermal wells the students calculated that another heating system would not be needed and the existing heating plant could be used (even with biofuel) until deep energy retrofits are complete.
ENGS 44 calculated a 12.5 year payback for super insulating the campus buildings (reducing the heating load 74%) and behavior modification (with an energy dashboard) as well as waste heat capture (from sewage, the hockey rink, and data centers). Then the current planned 295 geothermal wells and low temperature hot water delivery system could heat the entire campus (instead of 1/3), without building a new heating plant.
With this plan the entire campus could be run on clean solar energy locally by a solar power purchase agreement at almost no cost, or Dartmouth’s own solar or wind farm (the 2nd College Grant is a good wind site and there is a big new wind farm nearby that the Green Mountain Power uses).
For this plan to work the buildings need to be super insulated as they are renovated (R-60 roof, R-40 walls, triple glazing and R-20 basements, minimum) and this needs to be a new college-wide policy. All new buildings need to be super insulated and zero net energy, as well. Ideally insulation retrofits would be done as the steam system is replaced as that requires renovations already scheduled. Historic brick buildings can be super insulated with care as Building Science Corp. discussed with ENGS 44 with a case study of Dartmouth Hall which could have infinite insulation without ruining the brick if their design requirements followed.
The students in these classes and I believe this is a much better investment than a heating plant with endless bills, and no specific way to achieve carbon neutrality. This is a realizable and cost effective plan which would be a prudent financially long term. Investing in building efficiency, instead of building a new heating plant now is the wisest, most cost effective and visionary solution for Dartmouth to be a leader in sustainability.