Theme: Energy Efficiency & Conservation

These projects focus on reducing energy usage, providing novel solutions to campus energy usage, or otherwise help us to move to cleaner power sources. 

Solar Thermal Heating Systems in the Berkeley Student Cooperative

Project Description

The BSC intends to install solar thermal heating systems in its African-American Theme House (AATH) and Oscar Wilde, its LGBTQIA & Queer Theme House. The BSC celebrated its 85th anniversary last October and remains a cornerstone of student housing at UC Berkeley. As such, this project is a long term investment in green energy and community well-being for generations of co-op students beyond the 59 that currently reside in AATH and Wilde.

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Capturing Energy Savings from VAV Box Minimums

Project Description

This project will move the campus towards carbon neutrality by reducing campus energy waste and the associated emissions, by reducing minimum airflows without changing the amount of ventilation (fresh) air entering the building.

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Learning and LEEDing at Cal

Project Description

This grant will fund three student interns and the expansion of the BS@C LEED Intern Program to offer project LEED certification services for campus renovation projects currently below the threshold required by the campus Policy on Sustainable Practices.

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Biofuels Technology R&D

Project Description

Started in 2015, Biofuels Technology Club (BTC) is a student-run organization whose mission is to engineer a pilot processing plant that will repurpose waste cooking oil produced by Cal Dining facilities into biodiesel for use as a cleaner alternative fuel for campus vehicles.

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Project Application (coming soon!)

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Wurster Hall Sub-Metering

Project Description

Install energy sub-meters in five floors of Wurster Hall to help achieve LEED-EBOM.

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Retrofitting the RSF into a Human Powered Gym

Project Description

Retrofit a stationary bike and 28 ellipticals at the RSF to derive power from human use.

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Cal Greeks Energy Competition- Green Cup

Project Description

Use an energy competition as a way to implement small scale retrofits, reinforce sustainable behavior, and gain visibility for sustainable practices within the Greek system.

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Air Handling Unit Transmitters

Project Description

Pilot program to install differential pressure transmitters on air handling units in eight buildings on campus.

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GIF Haas Rechargeable Battery program

Project Description

In an effort to continuously make significant strides towards true zero waste and in line with the university’s “Non-Essential Single Use Plastic Elimination by 2030 Policy”, Haas would like to implement a rechargeable battery program that would be available to all Haas students, staff and faculty. The impact of eliminating single use batteries and plastic packaging from the waste stream would make a huge impact not only on Haas’ carbon footprint, but on the university as a whole.

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The Role of the Underground to Realize a Zero-Carbon UC Campus Energy System

Project Description

The overall goal of this project is to determine whether geothermal is a viable decarbonization energy solution for UC Berkeley and to engage graduate and undergraduate students in the research and the subsequent decision-making and the real application of this technology on campus if it proves feasible. The project will assess the role of the UC campus underground to meet the zero-carbon target.

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