In 2010, the University of Notre Dame developed their Utilities Long-Range Plan, with the goal of 50% reduction in carbon emissions on a square-foot basis by 2030. To accomplish this goal, the University partnered with KFI, who developed a multi-pronged approach to achieving unprecedented sustainability goals. The projects have included a new remote chiller plant, a hydroelectric plant, three geothermal systems for campus heating and cooling, a solar PV project, and combustion turbines and heat recovery steam generators. By 2020, the University had already reached their 2030 goal, which inspired staff to be more aggressive in ongoing sustainability initiatives.
“We want to invest in quality projects that have quality results over a long period of time. And that’s the best payback for us because we’re going to be here. We’re not a corporation that might move this factory a quarter from now. The university has been here since 1842. We’re in it for the long haul.”
Paul Kempf, PE
Assistant Vice President of Utilities and Maintenance
University of Notre Dame