Potential energy savings on the MIT campus

Abstract

The MIT community and the City of Cambridge embarked on initiatives to reduce energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol which calls for a 20 % reduction in 1990 levels of GHG emissions by 2010. This thesis seeks to expand our understanding of how the MIT campus consumes energy and with that knowledge recommend methods of reducing energy consumption by eliminating irresponsible energy use. Based on the GHG emission map created by Tiffany Groode in her 2004 thesis A Methodology for Assessing MIT's Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the second largest energy consuming building per square foot, Building 18, was selected and analyzed in detail. This thesis proves the high hood density, lack of an exhaust heat recovery system, and irresponsible fume hood use necessitate Building 18's wasteful consumption of energy. Research revealed that, on average, 67 hoods were left open at night, and 88 were open during daytime use. Of those open hoods, only 5 were in use during the night, and 48 were in use during the day. If the unused hoods were closed the consumption of electricity, steam, and chilled water could be decreased by approximately 17% and save the Institute $350,000 a year in utility costs.