Target X: Greenhouse gas emissions

UW Power Plant

45% REDUCTION OF GHG EMISSIONS BY 2030

Climate change is the environmental issue of our time. The UW is a world-class research center in climate-related topics; in fact climate change’s centrality to our academic life is reflected in a Guiding Principle of this Sustainability Strategy. We’re going to follow through on our sustainability commitment by embarking on a major energy planning process to drastically reduce the Seattle Campus district heating system’s demand for fossil fuels, and reduce our dependence on utility energy with solar photovoltaic power on all our campuses.

Target actions for FY2021

Action: Electrify UW Transportation Services

Responsible party: Transportation Services
FY 2021 steps:

Complete and approve a strategy for transitioning the UW Fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, excepting emergency maintenance vehicles. Anticipated completion: December, 2020.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.
Complete and approve a strategy, including funding mechanisms, to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure across UW parking facilities by 2030. Anticipated completion: March, 2021.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.
(concurrent with Step 2) Review and approve a strategy and funding methodology for developing solar canopy infrastructure on campus parking assets by 2030. Anticipated completion: March, 2021.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.

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Action:Plan to Repower the Seattle Campus

Responsible party: UW Facilties Operations
FY 2021 steps:

Hire an Energy Program Manager with the engineering and finance qualifications to oversee the heating plant and district energy renewal from start to finish.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.
Issue an RFP for, and contract, a consultant (owner’s advocate) capable of helping UW select the best mix of technologies for the Seattle campus.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.
Develop engineering scope and funding pathway for a pilot project to use waste condenser heat from the West Central Utility Plant to reduce steam heating in nearby buildings.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.

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Action:Implement Campus Solar Plan

Responsible party: UW Facilities Asset Management
FY 2021 steps:

UW Solar Group will complete a plan and strategy for developing solar assets on the buildings of the three campuses by 2030. Anticipated completion: December 31, 2020.
- Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.
Review and approve the strategy, with funding mechanisms, for developing solar assets on campus buildings by 2030. Anticipated completion: March 31, 2021.
Status update: An update on the status of this step will be posted in Winter quarter 2021.

See the full details