Will Smart Grid Stimulus Money Cut College Costs?

California State University is seeking $77.5 million in Smart Grid stimulus money to identify and reduce energy inefficiencies at its 23 campuses. With matching funds it would represent a $155 million demonstration project dubbed Energy IQ (eIQ).

Partnering with CSU on the proposed project are some industry leaders – among them the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, EnerNOC, Galvin Power and both public and private utilities in California.

The project would install smart meters in 934 buildings, giving staff, faculty and system operators real-time information that allows them to pinpoint and eliminate energy inefficiencies. The hope is that the project can reduce CSU’s utility spending by 15 to 20 percent. It is also expected to create 1,100 jobs.

"Large universities, commercial buildings, and industry use 80 percent of the electricity in California and the nation. CSU campuses are the perfect test sites for new grid technologies that can get energy use under control," noted Len Pettis, chief of plant, energy and utilities at the CSU Chancellor’s Office. “With campuses located in California's deserts, shorelines and mountains, we can measure eIQ's success in various settings.  We can then educate our surrounding communities on the advantages of this technology."

CSU estimates that once eIQ is fully operational it could represent savings of $20 million annually.

The initiative would also allow CSU to maximize its existing on-campus power generation, which includes 14MW of solar power and another 30MW of high efficiency heat and electricity co-generation.

   Quick Take: There’s a lot to like about this project – especially if you’re paying attention to the increasing cost of a college education. But this project also has impressive partners. And it introduces Smart Grid and the value of energy conservation to the 450,000 students on CSU campuses.

   CSU press release

   SGN: California state stimulus toolkit

   SGN: The Top 10 “Smartest” States