TCNJ Decarbonization Journey

Course Description

This course will cover the College of New Jersey’s strategies for reducing carbon emissions by 2040, including fleet emissions cuts, renewable energy expansion, energy efficiency, and energy storage. It will also explore the college’s efforts in expanding EV infrastructure and implementing combined heat and power (CHP) systems for sustainability. Recorded October 17, 2024.

Learning Objectives:

• Reduce fleet emissions by 80-90% by 2040 with electric vehicles and renewable energy.
• Expand on-campus energy systems to meet 80% of electrical and 90% of thermal needs.
• Promote sustainability through student engagement and collaboration with decarbonization initiatives.

About the Instructor:

Paul Romano, Energy Manager, and Shawn Cappellano-Sarver, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management of the College of New Jersey, review the school’s efforts toward energy efficiency, decarbonization, and resiliency, use of New Jersey Clean Energy Program incentives, insights gained, and lessons learned. The discussion also includes a walkthrough of a CO2 calculator by Mike Holsinger of TRC Companies. This CO2e calculator will help participants and their consultants calculate projected CO2e avoidance for the initiatives being considered, along with the resulting incentives that may be available to them.

Course Outline

• Introduction

• Summary Description of TCNJ Campus

• Prior Initiatives

• Available Power Sources

• Associated Power Source Emissions

• Opportunistic vs. Strategic Actions

• Current TCNJ Carbon Reduction Initiatives

• Fuel Conversion Measures

• Central Utility Plant (CUP) Measures

• New Combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CCHP) System

• Solar District Cup

• Exam