NSU Renewable Energy Efforts

Energy Facts

If you live in a typical U.S. home, your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20% of your energy bills.

Reference: US Department of Energy

Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes.

Reference: US Department of Energy

Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home.

Reference: US Department of Energy

You can reduce your home's heating and cooling costs by as much as 30 percent through proper insulation and air sealing techniques.

Reference: US Department of Energy

Amount of money that would be saved if the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings improved by 10 percent: $20 billion.

Reference: Energy Star

Amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would be reduced if the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings improved by 10 percent: equal to about 30 million vehicles.

Reference: Energy Star

Amount of global carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere in 2005: 6,000 million metric tons.

U.S. contribution of global greenhouse gas emissions: about 20 percent.
U.S. population relative to the world: 5 percent.

Reference: Energy Star

In FY 08-09, NSU installed a photovoltaic and wind turbine system at our Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, Florida. E3nnovations Company donated our photovoltaic and wind turbine system, B&A Consulting engineers and DeRose Consultants donated the engineering design, and C Davis Electric generously provided the installation at no cost. The total installed value was over $26,000.

The photovoltaic system has a peak DC power output of 2,000 watts (when the sun is at its brightest), and the wind turbine has a peak DC power output of 400 watts at 28 mph wind speed. As of June 22, 2009, the solar and wind power systems at the Oceanographic Center are generating a total of 2400 watts of green power.

The year 2009 also saw the installation of solar water heaters at our graduate residence hall at Rolling Hills. Solar collectors are being used to generate hot water for sinks, showers, washing machines, and even the pool!

Also in the year 2009, the Central Energy Plant that can sustain the current campus, has provided the ability for future expansion cooling, and thermal storage facility to reduce run cost. A 55-gallon solar domestic hot water heating system, with a 32 sq ft solar collector, was installed and a ice storage facility that holds 17.000 tons of hours for cooling. Self Sustainability, green designs and cycle cost where part of the major decision in designing the Lafferty Plant.

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in the year 2012 completed a solar energy project that provides John U. Lloyd Beach State Park with 100 percent of its energy needs through a combination of solar electric and solar hot water systems.