New England Aquarium: Greening Efforts

New England Aquarium

Greening Efforts

Greening in NEAq Strategic Plan

Focus Areas

• Energy conservation

• Sustainable seafood

• Recycling

Data/Analysis Driven

Electricity use is our 800lb gorilla

• Emissions Inventory• HVAC analysis

Emissions Inventory 2006 NEAq Emissions by Source

Steam15%

Electricity79%

Natural Gas3%

Transportation1%

Refrigerants andChemicals

2%

CO2 Emissions 2004-2006

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2004 2005 2006

Year

Tot

al E

mis

sion

s (M

etri

c T

onne

s eC

O2)

Refrigerants and otherChemicals

Solid Waste

Agriculture

Transportation

On-campus Stationary

Purchased Steam andChilled water

Purchased Electricity

Energy Saving Projects

Lighting Retrofit (1999)Savings estimate >115,000 kWh/year

Equivalent to 52 tons of CO2 or 95 barrels of oil

Water Pump Replacements (2002)Savings estimate > 190,000kWh/year

Equivalent to 85 tons of CO2 or 155 barrels of oil

Roof Replacement (2003)Fully insulated, light colored roof

No clear estimate of energy use reductions

HVAC project (in design)

Energy Saving Projects

Sustainable Seafood

• Choice Catch

• Celebrate Seafood Dinners

• Fish of the Month

Green Restaurant Association

• Former “Greening” Steps– Equal Exchange Coffee– Bio-degradable plastic ware– Eliminated Styrofoam products

Green Restaurant Association

Commitment to 4 steps per year

In progress:• Replace spray valves in kitchen with low-flow spray valves • Install low flow faucet aerators in bathroom sinks• Install strip curtains in walk-in refrigerators & freezers • Install motion sensors for lights in walk-in refrigerators

Future:• Annual recommendations

Recycling• Office paper• Co-mingled plastic, glass and metals • Printer cartridges recycling • Electronics (cell phones, computers,

etc)• CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, etc

Pending• Cardboard

What about on-site clean electricity production?

• Technical barriers to grid connections• Upfront costs continue to be a significant

challenge v. benefits of efficiency savings• Site-specific limitations to generation

capacity– Wind turbulence– shading

Ongoing work…

• Fundraising

• Clarifying our commitment

• HVAC renovations

• Communication efforts

Future Initiatives

• Collaborative Efforts?– combined purchasing power among cultural

organizations?

• Green cleaning products?

• Waterless urinals?

• Developing educational value?