Weber State University Energy & Sustainability Investment Plan (ESIP II)

In 2006, Weber State University hired E/S3 Consultants Inc. to complete an Energy Savings and Investment Plan (ESIP) for the University. To complete the plan, E/S3 conducted a survey of Weber State’s energy and water consumption at the Main Campus, Dee Events Center and Davis Campus. The finalized ESIP identified forty-two energy and water saving projects that should be further analyzed by the University. It also provided recommendations on how to fund, manage, and sustain the benefits of the projects proposed.

Per a recommendation in the ESIP Plan, in December of 2008, Facilities Management at WSU contracted with AMERESCO (an energy services company) to complete an investment grade audit which provided the University with the information necessary to hone in on the most viable and cost-effective energy and water savings projects. In 2009, AMERESCO completed their audit and WSU immediately commenced work on several of the recommended projects. To date, most of the projects identified have been completed or are currently being implemented.

In addition to aggressively implementing a number of energy savings projects, Weber State University made a significant policy commitment to become a carbon neutral university by 2050. This pledge was initiated in 2007 when WSU became an American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory. As an ACUPCC signatory, WSU was required to complete a greenhouse gas inventory (submitted in 2008) and complete a Climate Action Plan detailing the University’s plans and goals for becoming carbon neutral (adopted and signed by President Ann Millner and the President’s Council in 2009).

In 2012, WSU again hired E/S3 Consultants Inc. to create a long-term plan detailing how the University would achieve its carbon neutrality goal. The focus of this completed plan, the ESIP II, is on buildings and emissions related to operation of their energy consuming systems. The Energy & Sustainability Office at WSU is currently working on a comprehensive sustainability plan for the University that will address other emissions sources (e.g. transportation to and from WSU and fleet vehicles) and set sustainability goals for waste reduction, water consumption, green purchasing, etc.