The Climate Action Implementation Plan requires UIC to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Reducing campus energy use is an important step in reaching that goal. In fact, the CAIP estimates that a successful execution of this strategy over the next 15 years will account for about 10.5% of the total emission reductions our university needs to go completely carbon neutral.
While our personal actions as employees, students, and citizens do make a difference, it's important that UIC tackles energy consumption on an institutional level. That's why UIC energy professionals collect and analyze campus building energy use data to identify opportunities for energy savings projects, all to keep UIC running as efficiently as possible.
These opportunities can take the form of LED lighting upgrades, repairs to outdated heating and cooling systems, and adjustments to building automation systems to conserve energy while buildings are unoccupied. This approach to curbing energy waste applies a philosophy known as "strategic energy management," which calls for continuous improvements to energy efficiency and thorough communication to building occupants regarding these projects.
Select a building to learn more about the energy savings projects currently taking place on campus.
Read the Climate Action Implementation Plan
Richard J. Daley Library Heading link
The Daley Library’s energy savings project will prevent an estimated 475 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually.
The scope of this project includes upgrading all interior and exterior lighting to LEDs, reducing the run time of the air handling units (based on when the library is unoccupied), and updating the building automation system so HVAC functions only run when necessary for temperature or air quality.
Administrative Office Building Heading link
The Administrative Office Building’s energy savings project will prevent up to 219 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually. This building is also the first on UIC’s campus to begin an energy savings project.
Similar to the Richard J. Daley Library’s project, AOB will undergo LED lighting updates, reducing the run time of the air handling units (based on when the library is unoccupied), and updates to the building automation system so HVAC functions only run when necessary for temperature or air quality.