Electricity
Since the peak in 2005 annual kWh dropped over 12% in spite of the addition of two new dorms, the additional equipment which supports them and other renovations. New construction beginning in 2014 is beginning to drive our electric use upward again as we add additional square footage of climate controlled space
Demand for electricity has increased fairly dramatically over the past two decades. The advent of electronic gadgets and computers has required more power than building designers ever dreamed of when most of the buildings were constructed. Add to that building code requirements for HVAC systems, smart classrooms and a general expectation of increased comfort levels (as well as architecturally pleasant lighting) and we have all the makings of a much higher electric bill. The chart above illustrates the impact of a fairly aggressive period of new construction and renovation that peaked in 2005. To off-set some of the impact of this increase, Swarthmore College, at the urging of the student group Earthlust, made a commitment to obtain a substantial portion of its power requirements by purchasing wind power credits and other alternative energy resources. Currently that commitment is 14,000 MegaWatt hours which represents 100% of the College's annual kilowatt-hour needs. It's particularly gratifying that with carefully monitoring of our loads with our energy management system we have been able to reduce our kilowatt-hour use by 17% since the peak. Real time information on our electric load.
