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?