Campus Electrification and Decarbonization: Navigating Change and Unknowns

Williams College has established a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. This presentation will focus on navigating change during the transition from planning to design. Specific topics include ground source heat exchange systems and challenges associated with geology, drilling, fractured bedrock, and transitioning from vertical to horizontal bore fields with air source heat pumps. Other topics include changing technologies, incentives, coordination with public utility companies (planned electrical growth, reserve rates, on site generation) and coordination with other Capital Projects (locations for plants, schedule and impact of building renovations, selecting hot water generation and distribution design temperatures).

Case Studies:

Keywords: Electrification, Decarbonization, Geothermal

Steven Buckler, PE

Principal

RMF Engineering

Steven is a Principal within the Civil & Structural Engineering Department at RMF Engineering, Inc. He specializes in Subsurface Utility Engineering including the design, specification, and construction administration of underground utility systems including utility tunnels, high pressure steam, hot water, chilled water, fuel oil, potable water, power, communications, gas, storm, and sanitary piping systems. He routinely develops phasing strategies to minimize utility, vehicle, and pedestrian disruptions. He is also experienced in trenchless technologies, regulatory permit approvals, cost estimating, and site development projects. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a committee member of the Energy Division within the American Society of Civil Engineers.