Michigan Tech uses energy in many forms to provide the typical utilities for our facilities, such as heating, cooling, lighting, electricity, water and sewage services.
In addition, a large number of technical programs perform laboratory and research work that also consume energy for equipment and processes from foundries to chemistry labs and countless other advanced purposes.
In total, the annual expenditure for our combined utilities is around $6.5 million. Michigan Tech forecasts these expenditures and secures access to the various types of energy in a proactive manner, to ensure that we get the best value. Some of the energy sources we manage are:
- Natural gas for boilers and other equipment across campus
- Electricity: wind power, solar power on campus, and traditionally generated electricity
- Diesel fuel for backup systems (rarely used, but important for life safety and protection of critical research assets)
- Waste Heat Recovery, such as the use of waste heat from the ice arena chillers to heat the swimming pool at the SDC.