Energy | Bentley University

With the reduction of Bentley’s Scope 2 emissions with the Wind Energy contract, the majority of Bentley University’s remaining carbon footprint comes from stationary fuels used to heat and cool the 2 million square feet of building space on Bentley’s Campus.

Green Revolving Fund

The University established the first Green Revolving Fund in 2018 with a seed donation of $250,000 from an alumnus and trustee of the university. The Bentley University Green Revolving Fund serves as an ongoing mechanism for investing in campus energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Savings from funded projects are tracked and used to replenish the fund for the next round of investments, thus establishing a sustainable funding cycle while cutting operating costs and reducing greenhouse gases.

The Green Revolving Fund committee of faculty, staff and students meets three times per year to review proposals for Green Revolving Fund projects and make funding decisions.

Funded Projects

Heat Pumps

Cape & Castle
Falcone Apartments
Miller Hall
Rauch
Slade Hall
Stratton Hall
Trees Dormitories

Demand Control Ventilation

LaCava Conference Center
Library
Morrison Hall
Smith

Motion Occupancy Control

LaCava Conference Center
Smith

Lighting Projects

LED Lighting Upgrade

Dana Center

Upgraded Lighting

Boylston A
Boylston B
Copley North
Copley South
Falcones
Forest
Kresge
Miller
Orchard North
Orchard South
Rhodes
Slade

Boiler

Forest Hall
North Campus

Energy Recovery Ventilator

Dana Center

GRF Community Proposals

Contribute to Energy Efficiency at Bentley

The Green Revolving Fund welcomes ideas for reducing energy consumption across campus. Whether identifying opportunities such as lights left on overnight or proposing larger-scale energy efficiency initiatives, members of the Bentley community are encouraged to submit suggestions through the Community Proposal Form.

To support the development of impactful proposals, individuals are invited to review previously funded Green Revolving Fund (GRF) projects and explore how peer institutions are advancing energy efficiency on their campuses.

Community Proposal Form

Resources
Energy STAR – Energy Treasure Map: Student Housing
U.S Department of Energy – Better Buildings Higher Education
Bentley University STARS Report – AASHE STARS
ISO New England – Energy Grid

Solar Panels

There are 1,400 solar-panels on the Bentley Arena, which produce 40% of the building's annual electricity needs. Bentley purchased the array with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a legal contract between an electricity generator (provider) and a power purchaser. This means that an outside company owns the panels and Bentley has contracted with them to purchase the energy over the course of the contract for a lower cost than Bentley’s standard electricity contract. Bentley saves money over the long term and owns the solar panels at the end of the contract. Click here to learn more about the Bentley Arena

Energy Efficiency

Bentley's Facilities Management department has had a long-standing commitment to energy efficiency, completing numerous projects each year and reducing the university's electricity use. Bentley University continues to implement its energy efficiency strategy, committing to retrofit projects that reduce electricity and natural gas use.

The university uses a state-of-the-art Energy Management System (EMS) which allows Facilities Management to both determine how much energy is being used in various campus buildings and ensure efficient operation of heating, cooling and lighting systems.

Boilers