Stanford Central Energy Facility

Stanford University has just completed a transformational campus-wide energy system – replacing a 100% fossil replacing a 100% fossil-fuel-based combined heat and power plant with grid-sourced electricity and first-of-its-kind heat recovery system. Positioning Stanford as a national leader in energy efficiency and carbon reduction, the results are impressive: greenhouse gas emissions are slashed by 68%; fossil fuel use by 65%; and campus-wide water use by 15%. This c comprehensive Stanford Energy System I Innovation (SESI) system will eliminate 1 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a annually, the equivalent of removing 32,000 c cars from the road every year. Expected e energy savings to Stanford over 35 years is $ $425 million.The Central Energy Facility is comprised of five distinct components: an Entry Court and Administrative/Teaching Facility serves as the knuckle between two major plant buildings – the Heat Recovery Chiller (HRC) Plant with its two large cold water storage tanks, and the California State Office of Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) Plant. SESI includes an innovative heat recovery loop that captures nearly two-thirds of waste heat generated by the campus cooling system to produce hot water for the heating system. The entrance features an expansive photovoltaic (PV) trellis that provides more electricity than needed to power the net-positive positive-energy Administrative/Teaching Facility.The overall architectural expression is one of lightness, transparency and sustainability to express the facility’s purpose. The exterior is predominantly curtainwall curtainwall, maximizing natural light for the interior work stations and classrooms, while animating the facility from the outside. Glass-enclosed office spaces and an outdoor, multi-use room float above the entrance, providing views out to central campus as well as into the hub of the facility, where a paved and landscaped courtyard displays the primary thermal storage tank, painted “Stanford Red.” At night, lights directed through slender perforated steel columns transform the facility’s centerpiece hot water tank into a red, glowing beacon.