
Campus Carbon Neutral & Electrification Strategies - MEP Engineering Study
We approach our work from a Whole Facility Design Perspective, resulting in elegant, efficient engineering solutions that are practical and reliable, maximizing your long term benefit from your facility.
Challenge
Boston College sought to transition the Newton, MA campus to electrified building systems to reduce carbon emissions and align with regional carbon reduction initiatives, such as Newton's plans and Boston's BERDO program. The challenge involved assessing 15 buildings with various fossil fuel-dependent systems, designing feasible electrification strategies, and providing a clear roadmap to address capital projects incrementally while tracking carbon reduction progress.
Solution
Hallam-ICS conducted a comprehensive engineering study of the campus’s MEP systems to identify fossil fuel dependencies, analyze capacities, and propose electrified system strategies. The solution centered on utilizing air source, air-to-water heat pumps (ASHP) to generate temperate water loops, paired with heating water-source heat pumps (WSHP) or water-cooled chillers for effective operation in Massachusetts’s low ambient temperatures. A detailed, incremental roadmap was provided to guide building-by-building upgrades and monitor carbon reduction milestones.
Results
Our team accomplished the following:
- Roadmap Delivery: Created an incremental electrification plan tailored for each building.
- Carbon Reduction Metrics: Provided estimates enabling Boston College to align with regional goals.
- Innovative Design Strategy: Proposed practical, climate-appropriate ASHP-based systems for long-term sustainability.