Stanford
Sustainable Stanford

Background and Results

Since 2001, the annual Winter Closure Program has served an important role in energy conservation at Stanford. Previously voluntary, winter closure became mandatory in 2003 via a program administered jointly by the Department of Sustainability & Energy Management and Zone Management. In recent years, SEM and Zone Management have also begun to target Thanksgiving and other extended holidays in a similar manner.

Winter Closure has resulted in a cumulative net energy cost savings of over $5.6 million since its inception. In 2020, a total of 155 buildings participated in the program for 3 weeks to save: 

  • 874,586 kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 4,954 million BTU of thermal energy (combination of hot water and process steam savings)
  • 202,603 ton-hours of chilled water savings
  • $410,890 in operating savings
  • 765 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2019, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 4,095 million BTU of thermal energy (combination of hot water and process steam savings)
  • 53,734 ton-hours of chilled water savings
  • $350,930 in operating savings
  • 555 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2018, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 2,458 million BTU of thermal energy saved (combination of hot water and process steam savings)
  • 298,000 ton-hours of chilled water savings
  • $427,000 in operating savings
  • 688 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided (the decline is due to an increase in Stanford's renewable energy portfolio)
  • 159 buildings participated

In 2017, the campus acheived the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.41 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 3,045 million BTU of thermal energy saved (combination of hot water and process steam savings)
  • 333,400 ton-hours of chilled water savings
  • $446,000 in operating savings
  • 1,080 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2016, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.25 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 1,570 million BTU of thermal energy saved (combination of hot water and process steam savings)
  • 58,400 ton-hours of chilled water savings
  • $315,000 in operating savings
  • 801 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2015, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 1,570 million BTU of thermal energy saved (combination of hot water and process steam savings)
  • 203,000 ton-hours of chilled water savings
  • $340,000 in operating savings
  • 806 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2014, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 3.9 million pounds of steam
  • $357,000 in operating savings
  • 840 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2013, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 3.8 million pounds of steam
  • $247,000 in operating savings
  • 838 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2012, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 3.8 million pounds of steam
  • $247,000 in operating savings
  • 838 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided

In 2011, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 5.7 million pounds of steam
  • 1,033 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided
  • $266,000 in operating savings

In 2010, the campus achieved the following energy and cost savings:

  • 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
  • 3.8 million pounds of steam
  • $202,000 in operating costs
  • 778 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided