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Background and Results

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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