The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Bentley University among the Top 30 College & University list of the largest green power users. Bentley University came in at number 23 and is using 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the university’s electricity use. Bentley is buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Renewable Choice Energy, which demonstrates a proactive choice to move away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.
“We are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Director of Sustainability Amanda King. “Purchasing green power helps our university become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk.”
In addition, this purchase also qualifies Bentley University for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase ten times the partnership’s minimum requirement organization-wide.
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.
“We congratulate Bentley University for using renewable energy and taking a leadership position on the environment,” said Blaine Collison, Director of EPA’s Green Power Partnership. “Bentley University's impressive green power commitment helps to reduce carbon pollution and provides an excellent example for other colleges and universities.”
According to the U.S. EPA, Bentley University's green power purchase of 25 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 4,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 3,000 average American homes annually.
About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,500 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies; small and medium sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.