Third Act Ohio and Miami University’s Office of Sustainability recently hosted a tour of Miami University’s Geothermal Plant and Solar Array, the first co-located solar and geothermal project on a college campus. The University has made a solid commitment to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy costs. Miami now has 2 geothermal plants and 2 solar arrays. They have also been smart about efficiencies such as heating dorms with excess heat from their data center and buying the energy they have to purchase when the grid has cheaper electricity.
Miami has been able to reduce carbon based emissions by 50% since 2008, reduced campus water use by 46%, supplied 36% of their Oxford Campus with internally generated power and have accumulated cost savings of $125 million. But they aren’t done yet, they continue to be driven by their Myaamia perspective on sustainability:
Asiihkiwi nipi kiilhswa keekiweewaaci
“The earth, water and sun give life.”
A special shout out to Olivia Herron, Director of Sustainability, Miami University for her accomplishments and being such a gracious host.
Interested in Third Act Ohio’s Solar Committee, Instant Solar Permitting or Plug in Balcony Solar? Contact us at ohio@thirdact.org.
Interested in touring the project? Contact Olivia Herron at herronol@miamioh.edu. To learn more about Miami’s 2040 Climate Action Plan,visit https://miamioh.edu/about/sustainability/climate-action-plan/