Energy efficiency on campus
Boise State reduces its energy footprint through geothermal heating, solar power, LED lighting upgrades, electric vehicle infrastructure, and campus-wide energy reduction efforts.
Energy savings spotlight
Micron Business and Economics Building
The Micron and Economics Building illustrates how geothermal heating, solar power, and other technologies work together to reduce energy on campus:
- Geothermal heating eliminates over 90% of the building’s annual natural gas use
- Solar panels produce 25 kilowatts of power per day — enough to power about five households
- Active chilled beams deliver 75-80% fan energy savings
- Energy-efficient lighting achieves a 32% savings over code requirements, equal to 47 kW — enough to power three single-family homes
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water use by 15% compared to a typical educational building
- Energy recovery ventilation transfers up to 75% of exhaust air energy to incoming fresh air
- Construction recycling diverted 720 tons of material from the old University Inn demolition, with 50% of construction waste recycled or salvaged