Decarbonization Master Plan

Salas O’Brien partnered with Amherst College to create a 2021 energy master plan for their campus electrification. Integrating a geothermal strategy with other solutions, the plan facilitates cost optimization, renewable-source power, resiliency, and reliability, aligned with general campus capital projects. These measures are now in the phased implementation stages as outlined in the plan.

The overall energy plan roadmap was informed by detailed assessments of eight campus buildings, providing baseline energy use profiles essential for creating the comprehensive energy master plan. The plan also includes cost estimates for low-temperature heating hot water conversion and identifies potential Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) as well as their costs and energy savings potential. Building assessments established the cost and energy impacts of adding air conditioning to existing buildings.