Tetra Tech’s High Performance Buildings Group supported California State University’s (CSU) climate action plan, which involves investment to decarbonize existing utility infrastructure for all 23 CSU campuses. Tetra Tech developed a system-wide decarbonization framework for CSU to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of fossil fuel-based systems. With Tetra Tech’s support, the CSU system can realize a 70 percent reduction potential in natural gas consumption, meet their climate action commitments, and support California’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2025.

Campuses were prioritized for carbon-free heating systems using submeter data, inverse energy modeling, and predictive analytics. Our team leveraged our Tetra Tech Delta technology expertise to develop a central utility plant scenario analysis planning tool and dynamic dashboards that allow campuses to optimize heat recovery strategies and reduce GHG emissions. These dashboards enable stakeholders to better understand the multidimensional impacts of a carbon-free heating system and can be used to develop a long-term clean energy strategy. The system-wide decarbonization framework we developed included policy reviews, mechanical system recommendations, technology assessments, and energy modeling guidelines.

Read about all of Tetra Tech’s CCBJ awards.