Georgetown University is boosting its conservation and utility management efforts through a partnership with ENGIE North America. Together, these efforts will improve energy efficiency, help the university achieve ambitious sustainability goals, and positively impact students, faculty, and the community.
ENGIE will manage the university's utility system and take responsibility for the enhancement, operation, and upkeep of the electrical, heating, cooling, and domestic water systems. Georgetown will retain ownership of its facilities and control over decisions related to capital improvements. Through capital improvement and energy conservation programs, the partnership will generate operational efficiencies and position Georgetown to reduce its energy use intensity by at least 35% by 2030.
Georgetown’s goals include becoming carbon neutral and water positive by 2030 and achieving 100% renewable power by 2035.
In a statement, Geoff Chatas, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Georgetown University, said, "After committing to divest from fossil fuels and launching a power purchase agreement that will ensure that two-thirds of the university's electricity needs will be sourced through solar power, this partnership further enhances our ambitious sustainability goals. "We are excited to partner with ENGIE to accelerate our progress toward aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, integrating sustainability across our functional areas, and becoming a model for how universities and other complex organizations can strengthen their sustainability efforts. We are confident that ENGIE's expertise in clean energy management will improve the experience of students, faculty, and the broader Georgetown community."
In Washington DC's historic Georgetown neighborhood, the university campus covers more than 100 acres with about 60 main buildings, 19,000 students, 6,200 employees, including 2,200 faculty. The campus also includes MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.