ONU Green
ONU Green
ONU Green Links
ONU again named Tree Campus USA by Arbor Day Foundation
Ohio Northern University has been named a Tree Campus USA for the third consecutive year by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation. This honor places ONU among the most elite environmentally conscious schools.
Tips for reducing your carbon footprint
ONU’s SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) compiled a list of easy lifestyle changes we can all make to reduce the size of our carbon footprints.
Justin Courtney, Director of Residence Life, Talks About Geothermal Energy
The presentation featured a video and table display of geothermal technology with Phase II housing at ONU. Visit the Residence Life site for more information.
Green Leadership
From their cars to their homes, people everywhere are taking steps to "go green." The same is true for the Ohio Northern University community, and many have been active before the movement was popular. This series honors some of those students who have taken leadership roles in campus organizations that focus on the environment and its protection.
ONU in the News
ONU to hold wind turbine celebration
Wind energy developers meet with public in Ada
NexGen Energy to Install 1.6 MW of On-Site Wind in Ohio Village
Blowin' in the wind: ONU, Ada schools to harness nature
ONU Green Campus Organizations
- ONU Recycles!
- ONE (Ohio Northern Environmentalists)
- Law Environmentalists
Green Feature: Energy From Algae
The quest for inexpensive, renewable, clean energy has become a metaphorical Holy Grail for scientists and engineers the world over. At Ohio Northern, a team of senior mechanical engineering students accepted the challenge in a way that took the concept of green energy to a whole new level. Read more...
Wind Energy
Ohio Northern University business and engineering students initially formed the wind turbine research team in 2007 to determine the feasibility of installing wind turbines to supplement the campus’s energy usage. During summer 2008, the University purchased and installed data collectors on the campus radio tower to monitor wind direction and speeds. After more than a year of research, the team determined that wind turbines are an economically viable option for the University.
Construction activities began Jan. 28, and was completed in the summer 2010. The three 400-kilowatt turbines are located west of the football stadium on Klingler Road. Each are 220 feet tall from the base to the tip of the blade when the blade is in the upmost position. Together, the three turbines generate between 5 and 10 percent of the University’s total electricity requirements.
New Mathile Center and The Inn
Energy conservation was a concern during the design and construction of the Mathile Center for the Natural Sciences and The Inn at Ohio Northern University. High-efficiency water heaters, HVAC systems and lighting were installed in both buildings in addition to increased insulation, low-flow fixtures and dual or automatic flushing toilets. Dual-flush toilets offer two separate flushing functions, one using approximately 0.8 gallons and the other approximately 1.6 gallons. This can reduce water usage by up to 67 percent compared to traditional toilets, which use 2 gallons in a single flush.
Geothermal Energy
During summer 2009, construction took place to the residence halls, Founders Complex and Affinity Village Complex. Each were updated to use a geothermal heating and cooling system. It is expected to reduce energy use in those areas by 30 to 40 percent and reduce water consumption in Affinity Village by 30 percent, according to Justin Courtney, director of residence life and interim director of career services. In all, 30 percent of ONU housing features geothermal, earth-friendly technology.
