The Grainger College of Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering

One Year Anniversary of ECE Building Zero-Net Energy

 

ECEB zero energy certification 

Join us for our one-year anniversary

Wednesday, January 24, 4 PM
ECE Building Atrium
306 N. Wright St, Urbana, IL 61801

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Building at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was certified as the university’s first zero-energy facility in January 2023. Join the ECE Department and The Grainger College of Engineering to celebrate this milestone on the path to building a more sustainable future. 


When: Wednesday January 24, 2024 from 4 p.m.
Where: Electrical & Computer Engineering Building Atrium, 306 N. Wright St, Urbana, IL 61801

RSVP

For additional information or to request accommodations, please contact Canaan Daniels.

Learn more about our building and net-zero energy

Solar energy

The ECE Building produces about 11% of its energy through its rooftop array, a 300 kW setup featuring 970 panels. The rest is supported through SRECs from Solar Farm 2.0, a 12.32 megawatt (MWdc) utility-scale installation on south campus bordering the Village of Savoy.

Solar Farm 2.0

Campus initiatives

The Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) is the campus’s strategic sustainability plan for achieving carbon neutrality, or net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by 2050 if not sooner.

iCAP

LEED Platinum certification

ECE achieved LEED Platinum certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, sustainable construction and more.

Read the full story

Achieving net zero energy was an aspirational goal of everyone who contributed to the project and is the embodiment of the teaching and cutting-edge discovery taking place in this world-class facility. The ability to meet this goal—in less than 10 years since the building’s opening—by using solar energy generated on campus showcases the relentless campus focus on reducing carbon emissions and what is possible through collaboration and leadership in this critical area.

ECE Department Head
Bruce Hajek