Underground Utility Mapping Taking Place Across Campus | Dartmouth
Underground Utility Mapping Taking Place Across Campus Dartmouth News
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Checking Underground Utilities for Sustainable Campus Conversion
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Introduction
A crew using a specially equipped truck is working at various sites on campus for the next week, checking the location of underground utilities as part of the continued campus conversion from steam to hot-water heating.
Transitioning to Hot-Water Heating
The switch to hot water is taking place in more than 100 buildings across campus as Dartmouth transitions from a central heating plant and steam-heating system to newer energy technologies that will significantly reduce the institution’s carbon footprint.
Excavation and Confirmation
The work now underway involves using a vacuum extraction truck to excavate test holes to confirm the location of underground steam piping, tunnels, and other utilities.
Work began on Tuesday as the crew used the truck to vacuum soil from spots about a foot in diameter and 10 feet deep, record what is visible in the hole, and then return the fill to close the hole.
About 20 sites will be checked, with the crew expecting to complete three holes a day, says Patrick O’Hern, senior director of project management services at Dartmouth.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Dartmouth is transitioning over the next decade to a new energy-generation and distribution system designed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. A major component of the work is converting from steam heat to hot water, which improves efficiency and is adaptable to future technologies.
Hot-water systems have been installed in eight buildings since the start of the conversion work more than three years ago, O’Hern said.
As the campus hot-water conversion is expanded, Dartmouth plans to eventually phase out its oil-fired steam system and replace it with low-carbon methods, such as geo-exchange and solar thermal systems.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, some possible indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets include:
- Percentage increase in the share of renewable energy in the campus energy mix.
- Number of buildings retrofitted with sustainable infrastructure and clean technologies.
- Air quality measurements in the campus area.
- Integration of climate change measures in Dartmouth’s energy-generation and distribution system.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (SDG 7.2) | Percentage increase in the share of renewable energy in the campus energy mix |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes (SDG 9.4) | Number of buildings retrofitted with sustainable infrastructure and clean technologies |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management (SDG 11.6) | Air quality measurements in the campus area |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (SDG 13.2) | Integration of climate change measures in Dartmouth’s energy-generation and distribution system |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: home.dartmouth.edu
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