Baltimore university enlists Siemens’ help to decarbonise buildings
Morgan State University is partnering with the technology provider to become a smart and connected campus focused on energy efficiency and investments in clean and renewable solutions.
Baltimore-based Morgan State University (MSU) has partnered with Siemens on its journey to becoming a smart and connected campus of the future.
The move forms part of the university’s 10-year strategic plan, Transformation Morgan 2030: Leading the Future.
Modernisation upgrades
Improvements currently underway include implementing a series of modernisation upgrades to the university’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), security, and fire and life safety systems with a focus on energy efficiency, resiliency and sustainability.
All work is umbrellaed under a master service agreement between Maryland Clean Energy Centre, Siemens and MSU to support the university’s campus transformation.
MSU reports that like many other higher education institutions it must contend with ‘significant’ deferred maintenance and infrastructure needs. Covid-19 helped accelerate the need for repairs and upgrades as facilities and equipment remained dormant or underutilised due to a campus closure.
“In our strategic plan we set a deliberate goal of improving campus-wide infrastructure to support operational excellence and increase overall institutional capacity”
With the aid of Federal Covid Relief funding, the university has been able to address some areas of concern, such as improving indoor air quality but there is more work to be done.
By way of its partnership with Siemens, MSU is taking proactive steps towards becoming a state-of-the-art smart campus focused on energy efficiency and production through systems integration and digitalisation with substantial investments in clean and renewable solutions.
Sustainability targets
MSU notes that sustainability is important – not just for the campus and buildings but also, for the students and faculty. With a focus on helping institutions achieve their sustainability targets, Siemens Financial Services (SFS) – the financing arm of Siemens – is providing capital for the project.
“Sustainability and decarbonisation have been core initiatives for Siemens for many years,” added Markus Edstrom, head of SFS Commercial Finance Americas.
“We are happy to see institutions such as MSU taking the initiative to reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on their energy efficiency, which falls directly in line with SFS’ vision to help even more small- and medium-sized enterprises transition to net-zero in the future.”
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