Cornell University was honored for its planned energy-efficient combined heat-and-power project (CHP) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the International District Energy Association's (IDEA) 19th Annual Campus Energy Conference in Albuquerque, N.M., in February.

Each year, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy recognize highly efficient CHP projects -- also known as cogeneration -- that achieve fuel and emissions savings over comparable state-of-the-art separate heat and power systems. The EPA presented a Certificate of Partnership to Cornell, recognizing the university's participation in the EPA's CHP Partnership Program. The program is a voluntary collaboration between the EPA and energy users, policy-makers and the CHP industry. The partnership provides information, technical assistance and public recognition to help streamline the project development process and increase public awareness of CHP.

Receiving the certificate on behalf of Cornell were James Adams, director of Cornell Utilities and Energy Management, and Tim Peer, project manager for the university's CHP Project.

Cornell announced in January its plans to upgrade its central heating plant by 2009, which is expected to reduce annual emissions of carbon dioxide by 50,000 tons, nitrogen oxides by 250 tons and sulfur dioxide by 800 tons.