Hofstra University Utilities

Electricity

The University purchases electricity through a 13,200 volts line from Long Island Power Authority connecting to 2-high voltage circuits on the North Campus and on the South Campus. The electricity is distributed throughout the campus over 13.5 miles of underground high voltage cables to 49 high voltage distribution switches. These distribution switches feed 52 step down transformers, that in turn, reduce the 13,200 volts of electricity to a more usable power source, IE. 480V, 460V, 277V, 240V, 220V, 208V and 115V.

The campus uses roughly 48,000,000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity. That is enough electricity to supply power to 6,045 average residential homes for a year.

Co-gen

Our Cogeneration Plant (Co-gen) capacity is 2,300 kilowatts per hour or 20,148,000 kilowatts per year. This alone can supply electric power to 2,550 average residential customers for a year. Here, we generate at 4,160 volts and must step the voltage up to 13,200 volts to distribute on campus. Over the past 10 years the PPD has been involved in energy management projects and have realized an annual average savings for Hofstra in excess of $1,500,000.

Emergency Generators

Support generators are maintained at 7 locations for emergency lighting and for emergency power needs as required.

Heating and Hot Water

Gas and fuel oil: The campus has 62 boilers, 82 hot water heaters and hundreds of roof top heating units which burn 170,761,262 cubic feet of natural gas and 52,147 gallons of fuel oil per year. This equates to 2,000,069 gallons of fuel oil or 278,000,000,000 BTU's per year. The total heating capacity of the campus is capable of conservatively supplying heat and hot water to over 2,000 average sized residential homes.