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  1. Home/
  2. Facility services/
  3. Campus utilities

How U of I powers campus

University of Idaho is committed to delivering safe, reliable and efficient utility services to support student learning, research and daily campus operations. From heating classrooms to lighting sidewalks, our infrastructure ensures that campus remains comfortable, functional and sustainable year-round.

Utilities inside campus buildings are managed by the U of I Facilities team. Outdoor systems — including steam, electricity, chilled water and more — are maintained through a public-private partnership (P3) with Sacyr Plenary Utility Partners Idaho and McKinstry. Together, we operate and maintain the campus energy plant, manage distribution systems and lead infrastructure upgrades that serve students and employees.

Campus utilities

  • Power and energy
  • Water systems
University of Idaho - Idaho District Energy Plant Steam Plant

Investing in campus through a utility partnership

U of I’s Public-Private Partnership with Sacyr Plenary and McKinstry provides long-term support for student success, groundbreaking research and university growth — benefiting not just our campus, but the state of Idaho.

Learn more about the P3 initiativeLearn more about the P3 initiative

Reducing our energy impact

As part of our commitment to sustainability and cost-efficiency, University of Idaho is actively working to reduce its energy and water consumption. Strategic energy planning is essential to meet the challenges of rising utility costs, increasing demand and a changing climate.

Key efforts include:

  • Investing in efficient infrastructure and green technology
  • Setting university-w energy standards
  • Partnering with local and national stakeholders
  • Engaging the campus community in conservation initiatives

Learn more about campus sustainability efforts

How U of I uses campus utilities

The scale of utility operations on campus is comparable to that of a small city. Energy is delivered through university-managed systems and is sourced in ways that emphasize affordability and sustainability.

  • Electricity is purchased from Avista Utilities and distributed through two university-owned meters, reducing costs compared to standard commercial rates.
  • Steam heat is produced at the U of I Energy Plant using local wood chips — a sustainable byproduct of the timber industry — cutting costs and lowering our carbon footprint.
  • Natural gas is used as a backup fuel during peak demand or maintenance and is sourced directly from IGI Resources, Inc. Natural gas is also purchased from Avista Utilities for buildings not served by the energy plant.

Utility data plots

  • Steam (PDF)
  • Electricity (PDF)
  • Water (PDF)
  • Natural gas (PDF)
  • Fuel types comparison (PDF)
  • Data file download (XLSX)
Utility typeBuildings servedArea served (sq. ft.)
Steam623.22 million
Chilled water382.38 million
Electricity1323.97 million
Campus utility coverage (2022)

Tracking our progress

Since 2006, U of I has launched multiple capital projects to reduce utility consumption. The table below shows our progress compared to baseline data from 2002.

Metric2002 baselineValue (year)Net improvement
Steam Production Efficiency [lbs/MMBtu]11,14213,027 (2022)+14.5%
Particulate Emissions (tons)35.3912.89 (2020)-63.6%
CO2 Emissions (tons)76.8410.09 (2020)-86.9%
Make-up Water (gallons)3.4 million1.44 million (2022)-59.2%
Domestic Water (gallons)2.17 million1.27 million (2022)-41.3%
Electricity Use (kWh)63.8 million45.96 million (2022)-27.9%

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Campus utilities

  • Power and energy
  • Water systems

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Facility services

Email: facilities@uidaho.edu
Phone: 208-885-6246
Mailing Address:

875 Perimeter Dr. MS2281
Moscow, ID 83844-2281

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