Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

INSIDE IOWA STATE
June 8, 2001

Eighty campus buildings to receive energy plans

by Diana Pounds
Facilities staff turned thermostats up to 78 degrees in buildings around campus this week -- to save on energy costs and help the university cope with budget cuts.

However, thermostat adjustments won't occur in temperature-sensitive research areas, said utilities director David Miller.

"We won't undertake energy-conserving measures in most research areas until we have developed specific conservation plans for the buildings," Miller said. Those plans will be developed in collaboration with building supervisors and occupants to ensure that temperature changes and other energy-conserving efforts don't compromise teaching and research activities, he said.

Facilities teams began developing individual energy conservation plans for approximately 80 buildings on campus this week. The first buildings scheduled for energy evaluations are the Administrative Services, Insectary, Molecular Biology, Sweeney, Town Engineering, General Services and Beardshear.

"For the first evaluations, we tried to pick buildings that have different functions and types of construction, or that are high energy users (such as Molecular Biology and Town Engineering)," Miller said. "That will help us develop blueprints for analyzing other buildings."

Once an energy plan for a building is drawn up, it will be shared with the building supervisor and occupants before energy-conserving actions are taken, Miller said. ISU officials hope to realize $1.5 million in energy savings during fiscal year 2002.

Electricity use drops on campus
Electricity use is down at Iowa State, and that's a sign to utilities director David Miller that faculty and staff have begun pulling the plug on unneeded equipment and appliances.

Electrical usage has dropped as much as 10 percent for this time of year, Miller said. (Air conditioning costs are factored out, so the drop isn't a reflection of the cooler spring.)

"We believe that faculty and staff have begun shutting down computers, printers and appliances to help save on energy costs, and their efforts are beginning to pay off," Miller said.

Officials have asked individuals in the campus community to help save energy by turning off computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, lights and other equipment and appliances whenever possible.

"Even with Iowa State's low electric rates, it costs $102 a year to operate a new, energy-efficient personal computer, monitor and laser printer," Miller said.