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  August 28, 2006
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campus newS

Energy conservation committee issues its recommendations
By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu
A committee studying energy conservation said the university can potentially lower energy usage and costs through such steps as auditing buildings for energy waste, closely monitoring use of utilities in buildings, burning biomass with coal in the steam plant and converting to hybrid vehicles that run on renewable fuels.

The Energy Conservation Executive Committee also calls for a comprehensive communication and education program to help employees and students understand the importance of saving energy—and what they can do about it.

Tom Adams
The recommendations are in an initial report the committee submitted this summer to Provost Arnett C. Mace Jr. and Tim Burgess, senior vice president for finance and administration.

Work already is under way on some of the recommendations, including building audits and the education program. While some recommendations will require funding for new equipment, the committee said energy savingscan be achieved through such simple steps as turning off lights and closing water valves.

“We think all the recommendations are doable,” said committee chair Tom Adams, director of outreach services for the Faculty of Engineering. “Some will require capital outlays but they will result in a good payback on the investment.”

The committee was created in February by Mace and Hank Huckaby, Burgess’ predecessor who retired June 30.

Its purpose is to follow up on the work of four committees formed in 2005 to study how UGA can save money on energy costs through alternative transportation, alternative work schedules, energy conservation in buildings and fuel conservation.


Saving energy, saving money
The recommendations from the energy conservation committee include:

* Developing a communication and education program to promote energy conservation awareness and provide energy-saving tips. An energy Web site is under construction and the public affairs office will produce news articles about energy-saving efforts. Ken B. Crowe, assistant director for operations and maintenance in the physical plant, has been appointed campus energy engineer and will coordinate the education initiative.

* Conducting audits on campus buildings to eliminate energy waste. A pilot audit on the ecology building conducted last spring identified steps to improve energy efficiency including upgrading lighting controls, plugging leaks in air handling units and upgrading a major air supply fan. A similar audit is planned on the Driftmier Engineering Center this fall.

* Installing meters and other devices to monitor and control utility usage in campus buildings. Many buildings don’t have systems for measuring and regulating air flow and the amount of water and electricity being used, the report said. New systems should include a steam trap survey program and data collection methods that meet the highest national and international performance standards.

* Conducting an economic feasibility study for burning a combination of wood biomass and coal in the university’s steam plant. Biomass is less expensive than coal, and “co-fired” fuel also produces lower emissions.

* Considering the purchase of hybrid vehicles, including buses, and vehicles that burn renewable fuels. A related suggestion: look into an electric trolley bus system.

* Installing energy-saving devices in buildings. In the interim, the report requests that building supervisors appoint someone to be responsible for turning off nonessential lights, making sure water valves are closed and resetting thermostats at the end of each work day.
 


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