Energy Conservation

Upcoming & Recent Events

Earth Month 2009 Events

'Power Down for the Planet'
March 23 - April 17, 2009

Energy Expo 2007

Energy Expo 2006

The University of Iowa is an emerging leader in renewable energy strategies and sustainability practices. From renewable fuels to wind power and sustainable design, Iowa is pioneering the way in current efforts toward an energy-independent future.

All members of the UI community can contribute to energy conservation. Informed faculty, staff and students know that energy conservation has multiple benefits – saving energy, money, and the environment.
Get involved and stay involved!

Video Feature

UI Power Plant - Oat Hull Project Take a front row seat as cameras go inside the UI Power Plant for an up close view of the innovative and award-winning Biomass Fuel Project. The University uses a biomass material, oat hulls, produced by the Cedar Rapids, IA Quaker Oats facility and burns this by-product to generate steam for use on the Main Campus and approximately 10 million kilowatt-hours of green power. The biomass fuel represents 20% of the fuel (coal, natural gas, and biomass) consumed in UI’s Main Power Plant.

News

Big Ten Network video feature, Iowa Magazine: Sustainability

UI has highest number of 'Power Down for the Planet' pledges- The UI gathered 6,013 pledges for the "Power Down for the Planet" challenge, the most by any university participating in the program and a third of the pledges made by all participating universities nationally.

New student garden opens on UI west campus - The garden will provide students with an on-campus, working and sustainable garden that will produce "field-to-market" vegetable crops for the Iowa Memorial Union and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students working toward the UI's new Certificate of Sustainability. Open house at the student garden Thursday, April 23 at 1:30 p.m.

Landscape Services Arbor Day event - the Landscape Services tree crew will be installing two trees on the Pentacrest Friday, April 24, starting at 9:00 a.m., and will fulfill one of the requirements in attaining "Tree Campus USA" designation through the Arbor Day Foundation. Interested faculty, staff and students should meet on the west side of Jessup Hall.

Earth Month 2009 Events- Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22 and the UI has a full month of activities planned. Check the calendar above for details or read the press release. Join us as we celebrate and help protect the earth!

UI sustainability group inspires amendment - Nine UI students and staff of the Office of Sustainability traveled to the State Capitol Building in Des Moines on Thursday, April 2, 2009 for the Campus Compact Going Green conference. The group inspired State Representative Mark Kuhn to write and sponsor an amendment to Senate File 404.

"UI Cuts Emissions, Saves $1M Per Year Burning Oat Hulls," Environmental Leader, January 30, 2009.

Energy consumption in University Services Building reduced 15 percent

EPA notes UI Power Plant's carbon emission reduction for 2008

Liz Christiansen director of new UI Sustainability Office (new website coming soon).

Building statistics - energy management stats by building are now available. Statistics show the current energy management schedules by building, and historical usage data for general fund buildings for each of the last five fiscal years.

Oakdale Renewable Energy Plant
Under consideration is constructing and operating an energy plant at the Oakdale Campus using alternative and renewable energy sources such as biomass, landfill gas, anaerobic digester methane, and gasifier syngas.

More News...

The University of Iowa is a member of the Association for the
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Partners

Look for the Energy Star label
before you purchase!