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Engineers for a Sustainable World
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UI Building Coordinators Seeing Green
It started with a challenge. Alan MacVey, director of the Division of Performing Arts, challenged Kayt Conrad, director of operations, and her staff with finding ways to make the division more “green”. So last June, Conrad contacted Facilities Management and asked a simple question: How can we save energy?
Facilities Management had answers. Glen Mowery, John Zhou, Marc Brown and Chuck Weno met with Conrad and building coordinators from Hancher Auditorium, Voxman Music Building, Theatre Building and Halsey Hall to discuss several potential energy conservation opportunities. Zhou and Brown then conducted energy audits and presented their findings to the group.
Zuhair Mased, who joined Facilities Management in October 2007 as associate director of Energy Management, states, “These initiatives are part of a larger effort to deploy energy conservation measures across campus in order to meet aggressive goals set forth in Facilities Management’s strategic initiatives and in the UI’s Energy Plan. Cooperation and support from building occupants is a key factor in the success of these initiatives. Our work with building coordinators in Performing Arts is one of many similar efforts now ongoing.”
The following energy saving initiatives were implemented in the Division of Performing Arts with the corresponding results:
Initiative |
Result |
Added variable frequency drives1 to 10 supply and return fans totaling 350 Horse Power at Hancher Auditorium and Voxman Music Building |
Roughly $80,000 in energy cost savings annually with a total investment of $75,000 or a simple payback of less than one year. This project is qualified to receive a rebate from MidAmerican Energy Company Rebate Program.
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Unoccupied scheduling2 of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system at the Theatre Building |
Energy cost savings of $9,200 annually with a total cost of $1,400 with a simple payback of two months |
Lighting projects including upgrade from T12 to T83, occupancy lighting control at classrooms, private-office area, conference rooms, and rest rooms, de-lamp4 to reduce lighting level to meet the standard (all in progress) |
TBD |
1 Variable frequency drives save money by adjusting air flow to match heating and cooling demands
2 Unoccupied scheduling – automatic shut down of heating and cooling systems when building is unoccupied
3 T12 to T8 – T12 are fluorescent bulbs, T8 are energy efficient bulbs smaller in diameter
4De-lamp – Take out light fixtures in areas that are over lit
These initiatives were paid for by general fund allocations for energy savings, and utility company rebates.
Connie Tipsword, Hancher Auditorium; Kathy Reeves, Voxman Music Building; Denise Matthes, Theatre Building; Kathleen Forbes, Halsey Hall and Kellie Kucera of the Division of Performing Arts all helped facilitate these energy saving initiatives. In addition, Dave Ollendick, electronics technician in U&EM; Gary Martin, Area 3 mechanic; Mike Lee, Area 3 manager; and Valerie Richard, associate director of Buildings & Landscape Services, contributed to make these projects happen.
After working with Facilities Management and seeing the results, Conrad stated, “I certainly never thought we’d be this successful! I have been really impressed with the staff in FM. They’re so knowledgeable and very creative thinkers, and that made me want to trust them. I think that in going into the process with our minds open to opportunity was really helpful. We honestly went into this without expectations, so we’re all really pleased with the results and we’re looking forward to the next project with FM.”
These results are only the beginning. In the coming months, Facilities Management will work with other building coordinators on campus to create additional energy savings similar to these. The following energy saving initiatives are planned for buildings in the College of Liberal Arts:
Initiative |
Expected Result |
Building heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unoccupied scheduling at MacLean Hall
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Annual energy savings of $19,000 |
Building heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unoccupied scheduling at Schaeffer Hall
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Annual energy savings of $22,000 |
Building heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unoccupied scheduling at Art Building West |
Annual energy savings of $13,000 |
The numbers are impressive, and demonstrate that “green” initiatives can reap very large rewards for building occupants, building owners, and the institution. While some of the initiatives require in-depth technical knowledge of systems and processes, many of the successes in these buildings were the result of quick action by building coordinators searching for ways to make a difference.
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