MSU reduces energy use in buildings for 2009-10
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The first year of efforts to reduce energy usage by consolidating classrooms led to some green savings for MSU.
During the 2008-09 year, seven buildings that previously held classes and events in the evening saw the classes moved to more utilized buildings nearby to save energy, said Jennifer Sowa, a project coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Operations.
“This is one of the methods we’re using to reduce energy on campus and emissions,” Sowa said. “We’ve taken places where only a couple (classes) are occurring late at night and moved them to buildings with other things going on.”
This allows the HVAC, or heating, ventilation and cooling systems, to be turned down earlier, she said.
The HVAC isn’t completely shut down; rather, it runs on reduced power, said Karen Zelt, spokeswoman for the Physical Plant.
In the pilot year, which began last fall, the changes saved the university about $17,000 and prevented about 137 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted, according to a statement from MSU.
MSU spent about $64.4 million on utilities and energy in 2008-09, which includes HVAC systems. According to the University Budget Guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees in June, MSU expects utility costs to increase about 11 percent, or about $5.2 million, in 2009-10.
The buildings included in the first year of the program include Agriculture Hall, Baker Hall, Giltner Hall, the Old Horticulture Building, the Natural Resources Building, the Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning Building and Olds Hall.
The Physical Plant, Office of the Registrar, Facilities Planning and Space Management and Academic Technology Services were part of the process.
The classes and events were moved to buildings close to their original building to minimize inconvenience, Sowa said.
“People might need to get used to something a bit different,” she said. “The Registrar’s Office was cognizant of the change. It might be slightly different, but it’s a more efficient way we’re doing it.”
Physiology senior Karen Luplow said the relocating didn’t seem like an inconvenience.
“I think the whole point is we’re an energy-efficient school — that’s our focus,” she said.
The changes reflects a permanent shift in scheduling, so some classes might not be available in certain buildings at times they had been in previous years, Sowa said.
The recommendation came out of the Be Spartan Green initiative, which outlines a plan to reduce energy use by 15 percent, landfill waste by 30 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by the year 2015. Sowa said they will continue to look at other ways to reduce energy.
“We will continue to look at additional opportunities because it was very successful,” she said.
More buildings will eventually be incorporated for next year, according to the statement.
Commentary
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Al "The Saint" Gore
(07/08/09 10:23pm)Report
Great, more propaganda. When it was cold just weeks ago, the language in the press was climate change. When we reach the middle of summer and heat waves start, they use the language global warming again. The language will revert back to climate change when it starts to get nippy in the fall. Embracing the new Religion of Earth: Environmentalism, is fine and dandy if you don’t care about such things as liberties and freedoms. If you’re so sure global warming is going to happen, then go ahead and invest in Canadian real estate.
What, too risky? Then why take the risk to shut down our coal power plants with Cap and Tax?
Idiots.
Green
(07/09/09 5:20am)Report
With all the $money$ MSU will be saving on their heating/cooling bill, I would like to suggest,that you lower tuition. Now that’s a thought that STUDENTS would love to read about, don’t you think?
ha
(07/09/09 7:04am)Report
except it would never happen. Student’s won’t see anything but increases.
True True True
(07/09/09 8:49am)Report
Hit the Nail on the Head on that ONE!
Scott
(07/09/09 9:05am)Report
I read this article and thought it was good that MSU was doing intelligent things to make itself more efficient and cost effective and all I read is people complaining and calling it propoganda. I don’t care whether you believe in climate change or global warming but you have to look at this as a good thing. No your tuition won’t go down if the University saves $17,000 but if the program continues to expand then maybe your next tuition bill won’t go up as much as it could have. Quit complaining about a good thing.
Good thought Scott
(07/09/09 9:34am)Report
Thank you for reminding us to look at the glass 1/2 full, rather tham 1/2 empty.
manbearpig
(07/09/09 10:35am)Report
I prefer to think of half the cup being drank by the piggish faculty and the remainder sitting in the sun spoiling before the students partake.
Tuition First
(07/10/09 11:31am)Report
Screw energy, save on tuition. I could give a rat’s ass about climate change if I don’t have enough money to survive. Some priorities are just more important.
re:manbearpig
(07/10/09 11:33am)Report
Please smile.
GLOBAL WARMING IS FAKE THEY PLOTTED IT IN THE SAME ROOM AS THE MOON LANDING!!!!!1111
(07/10/09 5:25pm)Report
Yeah! The earth totally sucks when you can’t make MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY.
Al Gore
(07/10/09 5:44pm)Report
Yes, you fools, you’re falling for it. You somehow believe that humans can take natural substances from the earth, utilize them naturally because everything humans do is natural, and somehow unnaturally warm up the whole earth catastrophically beyond what it would have. Go hence forth, EEEVVIIILLL, ahahaha let the British instigated genocide begin. I bring pestilence, famine, war, disease, let the evil floooowwww!
True
(07/10/09 8:38pm)Report
Global Warming in NOT true.
And remember...
(07/10/09 8:42pm)Report
..that Al Gore thinks that he invented the internet, what does that say in itself about Al Gore? (A little CRAZY, don’t you think?)
Sarah
(07/11/09 10:03am)Report
I’ve gotta step in and say…the article DOES mention that utility costs are expected to GO UP next year (a whole $5.2 million worth)…despite the savings. Does this allow for tuition cuts?
common sense
(07/11/09 3:31pm)Report
Why discover cisplatin or own a cyclotron that makes cutting edge medical devices when you can sit around grumbling about these derned evolutionists?
Ha Ha Ha
(07/11/09 5:59pm)Report
Common Sense, you crack me up!