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High power bills lead to cost-cutting on BSU utilites, summer sessions cut
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Summer school may move to four-day academic week
The Arbiter
With a nationwide power crunch driving Idaho’s utility costs up by as much as 40 percent, Boise State is looking at ways to cut down on its power costs – without cutting student programs.
Though the cost of buildings is covered by the state, the cost of powering them, heating them, providing them with water, as well as sewer and garbage collection rests with the University.
According to Buster Neel, vice president of Finance and Administration, some proposed solutions for the budget crunch are cutting class days during summer sessions and turning on thermostats later in the day.
Though the proposal is yet to be finalized, summer sessions may be held four days a week, instead of five. Also, summer classes will be consolidated into certain buildings.
Neel says that other, simple changes are being made to cut down on costs as well.
“We’ve adjusted thermostats around campus for one thing. We’ve put a lot of effort into fine-tuning our heating and ventilation,” Neel said.
He also explained that Boise State employees are being told to turn off lights and computers when not in use.
According to a memo sent by Daryl Jones, vice president of Academic Affairs, hours of operation at the library will also be adjusted during the summer and the number of available computer labs during the summer may also be limited.
While some buildings may have their energy cut off during the summer, the same will not happen for the Pavilion or the Student Union Building.
The Union, constructed with student fees, is trying to defray its higher utility bills without cutting student services, according to SUB Director Leah Barrett.
“For us the energy saving effort is so significant because we want to be using student fee dollars to be creating programs and providing services, not just pay our utility bills,” Barrett said.
The cost of providing electricity, she said, has gone from $113,000 last fiscal year to an estimated $168,000 for FY2001-2002.
Costs for other utilities have gone up as well. The Student Union has budgeted nearly $100,000 for natural gas, and water, sewer and trash collection will cost nearly $80,000.
Barrett said the Student Union will continue to be open seven days a week, even during the summer. However, the SUB is currently working to save energy through maintenance improvements and energy conservation measures.
For one thing, she said, fans in restrooms will no longer run 24 hours a day, thermostats have been adjusted and an energy-guzzling 30-year old chiller is being replaced. The building also will not begin to be heated until 7:30 a.m., a half-hour change from normal. The building begins to see most of its use, she said, beginning at about 8 a.m.
Barrett also says that the Student Union Board of Governors is raising room rates for outside groups. Rooms will remain available to students, however, at no cost. She says that the Student Union is committed to staying open seven days a week and not limiting its services.
Sean C. Hayes