Spending green to be green energy efficiency

Thanks to upcoming energy conservation efforts, green is the hot

new color campus.

The energy conservation project was first introduced four years

ago, at a time when many individuals were recognizing a campus-wide

need to cut down on energy consumption. With the endorsement of the

BSU facility planning council, efforts for the project were able to

continue.

The next step involved employing a contractor to carry out these

improvements. BSU’s request for proposal received a response

from a variety of companies. The university then used a set of

criteria to judge who would best be able to complete the project.

Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. Energy Services and Solutions

was chosen as the ultimate winner.

A campus-wide assessment of areas for possible energy improvements

has already taken place. The conservation program will cover

approximately two million square feet of facilities and 35

buildings. Included in these efforts will be improvements to 21,264

lighting fixtures to generate more natural light, automated vending

machines that light up only when approached by individuals, and an

upgrade of over seven hundred toilets and over nine hundred faucets

to more conservation-friendly models. In addition, the

Administration Building will be mechanically retrofitted to improve

ventilation.

Boise State Assistant Director of Facilities, Operations, and

Maintenance Einar Norton believes these improvements will

ultimately result in an enhanced learning environment for students.

He recognizes that improvements to lighting fixtures, in

particular, will aid in studying for students. Currently, students

are choosing to crack open their books in places that are not

originally intended as study areas, such as building lobbies.

Because these areas were not designed with students’ study

needs in mind, many are either too brightly or too dimly lit.

Architects will adjust these areas to match the level of light in

classrooms.

The project, which will run from Sept. 2004 through Dec. 2005, is

estimated to include approximately $8 million in improvements to

the various energy and utility systems across the campus. The

immediate projected outcome guarantees over $400,000 in annual

utility savings. Future years should see an annual savings of over

$800,000, taking into account the rise in utility costs.

The energy efficiency project, which constitutes only one step in

BSU’s energy conservation program, will not result in

immediate revenue for the BSU campus. Instead, the money saved from

these improvements will be put towards covering the cost of the new

equipment used in the project. Once this equipment is paid off, BSU

will enjoy the revenue.

Norton emphasizes that although this project marks a huge step

forward in the university’s energy conservation program, it

requires cooperation from everyone on campus. Student involvement

is especially important. Many students are unaware of the impact

their actions have on campus energy costs. For example, handicapped

doors are frequently used by individuals who do not require their

use. Although a single unnecessary use of these electric doors does

not generate a huge cost for the university, hundreds of

occurrences a day becomes expensive.

David Naccarato, account manager for Siemens Building Technologies,

emphasizes that the primary goal of the project is to improve

overall comfort for BSU faculty and students. “It’s not

just about energy. It’s about education, learning, and

positively impacting BSU.”

Danielle Verhulp

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