UTÂ’s conservation efforts save $1 million

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - The University of Tennessee has saved more than $1 million in energy costs over the last 15 months, thanks to the Knoxville campus community's increased energy conservation efforts.

Electricity usage per square foot on campus is down 9.9 percent in that time, which not only affects energy costs but has a positive effect on the environment, according to UT.

"The savings is a direct result of all of our students, faculty and staff doing their part to help eliminate wasted energy," UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek wrote in a memo to students, faculty and staff.

UT Knoxville launched its "Switch Your Thinking" campaign in September 2008. The campaign, which is part of the campus' "Make Orange Green" program, is designed to reduce campus energy consumption by 10 percent.

Members of the campus community were asked to turn off the lights if a room is empty, shut off computers at the end of the day, use a power strip and unplug it at night.

A campus energy conservation policy went into effect about a year ago. One major component is the establishment of target indoor air temperatures in campus buildings - thermostats are set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the heating seasons and 76 degrees in the cooling season.

UT spokesman Jay Mayfield said that the campus electrical substation is down more than a megawatt in consumption for the month of November.

In addition, despite a 10.8 percent increase in square footage on campus from September 2006 through August 2009, the overall electricity consumption on campus is down 0.1 percent in the same time frame.

"Even with all the new buildings, we're still using less energy now than we were when the program first began," Mayfield said.

More energy upgrades are planned for the flagship campus, including the addition of more automatic light switches and energy efficient light bulbs.

Related News

electric vehicle

Opinion: The awesome, revolutionary electric-car revolution that doesn't actually exist

TORONTO - Something strange happened at the Ecofiscal Commission recently. Earlier this month, the carbon-tax advocacy group featured on its website as one of its advisers the renowned Canadian economist (and FP Comment columnist) Jack M. Mintz. The other day, suddenly and without fanfare, Mintz was gone from the website, and the commission’s advisory board.

Advisers come and advisers go, of course, but it turns out there was an impetus for Mintz’s departure. The Ecofiscal Commission in its latest report, dropped just before Canada Day, seemingly shifted from its position that carbon prices were so excellent at mimicking market forces…

READ MORE
siemens gamesa

Siemens Energy to unlock a new era of offshore green hydrogen production

READ MORE

Sara Hastings-Simon

Could selling renewable energy be Alberta's next big thing?

READ MORE

russia-to-ban-bitcoin-mining-amid-electricity-deficit

Russia to Ban Bitcoin Mining Amid Electricity Deficit

READ MORE

Quebec shatters record for electricity consumption once again

READ MORE