Dear Miami Community,

In August, the Presidential Task Force on Environmental Sustainability issued its report “Sustaining Miami University for a Third Century.” One of the issues addressed was the growth in the amount of energy consumed at the university.  The report stressed that there are both environmental and financial benefits from lowering the university’s energy consumption.

The committee made a number of recommendations for reducing the university’s energy consumption. Some of these will take time or may be expensive to implement, but there also are changes that can be implemented with little or no cost.

We have already begun to implement changes and plan to move ahead with others.  The changes fall into three categories: changes that aren’t likely to be noticed, changes that will be noticeable but manageable if we each plan for the change, and changes that can only be accomplished with your cooperation.

Here are the changes we have implemented or will soon implement:

Changes that should not be noticeable:

1. Ensure air handling units and other building energy systems are operating efficiently.
2. Install more efficient interior and exterior lighting.
3. Reduce the number of air changes in buildings during periods of limited use, such as night and weekend hours.  
4. Lower the reset temperature on hot water systems.

Some actions already taken:

1. An existing maintenance program monitors operation of equipment and systems; HVAC maintenance includes regular inspections and replacement of parts to improve efficiency; and the university purchased high efficiency motors for the system.
2. 7,000 desk lamps in the residence halls were replaced with energy efficient compact
   fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) last spring (A CFL uses 75-80 per cent less electricity than an incandescent bulb and lasts for five years. Each CFL can prevent nearly 500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.)
    
3. Rec sports replaced fixtures over winter break; replacement of other light bulbs is ongoing.

Changes that may require some adjustments in our behavior:

1. Establish temperature standards appropriate to each season: 70° during the heating season and 74° during cooling season. Building occupants may experience temperature variances of plus or minus two degrees from the seasonal standard. (Each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter, leads to savings of 1-3 percent on energy bills).
2. Adjust to lower temperatures for heating and higher for cooling on nights and weekends. This means that temperatures may vary more from the standard during periods when the building is in limited use.
3. Reduce interior and exterior lighting in areas when it does not lead to safety concerns.

Some actions already taken:

New construction and renovations allow for these functions to be programmed automatically. For example, the engineering complex and Voice of America Learning Center use motion-sensing technology for lighting throughout and for ventilation in public areas like classrooms.

Changes that require your help:

1. Eliminate the use of space heaters and fans.
2. Work with your Technical Support Representative (TSR) to reduce the amount of electricity used nightly by personal computers.
3. Unplug telephone and other chargers when not in use.  (The average U.S. household spends $100 per year to power devices while they are off or in standby mode).
4. Unplug refrigerated water coolers at night and on weekends.
5. Turn off lights when rooms are not in use. (If every American household turned off the lights for one hour on one day, it would prevent more than 16,610 tons of carbon dioxide from being released).
6. Close the sash on exhaust hoods that are not in use.
7. Shut off computers, copiers and printers at night. (A copier in sleep mode at night uses as much energy per year as it takes to make up to 5,000 copies).
8. Use automatic door openers only when necessary.

By working together and making minor changes in our daily routines, we can significantly reduce the amount of energy that the university consumes. These changes will make a difference in our environment and provide cost savings at a time when budgets are being reduced.  Preliminary estimates indicate that just these proposed changes could yield savings of over $400,000 each year.

These ideas are just a start.  If you have an energy saving idea, please visit the university’s suggestion site and share your ideas with us: www.muohio.edu/ThisMakesCents.

Thank you,

David Creamer
Vice President for Finance and Business Services and Treasurer