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(Stillwater, OK March 6. 2009) - OSU has saved more than $5 million as a result of the energy conservation effort it started in June 2007. For 2008, OSU reduced energy consumption by 66.997 million kilowatt hours, resulting in a savings of $3.94 million or 18 percent over the 12-month period. That is more than $750,000 above the estimated savings. The OSU-Stillwater campus alone had a savings of $3.13 million. Total savings since June 2007 for the OSU system is $5.069 million. The energy savings program was implemented in conjunction with Energy Education, Inc. (EEI), a Texas company founded by OSU alumnus Dr. William Spears. The Dallas-based company specializes in people-oriented energy conservation services. In addition to the energy conservation initiative, OSU is focusing on sustainability efforts in the areas of climate change, food and recycling, physical plant, green building and transportation. “Our faculty, staff and students are very interested in creating an environment at OSU that is focused on doing what we can to be as green as we can,” said Burns Hargis, OSU President. “Not only does this result in dollar savings for the university and the state of Oklahoma, but improves our lives and our environment.” A few highlights from OSU’s efforts: an agreement is in place to purchase wind power from OG&E; dining services buys fresh, locally grown produce; select facilities have gone trayless to save water; recycling efforts include batteries, oil, glass, plastics and paper, and surplus property; new campus construction is incorporating various energy efficient methods; OSU has obtained status as an EPA/DEQ “Energy Star Partner”; a CNG refueling station near campus will allow OSU to use an alternative source of fuel for its busses and fleet vehicles. The President’s Task Force on Sustainability is chaired by Vice President of Research and Technology Transfer Stephen McKeever and is focusing on three areas -- sustainability application, education and research. Sustainability research is a major focus at OSU and includes a variety of areas from sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, social/community sustainability, green product design, business sustainability and energy. “The future of OSU sustainability research is going to focus on renewable energy resources,” said McKeever. In the area of sustainability education, OSU offered more than 100 courses in 2008 which included some focus if not a primary focus on sustainability. In addition, plans are being developed in the next two to three years to create a separate sustainability certificate at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and create a minor in sustainability. There also are long range plans to create a sustainability major at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. OSU Sustainability HighlightsClimate Change and Energy
• OSU reduced energy consumption from January 2008 through December 2008 by 66.997 million kilowatt hours resulting in a savings of $3.94 million in energy costs or 18 percent, which is more than $750,000 above the estimated savings. Total savings since June 2007 is $5.069 million.
• OSU has obtained status as an EPA/DEQ “Energy Star Partner”.
• An agreement in place to purchase wind power as an alternate energy source through the Sooner Wind Purchase Power Portion of OG&E’s Green Power Wind Rider (“GPWR”).
• Twenty-one bus shelters have been equipped with solar panels to provide power for nighttime lighting. An additional five shelters will be fitted with solar panels.
• The purposed student union renovation project will include both wind and solar technology.
Food and Recycling
• Currently University Dining Services buys some fresh, locally grown produce from vendors who purchase directly from Oklahoma farms. By buying local products from vendors, we improve the freshness of our products while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from transportation.
• OSU dining operations use only recyclable napkins.
• All you can eat facilities on campus are trayless which conserves about a half-a-gallon of water per tray, unnecessary food waste, and reduces chemical use.
• Roots Café, a dining facility inside the recently opened North Classroom Building, focuses on healthy menu choices that include organic foods and ecofriendly containers.
• Development is under way for “Farm to Dining” a program which will reduce transportation costs and pollution costs. It should also mean less use of chemicals for preservatives. The concept includes the possibility of a farmer’s market on the Stillwater campus.
Physical Plant
• Materials recycled through the university’s recycling program overseen by the Physical Plant department include batteries,
oil, glass, plastics and paper. The university currently recycles paper, cardboard and wood pallets. About 30 tons of cardboard, 45 tons of wood pallets and 100 tons of scrap metal are recycled annually.
• Landscape wastes are composted and used as fertilizer and soil conditioner.
• The university recycles surplus property including furniture, electronic and lab equipment and appliances. These items are
collected and made available to any state entity for reuse and remaining items are sold at public auction.
• Student groups started “Real Cowboys Recycle,” a recycling program conducted during football games and a new solid waste
recycle program.
Green Building
• Buildings under construction on the Stillwater and other campuses in the OSU system are incorporating features such as energy efficient lighting; high levels of insulation; connection to existing systems (steam and chilled water where available), use of high efficient equipment/alternatives ( ground source heat pumps), and use of daylight.
• The Multi Modal Transportation Terminal is increasing efficiency of the campus and community transit system as well as the intercity bus system that provides service from the OSU-Stillwater campus to the OSU-Tulsa campus. The facility utilizes an energy saving lighting system that dims the interior lights of the facility based on the amount of external light.
• Newly completed North Classroom Building will use internal shades and fritted glass, providing the opportunity to monitor the building/rooms with and without this special glass to determine its energy efficiency.
• OSU will follow LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines in its future construction projects
Transportation
• OSU will build a CNG refueling station near campus. This facility will be made accessible to the public in hopes of encouraging residents and local agencies to purchase CNG powered vehicles.
• OSU’s fleet of 23 transit buses will be converted to CNG by 2014.
• OSU has begun replacing its 150-vehicle motor pool fleet with CNG conversion option vehicles. The university plans to replace about 80% of its fleet with CNG vehicles by 2015.
• OSU will pursue the purchase of bi-fuel sedans for travel outside the CNG fueling area. Currently there are 12 15-passenger vans in the motor pool fleet which will be converted as bi-fuel vehicles.
• University Mailing Services currently operates five electric delivery vehicles. |
