As part of ongoing efforts to reduce a campus energy bill that exceeds $25 million a year, the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 is rewarding employees who implement strategies to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions while providing conservation learning opportunities to students.
Five CU-麻豆影院 buildings attained Buff Energy Star status during the 2006-07 fiscal year, which means that building employees reduced energy use by at least 5 percent over the previous fiscal year.
Together, the five buildings conserved nearly 235,000-kilowatt hours of energy, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 470,000 pounds and saved the university some $27,000, according to campus conservation officer Moe Tabrizi.
The latest Buff Energy Star winners include Fiske Planetarium; the Henderson Building, which houses the CU Museum; Lesser House; the Mathematics Building; and the Science Learning Laboratory on the East Campus.
For their energy-saving efforts, building proctors will receive a one-time $1,000 cash bonus from CU-麻豆影院 Vice Chancellor for Administration Paul Tabolt. Winning building proctors include Tito Salas at Fiske, Sheila Goff at Henderson, Laura Vidal at Lesser, Donna Maes at Mathematics and Maureen Murphy at the Science Learning Lab.
"Energy conservation is good for the environment and the university's bottom line," Tabrizi said. "Simple strategies such as turning off unnecessary lights help us create a conservation-minded campus and help us curb costs over time."
The combined conservation efforts by all Buff Energy Star program participants has resulted in total energy savings of more than 1 million kilowatt hours and a cost saving of some $122,000. Total reduction of carbon dioxide emissions amount to more than 2.1 million pounds, Tabrizi said.
Leading Buff Energy Star buildings reported energy savings ranging from 7 percent to more than 23 percent. Specific actions that resulted in savings included turning off lights when not in use, enabling power-management features on computers and other office equipment, relying more on daylight, reporting energy waste to the campus conservation hotline and building energy audits.
Each year, campus administrators select Buff Energy Star winners based on how well participants adhere to program criteria, Tabrizi said.
To be considered for Buff Energy Star status, building proctors must show a 5 percent energy reduction over the prior year, complete an energy audit, take action based on the audit, post energy and water conservation posters and other educational materials throughout the building, and take an active role in communicating and encouraging resource conservation.
This year's selection committee included Tabrizi, Robin Newsome-Suitts from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Robert Hall from the campus Environmental Center.
The 2007-08 Buff Energy Star cycle runs from July 2007 to June 2008. All nominations should be forwarded to Moe Tabrizi via campus mail at UCB 453 or via e-mail at Moe.Tabrizi@colorado.edu.
To learn more about energy conservation on the CU-麻豆影院 campus and to nominate a building for Buff Energy Star status visit . To report campus energy waste call (303) 735-6202 or e-mail energyconservationhotline@fm.colorado.edu.