Memos

Several years ago, KU began lowering thermostat settings in the winter and increasing them during the summer months in order to reduce energy consumption and utility expenditures. In 2003, a campus energy policy that addresses a variety of conservation measures was adopted.

In 2001, KU contracted with Chevron Energy Solutions of Overland Park to conduct an energy audit that helped identify more than 100 high-quality, energy-saving measures. KU entered into a performance contract with Chevron in 2002 to implement $18.4 million in energy conservation measures. Under the contract, Chevron covers the implementation costs and guarantees that the savings generated by utilizing the conservation measures it recommends will cover the costs.

KU continues to work with Chevron to develop an awareness plan that will better inform members of the University community about how they can contribute to the overall goal of energy conservation. Student energy monitors have been assigned to select campus buildings to turn off lights, close windows and check room temperatures.

Energy Guidelines for the Heating Season are available at the Provost's website. In addition, Chevron has provided the following recommendations to help reduce the energy used on the campus during the winter months:

Recommendations for all occupants

• Be aware of the scheduled hours of building operations and plan your work accordingly; do not expect buildings to have fully operational HVAC systems during evenings and weekends when there is minimal occupant use.
• Dress appropriately for the season; wear layers of clothing during the winter months.
• During the heating season, open blinds, drapes, and curtains to allow sunlight in for solar heat gain. In the evenings, close blinds, drapes, and curtains to reduce thermal heat loss.
• Turn off all unused electrical appliances when not in use.
• Maintain refrigerators and freezers in optimal working order by keeping coils clean and doors properly sealed.
• Consolidate contents of refrigerators or freezers – a full freezer is more efficient than one that is half empty.

Recommendations for Computer Efficiency

• If you manage a computer lab, turn on only the PCs that are being used.
• Do not leave your computer running overnight or on weekends and do not turn it on until you are ready to use it.
• If your computer is going to be inactive for more than 16 minutes, turn it off. The energy needed to run a computer for more than 16 minutes is greater than the energy consumed to start it.
• Turning a computer on or off occasionally will not harm the computer or monitor. The life of a monitor is related to the amount of time it is in use, not the number of on and off cycles.
• Do not print out copies of email unless necessary.
• The best screen saver is no screen saver at all – turn off your monitor when you are not using it. A better option is to turn off your computer altogether.
• Buy only as large a monitor as you need. A 17-inch monitor uses 40 percent more energy than a 14-inch monitor.
• Ink jet printers, though a little slower than laser printers, use 80 to 90 percent less energy.

Recommendations for Science/Labs

• Keep fume hood sashes closed when not in use. Fume hoods draw room air and any undesirable fumes through the cabinet and exhaust them through the building's exhaust stack. In almost all laboratories on campus, the room air that is exhausted is replaced by 100% outside air. Outside air is very expensive to heat or cool. Lowering the sash (the glass window) when the fume hood is not in use reduces the amount of conditioned air exhausted.
• Keep the hallway door shut as much as possible. This is a safety measure that helps balance the air system in the laboratory.

Recommendations for Lighting

• Consider using desk lamps (task lighting) and reducing overhead lighting in the room.
• If your building has areas where "occupancy sensors" are being used to turn lights on and off (such as in classrooms, conference rooms, rest rooms, and hallways), please cooperate with their use.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs where possible (desk lamps).
• If you are going to be away more than 5 minutes, turn your lights off, even if they are fluorescent. The startup cost of fluorescent lighting is minimal compared to leaving the lights on for 5 minutes or longer.

We welcome your suggestions for energy conservation on the campus and invite you to send them to Vice Provost Jim Long at jlong@ku.edu.