Vol. 19, No. 31

May 18, 2000

UD honored by EPA with top award for energy efficiency

The University of Delaware has received a plaque for being a 1999 Honor Society Member of the Energy Star Buildings Partnership of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the second year UD has received the award for meeting program milestones since joining the organization in 1997. The Energy Star Buildings Partnership, a comprehensive energy-efficient program for commercial and industrial buildings, focuses on reducing waste and improving building performance by using high-efficiency energy technologies. The partnership offers participants a five-stage energy upgrade strategy that provides a framework for making comprehensive efficiency upgrades in a range of building types. Partnership organizations include retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants, federal, state and local governments, hospitals, schools and universities. UD was selected because of demonstrated progress in saving energy and preventing pollution through the installation of energy-efficient lighting and building technologies and the completion of a specified number of technology upgrades "One of the gains made at UD during the past year is the completion of the conversion of the air conditioning and heating systems at Christina East and West Towers," Richard Walter, facilities management, said. "This represents a change from an inefficient motel-style heat pump system to a state-of-the-art central plant system." Other examples of conversion updates are the completion of the Worrilow central utility plant and the conversion of Townsend Hall to a new state-of-the-art system. The renovation of Memorial Hall, completed last year, also included the replacement of inefficient energy systems by modern, energy efficient technologies that help meet UD's commitment to the Energy Star Building Partnership. According to Walter, current energy efficient projects under way that should secure future recognition for UD include East Hall, Carpenter Sports Building and the Rust and Gold ice arenas. Complementing the installation of the latest energy efficient technologies, UD also has made the change to cleaner burning fuels for heating purposes. "Completely gone are the use of heavy oils No. 2 and No. 4 for heating," Walter said. "All major locations have been converted to clean burning natural gas, with a backup source of #2 fuel at the central plant for the coldest of days." Walter credits these measures with a 90 percent reduction in sulfur oxide emissions and the removal of nearly 100 underground fuel oil tanks. The Energy Star Buildings and Green Lights Partnership has more than 4,400 participants nationwide, including almost 400 school districts and universities. Jerry Rhodes