UD CONSERVING WATER AND ELECTRIC

The University of Delaware will save 3.5 million gallons of water per year through installation of state-of-the-art Maytag washing machines in residence hall laundry rooms across campus.

The Iowa-based home appliance company has supplied UD with 250 of its new Maytag Neptune front-loading machines and 250 energy-efficient dryers, which were installed this summer in 54 laundry rooms across campus.

The project continues a long line of conservation measures undertaken by the University of Delaware to reduce consumption of water, electricity and fossil fuels on campus.

"The University of Delaware has been actively working to conserve water and power for more than a decade," UD President David P. Roselle said. "By focusing on conservation and generating creative solutions, we have been able to cut water and power consumption on campus dramatically, even as the University has grown. Conservation is important work at all times, but even more so in times of drought, such as has been experienced this year.

"Two of the largest water- and power-consuming appliances are clothes washers and dryers. The installation of high-efficiency laundry equipment in UD residence halls is another logical step in our conservation efforts," Roselle said.

The session also featured remarks by Marsha Penhaker, deputy program manager of the federal Energy Star program, in which both UD and Maytag participate, for the Department of Energy, and John Gregory, president of Caldwell & Gregory, which supplies laundry room equipment and supplies to the University.

Also on hand were YoUDee, the national mascot champion who got a lesson in how to use the new washers and dryers from Maytag's Ol' Lonely repairman, portrayed by veteran actor Gordon Jump, and his new assistant, the Apprentice, portrayed by Mark Devine.

UD policies aimed at conserving water and power have been in place since the early 1990s, with water consumption declining 31 percent from nearly 345 million gallons in fiscal year 1988-89 to just over 238 million gallons in 2001-02.

That steep decrease in water use was achieved despite the fact that the University has grown substantially over the last decade, increasing the square footage of its buildings by about 14 percent. That figure grew from about 6.1 million square feet in 1992 to about 7.2 million square feet today.

Those sweeping savings were accomplished through numerous projects, according to Robert Stozek, associate vice president for Facilities at UD.

One of the first was to install a recirculating cooling water system in Sharp Laboratory. Instead of cooling the equipment with tap water, UD now recirculates the water through the use of chillers. Today, all new and renovated laboratories at UD are making use of recirculating water systems.

Another major savings came two years ago when UD tapped a well field filled with water not suitable for human consumption. The University uses the water for the cooling towers and boilers at the central utility plant. This non-potable water also is used for irrigation of athletic playing fields to prevent injuries.

UD draws about 100,000 gallons per day from the well field, taking pressure off Newark's drinking water supplies.

"Not only does this save the University considerable money each year, but it preserves potable water for other purposes," Stozek said.

In a similar fashion, UD is drawing non-potable water from a spring beneath Lammot du Pont Laboratory, also for use in boilers and chillers at the central utility plant.

In addition to the new Maytag washing machines, the University has been working to save water by installing low-flow toilets and shower heads in residence halls, Stozek said.

To date, about two-thirds of the residence halls have been converted to low-flow systems, with additional work scheduled to complete the project.

In conjunction with the water-savings project, UD also is working to save energy by upgrading inefficient lighting and equipment. All new heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment features computerized controls to assist in conservation.

The Maytag Neptune washers are expected to save about 3.5 million gallons of water per year, and they also are energy efficient.

UD and Maytag are working cooperatively to inform students about the new machines and how they work. Specifically, students will be told that the machines require much less soap than traditional top-loading washers because they use much less water.

Maytag recently was named an Energy Star Partner of the Year by the federal Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency for its commitment to water- and energy-efficient appliances. The University of Delaware also is a participant in the EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program and has been cited numerous times for its achievements.

NEIL THOMAS