UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 23, Page 1
March 9, 1995
Ongoing efforts address University's energy costs

     If you were the person who writes the checks to pay the
University's monthly utility bills, you might get the impression that
energy conservation efforts are declining. The checks are larger than
those of previous months and years.
     On the other hand, if you were the person who records the
kilowatts of electricity, the gallons of fuel oil and the cubic feet
of natural gas used each month, you would know these building
consumption numbers have been decreasing, particularly on a per-square-
foot basis.
      While energy-avoidance efforts have substantially reduced campus
energy consumption, the amount the University spends continues to
increase, according to Thomas F. Vacha, assistant vice president of
facilities.
     The obvious question is: Why?
     There are several reasons, Vacha said. One is that utility rates
have steadily increased over the past few years. Another is that
several new buildings, such as the Ray Street Residence Hall Complex,
the Lammot du Pont Laboratory and the Bob Carpenter Center, combined
with increases in both the number of computing labs and the amount of
square feet utilized for research, all have added to the consumption
base.
     In an effort to minimize the combined effect of rate increases,
added buildings and new equipment, Vacha said, the University has
undertaken several million dollars worth of energy-avoidance projects
during the past five years.
     "We have incorporated the latest energy avoidance technology in
all new buildings and renovated space," he said. "We also undertook
$4.1 million in capital renewal projects, such as replacing chillers
in the central chilled water plant, replacing boiler controls in the
central heating plant with the most energy efficient units available
at the time. We installed variable speed pumps in the central chilled
water plant, and we installed regulators in the 25 buildings connected
to the central chilled water distribution system," Vacha said.
     "Approximately half of the $4.1 million came from the state of
Delaware, which cut from six years to three years the time the savings
realized would pay for the cost of the project," he said.
     Two years ago, Vacha said, the University "partnered" with the
Honeywell Corp. on $1.8 million of energy-avoidance projects in seven
building complexes, covering approximately 1 million square feet.
     That activity included $900,000 in lighting retrofits, the
complete replacement of the cooling system for the Rodney Residence
Hall Complex, as well as several other smaller heating, ventilating
and air conditioning projects in the pilot project buildings.
Honeywell guaranteed the combined impact of these projects would avoid
over $500,000 per year in energy costs, Vacha said.
     In addition, a closed-loop system was installed in Sharp
Laboratory to provide year-round cooling for lasers and other research
equipment, resulting in a savings of over 15 million gallons of water
per year.
     In another cost avoidance as well as environmentally oriented
project, the University recently installed piping and controls to use
the spring water which enters Smith Hall continuously as make-up water
for the cooling towers located in Ewing Hall. Similarly, the
University is studying the possibility of using spring water from
under Lammot du Pont Laboratory to provide make-up water to the
central heating plant.
     Other projects being planned include more lighting retrofits, the
continued replacement of outdated heating and cooling equipment with
models that are substantially more energy efficient, as well as
replacing windows and adding and upgrading the insulation in many of
our older buildings.
     There also is a study of the use of motion detectors for
classrooms, turning off lights when the room is not in use. It is
estimated that the savings from this initiative alone could decrease
energy consumption costs by an additional $100,000.
     "Seeking ways to reduce energy consumption is an ongoing task,"
Vacha said, "and one the University takes very seriously, both for
financial and environmental reasons. The University's aggressive
campaign to cut energy consumption is a very sound investment in its
future."