Online tool delivers data for campus energy monitoring, conservation

1:43 p.m., Oct. 26, 2011--For Campus Sustainability Day on Oct. 26, the University of Delaware announced the launch of Blue Henergy, a new website designed to help members of the campus community understand, monitor and conserve energy usage at selected buildings across campus.

The website allows visitors to select a campus building and learn more about its current electrical energy use.  Real-time information is available for the University’s renewable energy installations. A 24-hour historical snapshot is also available for every metric. The website currently features 16 campus buildings, and three solar installations, with plans to add buildings as well as other energy sources.

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"As we add further metering to the site over time," said Anne-Marie Crossan, assistant director for Facilities Operations and Energy. "We will be able to expand on the community engagement crucial to the success of UD’s Climate Action Plan."

The University is committed to reducing its carbon footprint through energy efficiency, renewable energy and conservation, and Blue Henergy is an exciting new component in these efforts, according to David Singleton, vice president of Facilities and Auxiliary Services. 

“Blue Henergy is an example of how education can help the community meet its goals,” Singleton said. “Person by person, building by building, we can make small changes that lead to exponential impact.”

The website is the result of a collaboration between Facilities and Auxiliary Services and the Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM), based on data being collected from an extensive campus metering upgrade.  Greg Aluise of Facilities and Auxiliary Services programmed the interface and Jeff Chase of OCM conceived the overall look and feel of the site.

"We took advantage of the unique opportunity to install energy and water metering specifically in the Laird Campus Residence Halls," Crossan said. "Most of this key work was done by our shops. Without them, Blue Henergy wouldn't have been possible."

Article by Tabitha Groh