Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--With natural gas costs projected to climb this winter by as much as 70 percent, Mississippi State is seeking assistance from the university community to help minimize the impact.
"We're asking everyone to become a part of the conservation effort to make the most effective use of our resources," said Ray Hayes, vice president for finance and administration. Energy costs for fiscal year 2006 are projected to be 35-40 percent more than in 2005, he added.
Annual energy costs have increased from $4.8 million in 1996 to a projected $14.6 million in 2006--approximately $5 million more than budgeted for the fiscal year.
"This is a tremendous challenge for an institution as large and complex as Mississippi State," Hayes said. "Responding to the challenge will depend on the cooperation and patience of all of us. We're seeking to minimize unprecedented expenses and still accommodate the needs of our campus."
As part of the response, Hayes said the Office of Facilities Management is implementing measures designed to contain natural gas costs as much as possible, as well as developing steps for electricity conservation. Measures now under way include, among others:
--Thermostats are being lowered to 70 degrees campus-wide. While for most buildings the change is being made from the master control system in the central heating plant, Hayes said. Occupants of other buildings will be asked to make the adjustment individually.
--For buildings controlled centrally, heating will be shut off at 4:30 p.m. and resumed at 6 a.m. each day. Buildings formerly were heated until 7 p.m., and those previously equipped to override the central plant thermostat no longer will be able to do so.
"We appreciate the cooperation of faculty, staff and students during this period of extremely high energy costs and planning for the future," Hayes said.
For additional information about the changes, contact Jim Jones, executive director of facilities management, at 325-2052 or jaj143@msstate.edu.