Contact: Maridith Geuder
An aggressive energy conservation plan in place at Mississippi State University is yielding savings that can be applied to academics and other university priorities, said President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong.
"The university has set a goal of reducing its utility consumption by 15 percent during the fiscal year that ends
The university's annual energy costs rose from $4.8 million in 1996 to nearly $15 million in 2006. "It became essential to become more energy-conscious than ever as a practical matter," Foglesong noted.
A cross-campus committee developed a resource efficiency plan that proposed immediate and long-term measures designed to save millions of dollars, said Jim Jones, executive director of facilities and chair of the committee.
"Some involve infrastructure and operations maintenance, but many are common-sense measures that have already been implemented and are having a cumulative impact," he said.
Techniques such as ensuring lights and individual heating and cooling units are turned off at the end of each day, as well as lowering thermostats during the winter, have contributed to the savings.
While there was an initial adjustment period, "Mississippi State folks have been extremely responsive, and have even called and suggested other conservation techniques," Jones said.
Over the current Dec. 21-Jan. 2 winter break, Mississippi State has implemented a holiday conservation plan to further reduce energy consumption without jeopardizing facilities or ongoing projects.
"We are simply trying to accomplish what you would at home if you were away for several days," Jones explained.
During the period, most centrally controlled buildings will have thermostats set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Other individually controlled buildings have been asked to set thermostats at the minimum temperature possible.
In addition, lighting at many campus public spaces has been reduced or temporarily turned off, and the campus energy conservation committee has publicized routine measures such as turning off lights, computers and other energy-consuming devices.
Jones is optimistic the measures will continue to realize savings during a time of rocketing energy costs.
"With the help of everyone at Mississippi State, during our Thanksgiving holiday break we reached the lowest consumption in the past two years," he said.
"I expect us to exceed that during the winter holidays."
For more energy tips, see http://www.energy.msstate.edu/.