Creating Energy $mart College Campuses

Susan Andrews, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Elliot Easton, SUNY Electricity Buying Authority
Katherine Johnson, KJ Consulting
Carol Sabo, PA Government Services, Inc.
Walter Simpson, SUNY at Buffalo

Keywords

Abstract

School supplies these days include computers, monitors, printers, and a host of other plug-in electronics that can quickly short-circuit the typical college dorm. In New York State, colleges and universities are also facing rising energy costs. To help these organizations curb energy usage and educate future generations, the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has included a power management program in its New York Energy $mart^SM program. This New York Energy $mart^SM Offices initiative specifically targets plugloads in college campuses, government offices, and school districts.

This paper summarizes the findings, recommendations, and strategies based on an analysis of the data from 14 New York State colleges that have participated in this program. Activities include estimating the current and projected electric savings based on on-site equipment surveys and interviews of key staff of these college campuses. These equipment surveys gather data to analyze the specific plug-load usage by key college areas, such as staff, faculty, dormitories and computer labs and libraries. This paper also features examples of student energy conservation campaigns that have resulted from this project, including the University at Buffalo’s (UB’s) successful “Do It In the Dark Campaign.”

NYSERDA’s Energy $mart^SMOffices uses a comprehensive approach to address the growing use of plug-load equipment on campus through low-cost/no-cost measures. The program team provides education and awareness, computer and monitor power management tools and technical support, policy and procurement language for purchasing energy efficient washing machines, vending machines, and water coolers, and examples of successful campus programs. Conservatively, this NYSERDA project has identified more than $1.6 million in energy savings at these college campuses, including two of the largest in the state system-University at Buffalo and SUNY-Albany.