Sustainability @ the
University of Rochester

February Savings Add Up

March 2009
Efforts to reduce energy consumption on the River Campus and at the Medical Center are paying off. The University saved $15,460 during February as part of a campaign to decrease the University’s overall environmental impact and to combat rising energy costs. The main component of these programs was rolling back indoor temperatures to 68 degrees for nonresidential buildings on the River Campus and nonpatient areas at the Medical Center.

Facilities mechanics also have focused on replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with efficient compact fluorescent bulbs at many locations across the campuses. And many members of the University community have joined the effort by following energy conservation tips.

“We would like to thank faculty, staff, students, researchers, and health care personnel for their support of the sustainability measures,” says Lisa Glover-Henderson, assistant director of central utilities and project manager of the energy conservation campaign. “Together, we are working to maintain our institution’s financial stability and to ensure a healthy environment. You can be assured that every positive action, no matter how small it seems, does make a difference to further both of these goals.”

February Results

Currently, four buildings in the Medical Center have had temperatures set back for a full month: Wilmot Cancer Center, Ambulatory Care Facility, Medical Research Building Extension, and Helen Wood Hall. On the River Campus, Wallis Hall temperatures also have been set back for a full month. Here are the results:

Building	Total Savings	Drop in all utilities
Wilmot Cancer Center	$ 4,570	9%
Ambulatory Care Facility	$ 1,410	3%
Medical Research Building Extension	$ 5,960	5%
Helen Wood Hall	$ 2,510	15%
Wallis Hall	$ 1,010	15%
TOTAL	$ 15,460

On February 27, mechanics completed the manual temperature setbacks in all University buildings. The next step will be to create occupancy schedules to shut off or set back air-handling units when a building or space is unoccupied, typically during nights and weekends. Through this program, the University expects to decrease its carbon emissions annually by more than 165,000 pounds. That’s the equivalent of planting 22 acres of trees every year! And the monetary savings are significant, too. Annual savings for each degree that temperatures are set back are estimated at $100,000 at the Medical Center and $65,000 on the River Campus.

Ways to Conserve Each Day

Go Green!: http://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/gogreen/

Medical Center’s Take Charge!: http://intranet.urmc-sh.rochester.edu/news/urmcfinances/how-you-can-help/work-greener.asp

Send Your Tips

As always, if you have suggestions on how the University community can conserve energy and save money, send an e-mail to csc@facilities.rochester.edu