MTU V. BTU: SAVING ENERGY=SAVING MONEY AT MICHIGAN TECH

Utility costs at Michigan Tech have skyrocketed in the last five years, because of both additional use and increased costs.

General fund utility expenses, which include most classroom, office and lab space, have gone from $1.9 million in 1995-96 to $3.6 million in 2000-01. During this same period, utility costs for the entire University, including the residence halls, have gone from $3.1 million to $5.3 million. While some of this increase was due to new construction--the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, the Rozsa Center and the forestry addition--that's not the whole story.

Facilities Management has developed the list of contributors to the five-year, $1.7 million increase in general fund utility costs.

The most significant item on the list is the rise in the cost of fuel, primarily natural gas. Michigan Tech has enjoyed cheap spot market natural gas since 1986, but that benefit appears to be coming to an end. In response, Facilities Management is adjusting its fuel purchasing tactics to minimize the effects of market volatility. MTU has also aggressively intervened in electrical rate cases to reduce planned rate increases.

In reviewing the list, you might conclude that there is very little that individual students, faculty members and staff can do. However, the numbers show that utility costs have increased by $173,000 simply because of additional usage (electricity plus water).

This is where you can help.

You more than anyone know about the situation in your immediate area. You know the things that can be done to save energy and hence dollars. And everyone understands that $100,000 in energy-cost savings means $100,000 that doesn't have to be cut elsewhere.

"Saving energy is one of the most fundamental things we can do as members of the Michigan Tech community to save money and help balance our budget," President Curt Tompkins said. "This is an opportunity to cut expenses without affecting services; I encourage everyone to make energy conservation part of our daily routine."

This week, Tech Topics begins running a series of easy energy-saving tips. You might think that turning off your light during lunchtime won't matter much, but if everyone pitches in, it can make a huge difference for the University.

How big a difference? Overall, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

CLOSING WINDOWS AND DOORS

On a typical fall evening, custodial staff find about 40 windows left open in the main campus buildings. No doubt much of this is because of some beautiful fall days, with temperatures approaching the 60s.

However, on many of the those same days, the nighttime temperature drops to near freezing, and then Michigan Tech begins a very feeble attempt to heat up all of the Copper Country as heat pours out of our open windows.

Please check your area before you leave work to make sure that your window is closed. And Facilities Management asks that the last leaving each area for the night do a quick check of the windows to make sure they are closed securely.

Note: If people are opening windows because of over-heating, report the situation to your building attendant.

Sometimes in winter, snow can keep outside doors from closing. If you can help by moving away some of the snow, you'll help keep your building comfortable and save money in the process.

LAST ONE OUT. . .

On a typical night this fall, 22 classrooms, 39 general labs, 5 lecture halls, 30 hallways, 56 bathrooms, 8 computer labs and 20 graduate student areas were found unoccupied with the lights left on. That's 5,200 fluorescent lamps left burning. On average, lights are being left on 67 percent of the time when they should be shut off. If lights are left on an average 10 hours per night on weekdays plus the entire weekend, that's $62,000 annually that could be saved.

For years a myth was going around that it's cheaper to keep lights on rather than turning them off. We believe someone working for a utility company started it. Research shows that if you are leaving your area for more than 10 minutes, it's more cost effective to shut off the lights. If it's anything less, keep them on.

Guidelines for Lighting Use

• Turn off laboratory lighting at the end of each scheduled session unless immediately followed by another.
• General classroom and lecture hall lighting can be left on from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, since most rooms are booked solid. At all other times, please turn off the lights when you leave.
• Bathroom lighting can be left on 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Otherwise, blow out the light when the paperwork is finished.
• Occupancy sensors might best handle specialty areas such as computer labs. Security issues should also be considered.
• In general, please shut off the lights if the area will be unoccupied for more than 10 minutes.
• Responsibility for shutting off lights is assigned to the last person in charge of areas being used.
• For more information, please refer to the lighting standards page

Studying After Hours in Classrooms--Please Don't

 Another area of potential energy savings is the use of classrooms and lecture halls as study areas by a handful of students. Students can use common areas such as the library or the Memorial Union to study after regular class hours. If you need to use a room for a special project, you can reserve it through Student Records and Registration.

Facilities Management Says Turn Off Your Computer

 Michigan Tech has about 6,900 network connections, including 1,600 in the residence halls, for about 7,000 computers and monitors all together. Power usage varies, but it's probably safe to say that each system averages at least 90 watts apiece when it's on and anywhere from 20 to 40 watts in the sleep mode.

 If all of these computers and monitors were left on 24/7, the total bill would come out to $370,000 annually. There are about 600 systems on campus running Windows NT software, which cannot be put into the energy saving sleep mode. However if all other computer systems on campus could go in the sleep mode 12 hours a day Monday through Friday plus the entire weekend, the annual electric bill would be $225,000 (a savings of $145,000). If they could all be shut off 12 hours during workdays and all weekend long, the annual bill would be reduced to $132,000. That's more than half, a savings of $238,000.  Please see (the computer & office equipment energy use page) for details of energy use by computer systems and other office equipment in various modes of operation.

The jury's still out on the advisability of shutting off computers, and Information Technology has not taken a position on the issue. However, because of the potential for saving $200,000, Facilities is asking everyone to shut off your computers and monitors at the end of your workday. You can also save money by activating the blank screen feature within 30 minutes and the "sleep" feature within one hour of last active use (The "sleep" mode is not available if using Windows NT). If you need help to set this up, please contact your system administrator.

Potential Savings in Research and Lab Equipment

Please turn off fume hoods and exhaust fans when they're not in use. A typical fume hood and its exhaust fan cost $3,700 per year for energy if left on all the time. If used just 40 hours per week, the savings is $2,800 per year. There are approximately 210 such fume hood exhaust fans across campus in addition to the multiple fume hoods that are connected to one large exhaust fan.

 If we could reduce the run time as noted above on just 50 of the smaller fume hood exhaust fans, the annual cost savings would be $140,000. Similarly, closing down an individual fume hood on a central system allows the main exhaust fan to back off, thus saving energy.

 Research setups can be energy gobblers, too. For example, a setup using city water at the rate of 2 gallons per minute goes through 1,050,200 gallons a year at a cost to MTU of $8,850. Similarly, a 1.5 KW electric load costs Michigan Tech $800 per year i fit's on all the time.

 If you'd like to find out just how much it costs to run your equipment and how much you can save by turning it off when you're not using it, check out the attached cost of energy page .

The Do's and Don'ts of Personal Electric Heaters

Speaking of 1.5 KW electric loads, that brings us around to the subject of electric heaters. These are typically 1500 watts or 1.5 KW. "It has come to my attention that there are hundreds of these devices across campus," said Dave Taivalkoski, Energy Manager. "If 300 such units are left on 24 hours a day for 3 months, the cost to MTU is $58,000."

Not only are they expensive to operate, electric heaters also pose a fire hazard if left unattended. Some have been found operating in unoccupied areas over night or over the weekend.

You should only use an electric heater if it's the cheapest way to stay warm, and they should never be left unattended.

It might be cheaper for a small number of people working on a weekend to run an electric heater than to run an entire building system. In some problem areas, 100-watt electric radiant heating floor mats may be a more effective and safer solution. Please e-mail Dave Taivalkoski at detaival@mtu.edu if you believe your area should have a heating floor mat or an electric heater. Explain your situation and include about how often you need the additional heat. This will help us determine the best strategy for your building or area.

Because electric heaters are such energy hogs, employees should only turn them on in unusual circumstances and get an OK in advance to use them. If their overuse becomes a problem, Facilities may have to consider removing electric heaters from work areas, said Bill Blumhardt, Director of Facilities Management.

Winter Temperature Standards

 In general, Facilities is trying to keep offices at 70 degrees; classrooms, labs and lecture halls at 68 degrees and hallways, stairwells and atriums at 65 degrees.

 "In case you were worried, we will not be going back to the 65 degree standard for offices and classrooms of the energy crisis days of the mid and late 1970s," said Bill McKilligan, Manager of Facilities Operations. "Keep in mind that raising the thermostat 1 degree raises fuel costs by 3 percent."

 Please report any overheating, energy waste or uncomfortably cold or drafty conditions by sending an e-mail describing the situation to Bill Mitchel, Building Operations Supervisor, at wmitchel@mtu.edu.

 We welcome your suggestions on saving energy or dollars. Please e-mail your ideas to Dave Taivalkoski, detaival@mtu.edu.

SUMMARY

By Dave Taivalkoski

Some of you may recall the energy conservation program from the late 1970s and early 1980s at Michigan Tech. Hundreds of no-cost and low-cost ideas from the students, faculty and staff were implemented, along with investments of some $3 million to save energy. About half of the capital came from Department of Energy programs. We are still enjoying the benefits of those investments today. The University has saved a total of $10.3 million since the program began 22 years ago.

The lesson learned then still applies: Energy conservation is the sum total of a lot of small things that produce a significant impact. If we all pitch in and do what we can, the result will be significant.

I trust that all of you will be both helpful and creative in dealing with this issue. Saving energy and dollars helps our budgets, improves job security and lessens our impact on the environment. We all want to demonstrate to our students and to Michigan taxpayers that we are good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. I thank you for your cooperation and continuing interest in making Michigan Tech a leader in energy conservation.