On campus, as well as elsewhere.
The University of Georgia report on its operational sustainability and energy conservation reveals some notable findings.
Despite adding over 500,000 square feet of conditioned space, including I-STEM Research Building 1, the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall Expansion and the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, Discovery and Inspiration Garden, overall campus energy consumption increased only by a combined 3% between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022.
Even with extensive conservation efforts, energy costs for the university (including electricity, natural gas, water and sewer) increased by 37% during that same period. They’re expected to jump an additional 51% in fiscal year 2023.
UGA is implementing several strategies to combat rising costs and increase efficiencies around campus:
- A six-phase Central Steam Plant modernization will include newer, high-performing steam boilers with heat recovery energy-saving features and modern controls. The Central Steam Plant keeps the university’s critical steam utility operating efficiently, reliably and safely.
- Chilled water utility centralization will replace old, inefficient chillers with large, high-efficiency ones located in centralized district energy plants. Those energy plants will also undergo a third-party, dynamic optimization to monitor and adjust operations continuously based on real-time conditions.
- An in-house Facilities Management Division (FMD) commissioning team has been tasked with optimizing building performance across campus.
- LED lighting and occupancy sensing controls are being retrofitted across campus.
- Through a partnership with Georgia Power, UGA earns more than 1,600 megawatt-hours of renewable energy credits by hosting the 1-megawatt solar array on South Milledge Avenue. That’s enough to power nearly 80% of UGA’s electric bus fleet.
- Georgia Power is also assisting UGA with planning and implementing other cost-effective electric transportation strategies.
It has become increasingly important for everyone to consider how they as individuals and as a community of colleagues and citizens can contribute to conservation efforts.
Read more, think about what you can do.
Image: UGA partnered with Georgia Power to install a 1-megawatt solar array. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)