University announces conservation campaign

A drive to slash campus energy consumption by 20 percent by 2010 is beginning under a campaign called “We Conserve.”

“Together, our efforts will not only cut costs, but will encourage smart energy use that will help protect the environment,” says Chancellor John Wiley.

The chancellor asked students, faculty and staff to make energy consumption part of their daily lives, as a way to achieve the 20 percent reduction on a per-square-foot basis.

In addition to investing in energy efficiency to make sure that building systems are operating at peak efficiency, the “We Conserve” program will underscore the importance of energy conservation in daily life.

Faramarz Vakili, associate director of physical plant and leader of the initiative, said the campaign will focus on four major themes: efficient systems, informed people, realistic expectations and responsible actions.

“We will strengthen our commitment to investing in energy-efficient equipment and reconditioning facilities, as needed. We will also expand the use of energy-saving devices, such as occupancy sensors and building automation equipment,” says Vakili. “And we will place an even greater emphasis on energy-conscious design as we work to rein in energy use.”

People on campus will also be asked to turn off lights and computers when feasible, dress to the season for comfort, set thermostats sensibly and use laboratory and other equipment wisely. More about the program will be introduced to the campus next fall, Vakili says. More details are available at http://www.conserve.wisc.edu.

Energy costs for the campus in 2004-05 totaled $41 million, 12 percent higher than the previous year. And with continued uncertainty in the energy market, Vakili says a comprehensive approach to energy savings is needed to meet the ambitious target of a 20 percent reduction.

The goals of the “We Conserve” program, which campus officials started working on several months ago, are in line with Gov. Jim Doyle’s recent executive order that sets these energy-saving goals throughout state government and the UW System.

The university is part of the Wisconsin Energy Initiative, established in 1992 to increase the energy efficiency at state facilities. Those efforts led to a variety of improvements.