Hopkins works to conserve energy

With the prices of natural gas and electricity on the rise, in 2003 Hopkins embarked on an energy conservation plan that is expected to save the University close to $7 million over the next five fiscal years.

This comes as a relief to administration officials as increases in the prices of gasoline and natural fuel nationwide may cost the University an additional $2 million compared to last year's costs, according to figures released by the Office of Facilities Management.

The savings for fiscal year 2006 are expected to reach $800,000.

Facilities Management took action in August 2003, asking three private companies to present energy saving plans for Homewood Campus. The winning proposal was offered by Johnson Controls -- a contractor with a history of dealings with Hopkins.

The proposal, which included numerous options for the University to cut energy costs, was narrowed down to ten strategies.

"We chose ten energy conservation measures which would result in short term paybacks in five years or less," said Larry Kilduff, executive director of facilities management.

The key project objectives include a reduction in utility consumption, effective control of existing systems, a $1 million overhaul of Wyman Park's boiler plant and generation of savings for future facility improvement projects.

The $4.6 million facilities improvements were expected to generate a savings of about $1.08 million per year. However, this amount has been steadily increasing. "The savings we are beginning to see are higher due to increasing electric prices," said Kilduff.

The energy-efficient measures implemented are now expected to generate a savings of nearly $1.6 million by fiscal year 2010.

This means that the loan taken out by the University to finance the changes can be paid back sooner than expected -- opening the door for many more energy conservation projects in the future.

Energy conservation measures already implemented include a standard lighting system upgrade and control in all university buildings. In addition, ventilation, exhaust and air distribution was optimized in some of the larger buildings on campus. The major goal of this plan was for air conditioning systems to take in less external air, and recycle already cooled air. This cuts down on energy used to dry and clean outside air.

One main energy saving measure entailed controlling heating, air, and energy intake of buildings during evening hours. "A lot of buildings on campus were operating at longer hours than necessary," says Kilduff. "Systems were programmed to work at hours that people are actually in the buildings." Science buildings present a problem since researchers are busy at all hours, Kilduff remarks, but these controls were successful in limiting energy intake of administrative buildings, and other buildings that are not used around the clock.

Another important operation was the replacement of older boilers with high efficiency ones in the Wyman Park complex.

This project not only increased the energy efficiency of the complex, but the new system can be monitored remotely as well. This negates the need for engineers to remain on site in order to monitor the building 24 hours a day.

For the future, managers are looking into installing microturbines in specific buildings on campus, including the athletic center. Microturbines transform waste heat generated by buildings into usable energy.

In the AMR dormitories water conserving toilets and new energy-efficient windows were installed over the summer.

Additionally, in most student housing, incandescent bulbs have been replaced with fluorescent fixtures, which require substantially less energy.

Facilities managers are also going to go back and reevaluate proposed energy conservation measures that didn't make the first cut but may be advantageous to install in the upcoming years.

The University is also looking to keep energy costs low for its new Homewood projects: the Decker Quadrangle construction, the Charles Street Commons project and the future Gilman Hall renovation.

Ashwood says that the Office of Facilities Management "pays premiums to construction companies so that the most energy efficient materials and equipment are used in the buildings."

The office further expects to employ a construction company to oversee the Gilman renovation. In this way, facilities managers can be kept up to date as prices and products change quickly in today's market.

In addition to conserving energy, there is also an increased effort to recycle at Homewood campus. There has been an increase in the recycling of paper, plastic, food waste, glass, inkjet cartridges and clothing.

According to Assistant Director of Student Housing Miller Roberts, "Recycling and energy conservation are very important to the department and we are constantly looking for new avenues to responsibly utilize and save resources."

"Some of the programs that have been instituted in the recent past include the collection and donation of food scraps to a tortoise refuge and the collection of unwanted clothing for a homeless shelter," he added.

The Department of Housing and Dining has also aided the campaign for recycling by purchasing new recycling receptacles and working closely with waste managers to develop efficient methods for materials collection.

The department recently purchased 25 flame retardant paper recycling bins for each wing of Wolman and McCoy Halls. Due to their success, 50 such receptacles are now spread throughout the campus.