Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
News
Allegheny College Launches Energy Reduction Program
6/19/2008
Buildings on the Allegheny College campus will be audited by Siemens Building Technologies to identify potential energy savings as part of the school's participation in the Clinton Climate Initiative's (CCI) Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program.Allegheny, in Meadville, PA, recently selected Siemens to provide an investment-grade energy audit, the first step in an energy use reduction plan. The college is one of several American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatories to launch pilot projects through the retrofit program. Allegheny's goal is to replace aging elements of its infrastructure in order to achieve better energy efficiency as well as emissions reduction across all facilities at the college, which is the 32nd oldest college in the nation.
"Allegheny is not only committed to reducing our own impact on the environment, but we are also dedicated to providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to deal with ongoing environmental issues as they assume leadership roles," said President Richard J. Cook. "In launching a pilot program with this new partnership, we also hope to set an example for other institutions of higher education. Achieving climate neutrality and making investments in the environmental education of today's youth are critical to the long-term health of our economy, our society and our world."
Cook is one of 16 members of the ACUPCC steering committee. The partnership between ACUPCC and CCI allows schools access to funding mechanisms, technical assistance and state-of-the-art technologies from companies that have signed a memorandum of understanding with CCI. Siemens has agreed to perform the retrofits and guarantee the energy savings to their customers.
Late last year Allegheny College issued a request for proposals for a total demand-side energy reduction plan, under the guidance of the retrofit program. Siemens was selected in early March and signed a letter of intent in April to audit the energy use of a variety of systems throughout the campus infrastructure. The college currently already uses Siemens' energy management, fire/life safety and access security systems.
Following the initial audit, Siemens will use the data to prepare a formal presentation that outlines what facility improvement measures will deliver the best energy efficiency gains. The college expects to hear about upgrades to boilers, chillers, major HVAC equipment, water, thermal improvements, building lighting and system controls to net significant energy savings. The energy savings figure produced from the audit will provide the basis for the development of a performance contract that guarantees the savings and provides the financial means to pay for the retrofits.
The ACUPCC espouses a long-term goal of zero growth of global warming emissions on its member campuses. This commitment is further supported and is being implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), as well as Second Nature and ecoAmerica, both of which assist educational institutions to become more energy- and materials-efficient.
Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business. Send your higher education technology news to her at dian@dischaffhauser.com.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
Recommended Reading
- California Community Colleges Partner with Waterfall Mobile on Statewide Emergency Notification Coverage
The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) has awarded a statewide emergency alert notification contract to Waterfall Mobile. The contract establishes Waterfall's AlertU as an approved technology through the official non-profit foundation for the California Community College (CCC) system office. Through this partnership, individual colleges may directly implement emergency communication services, eliminating lengthy technology evaluation and RFP processes.
- King's College and ASU Add e2Campus for Improved Emergency Notifications
King's College and Arizona State University have switched to Omnilert's e2Campus for emergency notification. Omnilert also has introduced a new program called the ENS Conversion Service that allows schools to bulk upload data from their previous emergency notification system into e2Campus at no charge.
- Saint Joseph Builds Out Wireless Network in Multi-year Upgrade
Saint Joseph's University has begun deploying a Meru Networks wireless local area network across its Philadelphia campus as part of a multi-year effort to bring wireless coverage to every building on campus.
- Vista Ramp Up Is Happening Now, Study Says
Organizations may have been slow to adopt Microsoft Windows Vista, but expect that to change by late 2008 to 2009, according to a Forrester Research report by Benjamin Gray et al., published last week.
- Talisma Launches New Version of CRM with Built-in Application Management
Talisma Corp. announced version 8.0 of its constituent relationship management (CRM) application for higher education. The new release includes application management, a revamped user interface, two-way text messaging, personalized Web portals, and an ADA-compliant Web client, among other enhancements.
- Bringing Composers into Classrooms Through Skype
Two Pennsylvania teaching colleagues with an interest in music and technology are bringing remote experts into classrooms at almost no cost, using Skype's free videoconferencing technology.
