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Energy Management / Energy Conservation

The Energy Conservation Services Area monitors the energy consumption of the University and develops methods and ideas to reduce energy consumption. This allows the University to save valuable monetary resources, while preserving the environment.

The University is aggressively pursuing energy and cost containment in many areas of facilities management. The following highlights our efforts in these main areas.

1. Green Lights Program: President Castor signed an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, to reduce energy consumption through lighting retrofits, demonstrating the Universitys strong desire to reduce energy consumption, pollution and to be a good citizen of the community. The University as an official participant of the Green Lights program has committed to conduct lighting surveys and implement the recommendations for all USF facilities within five years. The lighting surveys identify opportunities to improve lighting conditions, lighting system design, use of efficient lamp and ballast types and use of modern controls to shut off lighting when not in use, thus improving efficiency and reducing waste. It is estimated that over $600,000 per year will be saved in utility cost alone upon full implementation of the program. The University has trained engineering students to survey and design lighting while giving them project management experience.

   While Green Lights program designed lighting is being implemented in all parts of the campus, the first major demonstration project was the Life Science Facility (LIF) in Tampa. The University reduced consumption in LIF by 250,585 kWh and over $20,000 per year in electricity cost.

2. Building Schedule Optimization: Air handling units providing conditioned air (cooling or heating) are typically the largest energy consuming equipment in our facilities. Reducing waste by shutting them off when the facilities are unoccupied offer one of the major energy and cost saving opportunities. To accomplish this, the University has implemented and developed a computerized energy management system, which will shut down air handling equipment during unoccupied hours. This system uses the University's fiber backbone network. Hence the cost to implement this was very small. Over $200,000 per year in energy cost reduction is occurring through implementation of this program.

3. Competitive Energy Purchase: Thanks to deregulation, similar to the long distance telephone service, we have initiated a natural gas purchase program in the new competitive marketplace. We intend to participate in similar oncoming deregulation in buying electricity as well.

4. Efficient Infrastructure: The efficiency improvement in energy converting equipment (such as boilers, chillers and transformers) and energy transporting equipment (such as pumps and fans) offer a significant energy cost saving potential. To that end, the University has proceeded to replace inefficient single stage absorption chillers with new efficient centrifugal chillers. In addition, we have recently installed variable volume pumping, and new efficient boilers. We have also installed new transformers all across the campus. While the University is taking many steps to reduce operating costs so that monies may be better utilized to fulfill the Universitys mission, You can help by suggesting energy saving ideas and implementing the following energy saving tips.

   • Turn computer monitors off when leaving the office or when not likely to use it for more than 15 minutes. Computer monitors are intensive energy users and also generate a lot of heat causing higher cooling requirements. Turn computers off at the end of the day and anytime when not planning to use it for more than an hour. Today's computer hardware is much better built, and will not have a failure attributable to turning the computer on and off with this frequency.
   • When adequate day lighting is available, turn off interior lighting where possible to save energy. Reducing waste is money saved. Turn lights and appliances off whenever not in use. Typical appliances include: local printers, coffee makers/warmers, personal copiers, typewriters, personal lamps, stereos and radios. Establish 'last person out procedures' which will ensure turning off all unnecessary lights and equipment in your area during nighttime (unoccupied) periods.
   • Wear seasonally appropriate clothing. Wear clothing in layers to adjust to the space and exterior conditions.
   • Set thermostats at 75 degrees F in summer and at 70 degrees F in winter. Report to the Physical Plant Division (Extension 4-2845) if exterior lighting is left on during the day where adequate day lighting is available.
   • Report any leaky faucets or running lavatory valves immediately to the Physical Plant Division (Extension 4-2845).

Energy Management Infrastructure

USF utilizes "Remote Monitoring Equipment" to gather usage information for utilities at the Tampa Campus. The specification sheets are available for contractor review in the following document (available for download in Adobe Acrobat 5.0 format.)

USF Specifications for Automated Metering

Energy Hotline for Suggestions

Messages can be left 24 hours daily, seven days a week. Students, Faculty, and Staff are encouraged to report areas where energy savings may be realized. Calls to the Hotline will be returned by the Energy Coordinator.

Larry Chapman, Energy Coordinator
Phone Number : 974-7764
Email Address: Larry Chapman

Copyright © 2002, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620        For general comments or questions about this site, contact Technical Services at workmanagement@pplant.usf.edu. Last Updated August 31, 2004