OHIO's Alden Library has taken a number of steps to conserve energy.The computers in Alden library are programmed to automatically shut down when the library closes. Most computers also have energy efficient LCD monitors.

All lighting in Alden Library is fluorescent and in recent years, hundreds of light fixtures have been replaced with more energy efficient fixtures. In the library stacks (6th and 7th floors), the rows are fitted with light switches that are turned on only when lighting is needed. The toilets in the library have been replaced with lower volume units that use less water, and reduce the amount of energy used to treat the water.

Alden Library has a long-standing tradition of recycling. Campus Recycling says Alden is one of the top generators of recycled goods on campus. The library has been recycling out-of-date newspapers for over 25 years, and collecting recyclables from staff desks for over 20 years. There are recycling bins throughout the library, including paper recycling bins next to every public printer and copier. The library also recycles discarded books from the "Friends of the Library" book sales.

To help Alden Library conserve energy, George Bain, the head of archives and special collections at the library, suggests that students should make sure to turn off the lights in the stacks and in group study rooms when they are finished. Students should also use the recycling bins.

Contact info:
George Bain
Phone: (740) 593-2713
bain@ohio.edu

In April of 2000, Ohio U began a 10-year campus renewal project through a Performance Contract with Vestar in order to increase efficiency on campus. The project was initiated in order to conserve and reduce energy use and then use the resulting monetary savings to finance additional campus improvements. 

[Read More]

Lower energy use, lower utility costs, lower temperatures. These new trends were set by landlords and residents who participated in the Green House Project.

[Read More]

Several students and Office of Sustainability employees are making the rounds to academic and office buildings on campus in an effort to raise the awareness about energy conservation. Project volunteers visit the offices in various buildings across campus and talk to faculty, staff, and administrators about ways they can conserve energy by shutting down their computers at night, and turning off their screen savers.

In addition to receiving energy saving computer tips, faculty and staff are given a free highly efficient compact fluorescent light bulb in exchange for an incandescent bulb in their office. These compact fluorescent bulbs use about a quarter of the energy that an incandescent bulb uses. For example, the compact fluorescent bulb that is used to replace a 60 W incandescent bulb uses only 14W of electricity!

Since 2002, the Ping Center has been purchasing more self-powered cardio machines. These machines run off a built-in alternator, much like the alternator in your car. The screens are blank until a user gets on and begins the specific exercise; then the screen lights up to perform a program, track time and calories.

They now have about 25-30 self-powered bikes, ellipticals, x-trainers, and stair steppers in the fitness facility. Working out on one of these machines consumes zero energy—only caloric energy from your body. The self powered machines give Ping Center director, Hafedh Benhadj, much more flexibility in his gym floor plan because they are cordless and he doesn't have to worry about placing them near an electrical outlet or drawing too much energy and shorting the circuit.

"When we have a choice," he says, "we always choose self-powered machines now." He anticipates and hopes that some company will be coming out with a self-powered treadmill soon.

Contact info:
Hafedh Benhadj:
phone: (740) 593-9911:
benhadj@ohio.edu

A team of Russ College undergraduate engineering students, advised by Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Brian Manhire, worked with Dave Mace in Ohio U Facilities Management on a capstone senior design course project, the Power Factor Correction. For this project the team analyzed how Ohio University uses power and ways that it could conserve energy to reduce electricity costs.

The Residence Challenge is an efficiency competition between Ohio University's residence halls. The halls on each green that save the most water and electricity during an 8-week period winter quarter win a free trip to Cedar Point.

In Winter 2008, residents saved 271,668 KWh (kilowatt hours) of electricity over the course of the competition. Producing that amount of electricity generates approximately 300 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents when using predominantly coal-fired power plants (as we do). Saving 300 tons of carbon dioxide could also be accomplished by taking 17,589 cars off the road for a day. Electric bill savings of the challenge exceeded 12,000 dollars.

Our office has had many inquiries about the energy use of the stadium lights. So here's the scoop as provided by Ron Chapman, Ohio University's director of energy management.

Peden Stadium field lighting contains 256 total fixtures using 1,500 watt lamps for a total of 384,000 watts or 384 KW (kilowatts). As an industrial user, the electric rate for Ohio University is $0.0248 per kilowatt-hour, about 30% of your household rate! This results in a base cost of $9.52 per hour of lighting if all fixtures are on.

In addition, if the lights were actually lit during the peak demand periods, there would also be a surcharge of $4.701 per KW demand that exceeds already established limits. This is not likely to occur as the 384 KW represents only a small percentage of the maximum draw that Ohio U. uses. To avoid this penalty, the burn times must be carefully monitored so that we stay within established demand limits for which the university already pays.

Even so, the cost to operate these lights must share in the "demand cost" for all electric use across the campus. Adding this "demand cost" to the cost per KwH raises the average cost per KwH to $0.0477 per kilowatt-hour.

The final answer to the question raised is: 1 hour of lighting in the stadium, day or night is (384,000 watts-hr/1000 watts/KW) x ($0.0477/ KW-hr) x (1 hr) = $18.32 per hour.

Green Network members and Custodial Services volunteers are watching and waiting to see if YOU may be caught "green handed"!
The "Get Caught Green Handed!" initiative is an incentive-based effort that recognizes campus faculty and staff who are helping Ohio U fulfill its part in the Presidents Climate Commitment and who actively conserve campus resources. Participants may enter a drawing for a Brunton Solaris solar charger using the ticket at the bottom of their door tag. Tickets can be sent to the Office of Sustainability through Intercampus Mail.
This unit will charge small electronic devices such as an iPod ©, cell phone, handheld GPS, or digital camera.