Planet Blue unveils campus-wide energy-saving initiative

September 11, 2008
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ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan aims to cut utility costs by 10 percent over the next three years at its Ann Arbor campuses by reaching out to faculty, staff and students in an energy-conservation program called Planet Blue.

The University spent $111 million on utilities in Ann Arbor during fiscal year 2007. Planet Blue’s goal is to reduce those costs by combining energy-saving technologies and building upgrades with behavioral changes from building occupants.

“What we’re finding is that when people understand what it costs to heat and cool their buildings, they are more willing to participate in finding a solution and more willing to change their behavior,” said Kris Kolevar, Planet Blue project manager.

Planet Blue is a three-year education and outreach campaign that will target 90 large buildings on the three Ann Arbor campuses. The project will be funded by U-M Plant Operations at the rate of about $5 million a year.

The University expects to recover those costs (through lower utility bills) less than two years after Planet Blue’s completion, said Richard Robben, executive director for plant operations.

“Our target of a 10 percent reduction in utility costs is conservative, I think,” Robben said. “The individual schools get to keep any money that’s saved, so that’ a strong incentive for active participation.”

Five U-M buildings were included in the eight-month pilot phase of Planet Blue, which ended June 30. In the coming year, 30 more structures will be assessed by Planet Blue teams, and various energy-conservation measures will be recommended.

The official Project Blue rollout is scheduled for this year’s Energy Fest, Sept. 9 on the Central Campus and Sept. 11 on North Campus.

The five buildings assessed during the eight-month Planet Blue pilot phase were Chemistry, Space Research, Rackham, the Fleming Administration Building, and the Institute for Social Research’s Thompson Building.

Many energy-saving actions have already been implemented in those buildings, while other recommendations are under review. The recommended changes include:

• Installation of occupancy sensors for fume hoods in Chemistry Building teaching labs, which would save an estimated $200,000 annually. Currently, the fume hoods operate continuously, even when the labs are unoccupied.

• Relocating a computer server room from the basement of Fleming to a climate-controlled data center in an adjacent building, a move expected to cut Fleming’s annual utility bill by $97,000, whopping 25 percent. Currently, air-conditioning in most of the building runs continuously so the server room stays cool. That will change this month, when the servers get a new home.

• Reducing the operating hours for the HVAC fans in ISR’s Thompson Building. The schedule change has been implemented and is expected to save about $80,000 annually.

• Installation of daylight/occupancy sensors for the lighting fixtures in six Rackham rooms. If completed, the six-room upgrade would cost $103,300 and save $13,000 annually.

“We’re talking about real reductions in energy consumption, which will lead to decreased carbon dioxide emissions,” said Hank Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations. On the Central Campus, heat and air-conditioning are generated mainly by burning natural gas to create steam.

“And it’s not just what we save today,” Baier said. “Any savings that are achieved now will keep paying back, year after year, in cost avoidance.”

 

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