U-M earns award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency

March 3, 2004
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U-M earns award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency

ANN ARBOR—The Environmental Protection Agency has named the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor as an Energy Star Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through leadership in energy management. U-M is the only institution of higher education to receive this year’s award. Its accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (March 2).

U-M, a partner in the Energy Star program since 1997, is being honored for adopting smart energy practices and investments throughout its operations. In the past six years, U-M staff have completed in 123 major campus buildings lighting retrofit projects to install more energy conserving lights and equipment, completed mechanical system tune-ups, and installed higher efficiency motors, direct-digital control points for automated systems, and variable air volume boxes as appropriate. Engineers at U-M predict the University will save $9.7 million annually beginning in fiscal year 2005 when the Energy Star program will be fully implemented in all major buildings.

"Our staff has been very committed to pushing forward with hundreds of energy conservation measures that not only make good business sense, but also strengthen our environmental stewardship commitment," said Hank Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations. "We’re pleased the EPA has chosen to recognize our efforts."

William Verge, associate director of U-M’s Plant Operations, and Don Lystra, senior engineer in Plant Operations’ Utilities and Plant Engineering, accepted the award on behalf of the University.

The Partner of the Year Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to use energy efficiently in their own facilities and integrate energy efficiency into their organizational strategy. These Award winners are selected from more than 7,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.

"As an Energy Star partner, the University of Michigan has successfully integrated energy performance into their business strategy and day-to-day operations," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "By participating in Energy Star these organizations are showing businesses worldwide that protecting the environment is good for the bottom line." About the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan, located in Ann Arbor, Mich., is one of the world’s premier research institutions. More than 38,000 graduate and undergraduate students annually pursue degrees in 600 categories. Health services are provided through three hospitals. The U-M alumni body, the largest of any university in the world, is comprised of more than 440,000 living degree holders. Total annual research volume is more than $660 million. The campus includes more than 20 million square feet of usable floor space. Annual energy consumption costs, including electricity, natural gas and steam, are approximately $65 million. More information about U-M can be found at http://www.umich.edu Additional information about the University’s energy management efforts can be found at http://www.plantops.umich.edu/utilities/energy_management/

About Energy Star

Energy Star was introduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. The program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 7,000 organizations have become Energy Star partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about Energy Star, visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).


 

http://www.umich.eduhttp://www.plantops.umich.edu/utilities/energy_management/http://www.energystar.gov