The UK Board of Trustees met Tuesday to finalize plans to reduce energy use on campus — one of which was the approval and institution of an energy savings performance contract with Ameresco, an energy service company out of Louisville, Ky.
An ESCO, such as Ameresco, provides a cumulative energy and water management report and evaluation along with an overall energy and water improvement service.
By moving in the direction of energy conservation, the energy savings contract is a cost-effective way to improve and create energy upgrades, according to a recent UK news release.
One of the main benefactors of employing an ESCO at an institution like UK is that it guarantees a return of the initial investment over a set time, usually between 11 to 12 years. If the funded project does not meet and provide the returns in the allotted time period, the ESCO is responsible for the difference. UK will be fronting a first phase budget of $25 million to Ameresco, including a trial audit of 10 buildings on campus.
Bob Wiseman, vice president for facilities management, said in the news release the university’s overall goal was to decrease energy demands by 10 to 15 percent.
“Beginning next fall, the campus community will see the effect of this project in everything from changes to lighting to more extensive building retrofits,†Wiseman said.
Arts & Sciences dean presents to Board of Trustees
Mark Kornbluh, former Michigan State University history department chair and current dean of the UK College of Arts and Sciences, addressed the Board of Trustees concerning the continuing success of the college.
Among some of the ideas and facts presented to the board was the importance of the undergraduates currently pursuing majors at the College of Arts and Sciences.
Kornbluh, hired as the college’s dean in June, said the undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences made up the largest population among UK undergraduates, as well as the largest population in the state.
Kornbluh called the college a “world-class research institution,†and said its future should emphasize on discovery, invention and progression of graduate education and research.
“Issues like global warming research and linking that type of research to teaching is extremely important,†Kornbluh said. “Linking our research to the education of undergraduates is essential to our future.â€
After wrapping up with a quick review of the presentation, Kornbluh discussed the entrepreneurial and enterprising future he envisioned at the College of Arts and Sciences. He plans to incorporate what he called an “internal research generation†during his tenure.
Why not give the UK Solar Car Team, UK Solar Decathlon Team, and Green Thumb $25 million to transform energy efficiency on campus? That would not only yield similar energy savings, but provide meaningful work for students by enabling them to greatly improve their campus.
Still, glad to see UK is finally realizing the massive potential for saving the environment and dollars (in the long run) by becoming more energy efficient.
Step 1: implement this idea from local high school students for reducing energy wasted overnight by idle computer labs – http://icommandcenter.net/