Oklahoma State University surpasses $30 million in energy savings

Friday, January 24, 2014

Oklahoma State University has saved more than $30 million through its energy conservation efforts since July 2007. It made the announcement during Friday’s OSU/A&M Board of Regents meeting in Okmulgee.

“OSU is proud to be a leader in the area of energy conservation and savings,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “As a publically funded land-grant institution it is important that Oklahoma State University do all it can to save money in order to focus more dollars on academics and the educational experience of our students.”

OSU launched its energy education program through a partnership with Energy Education Inc., now Cenergistic. The Dallas-based company was founded by OSU alumnus Dr. William Spears.

Since initiating the behavior-based energy conservation program, the OSU system has saved more than $30.7 million across all five of its campuses. The Stillwater campus has seen a total savings of $25.4 million.

OSU Campus Savings July 2007 – December 2013

OSU – Stillwater $25,428,729

OSU – Oklahoma City $1,404,733

OSU – Tulsa $1,450,284

OSU – Center Health Sciences $1,485,991

OSUIT – Okmulgee $970,826

OSU’s energy savings efforts have far exceeded expectations. The university is $10.8 million above the savings goal it set in 2007.

“Our energy managers have worked hand-in-hand with our students, faculty and staff to make concentrated efforts to reduce energy usage on all of our campuses,” Hargis said. “I am proud of how each person has embraced this initiative and contributed to the reduction of energy costs.”

Four facilities on the Stillwater campus have reached the $1 million mark in energy savings. Those buildings are the Advanced Technology Research Center, Boone Pickens Stadium, the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development and the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

The energy savings allowed five new or renovated buildings on the Stillwater campus to open without increasing the overall maintenance and operational budget. In addition, the efforts have resulted in eleven residential halls earning the Energy Star label.

Earlier this week, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin officially launched a statewide energy conservation program and once again pointed to OSU as the model for all state agencies to achieve at least 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency and conservation by the year 2020, as stipulated by state law.

In addition to behavior modification, the university has taken a number of steps to improve energy efficiency, including: energy conservation devises on vending machines, timers on drinking fountains for nighttime energy savings, replacement of obsolete steam traps and insulated pipe valves and fittings, improved monitoring and handling of air and air quality, and installation of energy efficient lighting.