John DeGeorge Honored with Decade of Excellence Award

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Twenty Oklahoma State University employees and one campus department were recognized for contributing to the success of the school’s energy management program, which has saved the university millions of dollars over the last decade. John DeGeorge, Manager of Project Support Services for the OSU Libraries, was among the honorees. 

President Burns Hargis congratulated the honorees and attributed their efforts and the program's overall success to the commitment of the university’s staff, faculty and students doing their part on a daily basis. 

“Each of the awardees has gone beyond basic personal responsibility and has done something that created the opportunity for greater energy conservation in their area," Hargis said. "Often that opportunity allowed for the expansion of that idea to other areas on campus.” 

OSU's Energy Management Program is nationally recognized as a leader in behavior-based energy management. Hargis recognized the department's efforts in saving nearly $38 million at OSU-Stillwater and $48 million systemwide. He expects the department's success to climb even higher in the future as everyone on campus works together for Energy Management to continue to be an important part of OSU's mission.

When the Energy Management Program was first implemented, there were concerns about how it might affect the Library. The Edmon Low Library is one of the most recognized facilities in Oklahoma and a centerpiece of OSU that stands for excellence and success. No one wanted to unintentionally sacrifice the quality of the Library. 

As a manager of facilities, John collaborated closely with Energy Management to test setback procedures before they were fully implemented in the building. He also provided research and the required environmental parameter to guide energy management practices. His mindfulness ensured energy savings while preserving the collection for which the facility is known.