By Douglas R. Sweeney

Washington and Lee University recently unveiled an energy efficiency program which could save the institution money--and help the environment.

The university has taken small steps toward energy conservation over the years, but this program will cut down on wasted energy more than those efforts ever did. According to the school’s associate facilities directory, Jose Fierro, the energy efficiency program will “get the university much more involved in the preservation of the environment.”

photo by Sreya Banerjee

Most of the energy conservation measures in the program aim to reduce the amount of natural gas and electricity used throughout the institution. “The less natural gas you burn, the less [carbon dioxide] you put in the air. That alone is a major benefit to the environment,” Fierro said.

If the program is put into effect, the most noticeable change around campus will be more lights that are turned on and off by motion sensors. According to Fierro, some of the buildings waste electricity by having lights on when they are not needed.

Fierro thinks that the program can also indirectly benefit the city of Lexington by reducing the amount of water wasted and contaminated by steam-related heating.

The conservation program, currently being considered by the board of trustees, could save the school more than $600,000 in the first year and nearly $5.5 million over the next eight years. The university is currently losing more than $53,000 a month by not implementing the program.

All of the energy conservation measures are intended to pay for themselves over time. The implementation time for each measure ranges from two years to 31 years.

 

W&L Associate Director of Facilities Management, Jose Fierro, explains what the program needs to be successful

Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.

Lead supervisor:      Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming

Editing supervisor:  Prof. Pamela Luecke

Technical supervisor:  Michael Todd