What is
Sustainability?

Program
Deliverables

How Can I
Help?

The Arboretum at
Penn State Behrend

GOALS: Energy

Indicator 1: Decrease the amount of energy used for campus operations.

One of the most important issues associated with reducing our energy requirement is looking at how much energy we use, how we use it, and how we can minimize the costs associated with that usage (fiscal and environmental).

The following are some Behrend energy conservation methods and alternatives currently being used:

• Junker Center is heated through an air-heat circulation system utilizing pool water.
• Otto Behrend Science Building boiler operates on a thermostatic night setback and a program of reduction in domestic hot water temperature.
• Most buildings have energy-efficient ballasts and F32T82 bulbs (energy efficient fluorescent bulbs).
• During semester breaks a portion of ights in the parking lots are turned off and heat is reduced in many buildings.
• Almy and Ohio Halls are heated (HVAC and water) by geothermal energy.
• Three classroom buildings are equipped with motion sensors to turn light fixtures on and off.

While these initiatives are a good beginning, there is more that can be done to reduce energy usage. Some areas for improvement include:

• Encourage faculty/staff/students to turn off lights when leaving rooms.
• Encourage use of natural lighting where/when applicable.
• Security/maintenance personal should be responsible for turning off unnecessary lights after hours and on weekends.
• Install motion sensors at the tennis courts, Erie Hall gym, Academic Building classrooms, Hammermill-Zurn, selected common areas, lighted paths, and parking lots.
• Use staggered lighting system in the Junker gym and pool.
• Put architectural lighting on timers.
• Replace exit signs (and other applicable) with LED versions.
• Weekends when computers are not in use they should be shut off.
• All computers should be set for sleep mode.
• Increase use of natural ventilation.
• Encourage weather appropriate clothing.
• Ensure efficiency of all windows.
• Replace all incandescent bulb with compact florescent bulbs.
• Replace remaining magnetic ballast T12 type fixtures with electronic ballast T8 or TS fixtures.
• Investigate/install solar-powered outdoor lighting near REDC, at soccer scoreboard, and for path lighting.
• Determine/increase amount of wind-powered energy purchased.
• Incorporate green practices in energy systems of new buildings.
• Audit old motors on campus.
• Control switches for HVAC systems (students have figured out how to trick the system).
• Feasibility of installing double pane or glazed glass in Science, Nick, and Reed buildings.
• Determine feasibility of natural gas wells and cogeneration (Reed specifically).
• Feasibility of park-and-ride system.
• Limit vehicle traffic on campus.
• Study costs for driving to campus vs. alternative methods.
• Feasibility of replacing maintenance vehicles, mowers, snow blowers, leaf blowers, etc. with hybrid or electric vehicles and machines and re-evaluate human-powered options.
• Evaluate thermostatic controls for heating and cooling.
• Evaluate solar and wind potential of areas on campus and wind/solar costs with payback time for selected buildings on campus.
• Feasibility of installing electronic strikers on all gas pilots.
• Pareto analysis (analysis method that identifies the most important changes to make) of energy-saving measures.