PSU attempts to cut energy use

Imagine you want to use 20 percent less energy in your home.

It's a noble goal, but it can be tough. You might have to change your insulation, install energy-efficient windows, put on a new roof, maybe get a different furnace or water heater. You have to get your kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room, and learn to take a quicker shower in the morning.

Now imagine that you have almost 100,000 kids, spread out in 24 cities, with 289 houses in one town alone.

Welcome to saving energy at Penn State.

The university joined the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge this month, committing to cutting the energy use in its buildings by 20 percent over the next 10 years. More than 200 businesses, organizations and government agencies have signed onto the challenge, including Macy's and Kohl's department stores, the states of Massachusetts and Maryland and cities such as Denver and Atlanta.

Penn State is the largest educational institution to pledge participation, as well as being a leader in the state. The university is one of First Energy's five largest customers in Pennsylvania.

According to Rob Cooper, director of energy and engineering for the Office of Physical Plant, the challenge is the continuation of something Penn State has been working toward for more than a decade. Since 2003, the university has invested $75 million in energy-saving projects.

That might seem like a lot of money, but the University Park campus alone has a $14 million electric bill every year. Heating the buildings over the winter takes another $12 million. Cooper said the projects have actually made it possible to get energy costs down to levels from 10 years ago while simultaneously adding 4 million square feet of facilities to the campus.

Some projects are being tackled purely for energy reasons, such as converting the West Campus Steam Plant from using coal for production to cleaner-burning natural gas. Other projects are being tackled as they arise.

There are building projects happening all over campus, and as they are planned, OPP is evaluating them for efficient energy improvements.

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PSU attempts to cut energy use