MSU Saves Energy and 137 Tons of Carbon Dioxide With Simple Schedule Tweaks

Simply by tinkering with class schedules, Michigan State University (MSU) has learned how to save 211 megawatt hours, 137 tons of carbon dioxide and $16,904. It plans to increase those savings in the next academic year.

During the 2008-09 academic year, seven university buildings participated in a pilot program to schedule evening classes and sanctioned events more efficiently.

As the majority of building energy is consumed in the heating, ventilation and cooling, or HVAC systems, the easiest way to reduce energy consumption is to reduce the amount of time the HVAC runs, explains Lynda Boomer, energy and environmental engineer with the university’s physical plant.
 
In the past, many buildings have been kept open with the HVAC running during only one or two evening courses or events.

“We thought the smarter thing to do was to simply relocate the classes to higher-utilized buildings nearby,” says Boomer. “Then we could reduce the HVAC hours and close the building earlier.”

“The registrar’s office was particularly sensitive in making sure that faculty and students were not inconvenienced,” says Scott McMillan, acting university registrar.

Classes and sanctioned events were typically moved to a building next door or in the same geographic area, and all space and technology requirements were met, he says.

The university will expand the program to include more buildings in the upcoming academic year.

Source: MSU

Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached here.