MU's energy conservation: "world class" and still getting greener
by Kyla Berendzen, posted Sept. 29, 2008
In 2006, MU consumed 232 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, used 2.7 billion pounds of steam, generated 404,932 tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, consumed 772 million gallons of water and produced 7,293 tons of trash.
That’s equivalent to each full-time student and staff member running a coffeepot for 21 hours, using 217 pounds of steam, emitting 65 pounds of carbon dioxide, taking a 12 minute shower, and producing 1.2 pounds of trash every day. The average residence hall dweller actually used just over 8 kilowatt-hours of electricity (about equal to running a coffeepot for 9 hours), used 40 gallons of water (an eight minute shower), and produced a pound of trash each day.
These imposing figures, compiled in the October 2007 update by the MU Environmental Affairs Committee, are surprisingly low for such a large university. MU is a very green campus, a distinction for which it has won numerous awards. In 2004, MU won the “System of the Year Award” from the International District Energy Association, according to the IDEA and Campus Facilities Web sites.
“The MU Department of Energy Management does a great job of conserving energy and creating efficiency - they’re a world-class operation,” said Ben Datema, former president of Sustain Mizzou.
According to its Web site, Sustain Mizzou is a non-profit student organization committed to “creating a sustainable way of life at the University of Missouri-Columbia through public education and local action regarding the environment.” Datema said that since MU began tracking energy use in 1990, there has been a 16 percent decrease in energy consumption despite increasing enrollment and a 60 percent increase in campus building surface area.
Campus Facilities is efficient in providing water, heat, cooling and power on campus. The power plant, for example, is a unique co-generational facility that utilizes both coal and steam to power the campus, Datema said. He said that energy conservation saves MU about $4.5 million a year, of which $900,000 comes just from efficient lighting.
Also, recycling efforts have conserved hundreds of tons of paper, cardboard, aluminum and plastic. Sustain Mizzou’s Web site says that Tiger Tailgate Recycling gathered 19 tons of recyclables at home football games last year.
Many students are unaware of the quality of MU’s energy conservation facilities.
“I was surprised that Mizzou wins energy conservation awards, because I didn’t realize that Mizzou had such an advanced energy conservation program,” said Chris Brame, a sophomore majoring in atmospheric sciences. “I feel proud that I go to a school that values energy conservation and uses their resources wisely.”
Brame helps to conserve energy by recycling, turning off lights and consolidating laundry.
However, the cooperation between Campus Facilities and organizations like Sustain Mizzou would benefit from even more student cooperation, Datema said. He recommended several ways that students can help conserve energy while at MU:
• Turn off lights while not in the room. They may be high efficiency, but no energy use is still better than low energy use. Also, try lighting only the part of a room that is in use.
• Turn off computers when not in use, since they are a huge drain on electricity.
• Conserve water by turning off the faucet and taking shorter showers, especially since water also requires so much electricity to heat.
• Wear a sweater (or Mizzou hoodie) instead of turning up the thermostat. • Ride a bike instead of driving. Gas prices are high, and biking is great exercise. Just be sure to do it safely - wear a helmet and be cautious of traffic.
• Avoid taking excess food.
• Get involved. Visit Sustain Mizzou’s Web site at http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou or find another one of MU’s many conservation-oriented organizations.
Mizzou is already highly efficient in conserving resources, but with student cooperation, organizations can do even more to sustain and preserve the campus, the state, the planet and the future.
