Energy Assessment and Conservation, In a University Environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current state of the economy, along with the rising cost of energy, has strained the university's budget. As a result, the university is forced to cut spending. To elude the possibility of layoffs, wage decreases, or tuition increases, the university can cut costs by reducing the amount of energy it is using. In many cases, energy is not being utilized properly but instead is being wasted unnecessarily. Considerable savings can be obtained by better managing the university's energy usage. To estimate the potential energy savings by The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the energy currently being used by the university was evaluated separately for each building. The assessments revealed a considerable amount of wasted energy. Lights were on in unoccupied rooms, and lights were also observed to be left on for extended periods of time. Computers were on and not being used, and they were rarely ever turned off. A number of personal fans, heaters, microwaves, and refrigerators were present in ...