Conserving Energy

New initiatives are underway to include faculty, students and staff to help control and reduce mounting energy costs at Grand Valley. The biggest change involves adjusting the temperature of university classrooms and offices.

A university-standard set point will be established for heating and cooling. Heating controls would be set at a maximum of 70 degrees instead of an average of 72 degrees during the winter season. The minimum cooling temperature for summer would be set at 76 degrees instead of 74 degrees. This will mean little change for most areas and will have very little impact on the comfort level of classrooms and offices, said Tim Thimmesch, director of Facilities Services.

The initiative is a voluntary program. Deans and unit leaders can choose whether their areas will participate. Thimmesch hopes everyone will get on board.

'Our target is to save another 2 percent of our energy budget which could amount to $150,000,' he said.

Cost saving measures are also being implemented with Grand Valley students. Awareness programs have been developed for student housing units. Advertisements are running in the student newspaper reminding students to turn off lights, to report plumbing leaks, and to take shorter showers. The ads were written and developed by Grand Valley marketing students.

Facilities Services at Grand Valley has already been able to generate more than $350,000 in savings over the past four years by implementing energy efficient improvements. One example is the use of motion detectors to shut off lights in unattended bathrooms. 

'With everyone's help we can conserve valuable resources and redirect them to programs supporting the educational mission of the university,' Thimmesch said.