Around Campus

University Implements New Energy Policies

To meet the challenge posed by record increases in the price of oil and electricity, the University has instituted a more aggressive policy to reduce energy consumption on campus.

"Our best estimate for the current academic year indicates that the University's energy costs will increase by 50 percent over last year," according to e-mail sent to the Brown community on October 20 by Provost Robert Zimmer and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Huidekoper. "In dollar terms, our energy costs will rise from $12.5 million last year to approximately $18.1 million for the year ending June 30, 2006."

Although the University increased this year's energy budget by 20 percent over last year's, the unanticipated spikes in the cost of heating oil and electricity are expected to leave the University short by $3.6 million.

Brown uses less energy than many similar campuses. According to a report issued this summer by a University task force, Facilities Management has made energy efficiency investments in existing buildings and new construction in the last twelve years that accumulated more than $5 million in reduced or avoided energy costs.

But the latest energy situation requires stepped-up efforts. "We are a community of 10,000 faculty, staff, and students," Zimmer and Huidekoper wrote. "Small measures that are broadly adopted by each of us will have a noticeable impact in meeting our energy challenge."

Take computers, for example. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, for every 1,000 computers enabled with power management features, more than $50,000 in annual electricity costs can be saved compared to computers and monitors running all the time.

Changing lighting habits adds up, too. Data compiled by Facilities Management show that if the electrical lighting at Brown is used just one hour less per day, the University can reduce its daily electrical costs by more than $500.

Also, for every one degree F the thermostats are lowered in the heating season or raised in cooling season, the University can reduce heating and cooling costs approximately $200,000 per year.

The University's new heating and cooling policy requires that thermostats in all offices and other workspaces be set to achieve 68 degrees during heating season. When warm weather arrives, thermostats in all offices and other workspaces will be set to achieve 78 degrees. Supplemental electric heaters will only be issued in the case of system malfunctions, and no other use of electric heaters is allowed.

Spaces such as research facilities requiring critical temperature settings will be more tightly controlled, according to Zimmer and Huidekoper.

The University is asking members of the Brown community to take the following conservation measures:

• Turn computers off when not in use, and power down the whole system when away, especially at night and on weekends. Set your computer power management so that your computer monitor turns off and your CPU enters sleep or standby mode when you leave your desk for extended periods of time.
• Enable power management features on laser printers; power them down whenever possible, particularly on evenings and weekends.
• More information on computer power management settings and how to optimize energy management on computer equipment is available online.
• Turn off unused or unneeded lights, even if you are just leaving the room for a few minutes. (Contrary to popular belief, turning lights off and on does not consume more energy.)
• Use task lighting where possible. Do not light whole rooms if you do not need to. Try fluorescent task lighting, and avoid halogen lighting.
• Use natural lighting instead of electric lighting whenever possible.

Cancer Support Group Meets Bi-Weekly

The Brown Employee Cancer Support Group, formed earlier this fall, offers cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers, significant others, family, friends, and colleagues a means of mutual support in the workplace.

The structured, bi-weekly meetings also provide coping tools and cancer information. The confidential meetings are facilitated by oncology clinical social workers with experience in supporting cancer patients and their families.

People interested in attending can telephone either of the facilitators: Margaret Smith, MSW, LICSW (401) 793-2080, or Margaret Wool, Ph.D., LICSW (401) 261-1500.