Editor's note: The energy conservation measures are posted online at http://www.ku.edu/~provost/energy2000.htm

LAWRENCE -- Extra efforts by University of Kansas employees to conserve energy to offset soaring rates saved KU an estimated $335,000 in electrical and natural gas bills last year, Provost David Shulenburger announced today.

"I know the conservation measures caused employees some discomfort. I appreciate and applaud their efforts. It has created significant savings," said Shulenburger. "The money saved through conservation is money that will not have to be diverted from academic programs to pay energy bills. I wish to thank especially the Facilities Operations staff for their ingenuity and hard work."

Conservation policies instituted by Shulenburger last summer included setting thermostats at 75 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. KU's Facilities Operations department also manually adjusted heating and cooling systems and reduced operating hours to achieve additional energy savings.

Conservation was particularly challenging as Kansas experienced record heat and cold in 2000. August 2000 was the third hottest on record, and the state suffered through 22 days above 100 degrees, the most since 1980. When winter arrived November was the fourth coldest on record and December 2000, with an average temperature 10 degrees below normal, was the second coldest on record.

The extreme weather coincided with significant increases in natural gas and other utility costs. The average price for natural gas purchased by the university from July 1999 through February 2000 averaged $3.52 per MCF as compared to $5.86 from July 2000 through February 2001. As a result KU faces a $1 million increase in its natural gas bill this fiscal year. Since the legislature has not allocated any additional funds to pay rising utility costs, the needed funds will have to come from academic programs, Shulenburger said.

At the same time, KU added 225,000 square feet to the utility systems served by the university's physical plant in 2000. In the fall the remodeled Joseph R. Pearson Hall reopened as the new home of the School of Education, along with the School of Fine Arts' Murphy Hall Addition and the new Child Care Facility.

A conservative analysis of electric and gas expenditures showed conservation measures saved KU about $145,000 in electric bills and about $190,000 in natural gas bills, said James Long, assistant provost for facilities planning and management.

Despite the record heat and cold, and the addition of new buildings to the campus, KUÿs electrical use actually declined and natural gas use only rose slightly, Long said. From July 1999 through February 2000, KU consumed 75,687 megawatt hours, compared to 75,464 megawatt hours consumed from July 2000 through February 2001, and natural gas use increased to 307 billion BTUs this past winter from 296 billion during the winter of 2000.