KU News Release

KU partners with Overland Park firm to perform energy audit, increase efficiencies

LAWRENCE — After saving nearly $7 million through conservation measures taken since 2001, the University of Kansas now is contracting with a firm to find additional energy efficiencies on campus with a particular focus on upcoming deferred maintenance projects.

Overland Park-based Energy Solutions Professionals, known as ESP, is working with Facilities Operations and Design and Construction Management at KU on an energy audit that will identify ways to reduce energy consumption and the associated costs and maintain better long-term efficiency.

The audit will look at several specific areas of potential efficiency improvements. The measures will include:

— interior and exterior lighting
— an evaluation of occupancy-based controls for lighting and heating/cooling set-point control, steam production and distribution
— water conservation for domestic use and processes
— advanced building-automation controls

ESP will investigate whether to centralize the cooling system for buildings that are conditioned with inefficient and expensive-to-maintain units in each building. Among KU’s deferred maintenance priorities is the repair or replacement of several deteriorating heating, cooling and ventilation systems. The audit will help maximize funding appropriated by the state for such repairs by identifying the most effective, cost-efficient method to solve the problem.

One of the top priorities of the energy audit will be a thorough study of laboratory spaces in Malott and Haworth halls. Labs often use tremendous amounts of energy because of the large volumes of air fume hoods have to remove from the building during experiments. All air that is removed has to be replaced with conditioned air, and when hoods are inadvertently left open, a significant strain is placed on the buildings’ heating and cooling systems.

“We’re looking at a variety of advanced technologies and strategies to minimize the energy losses from the lab spaces, while ensuring that safety and indoor air quality are not compromised,” said Bob Miller, vice president of operations for ESP. “We’re gathering a lot of data about how the spaces are currently used and investigating solutions that have proven successful in other lab environments. Not only should the end result save energy, but it should make it easier to maintain a comfortable learning and working environment.”

Craig Hansen, energy program manager with Facilities Operations, said ESP will provide recommendations in January to improve efficiency. University officials will then assess the required investment to implement the measures and decide which to enact based on available funding. Implementation of the improved efficiency measures could begin as early as May 2009, he said.

The ESP audit is KU’s most recent effort to improve energy efficiency. In 2001, KU undertook a similar project with Chevron Energy Solutions, which has resulted in an estimated savings of more than $900,000 per year.

Jim Modig, director of Design and Construction Management, said KU had a long history of implementing energy conservation improvements. In the early 1980s, an energy audit led to KU receiving 14 energy conservation grants and implementing numerous improvements.

“There have been a number of measures implemented since then that have also contributed to energy conservation, including window replacements with insulated glass, roof replacements with thicker and better insulation, renovations with more efficient mechanical and electrical systems and geothermal systems at the two newest scholarship halls,” Modig said. “We look forward to working with ESP to find even more ways to be as energy efficient as possible.”

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