Phase Two heats up Campus Renewal Project

by Sara Bisker and Jeremy Boren
Staff Writers

Phase two of a five-part plan to improve Ohio University’s energy efficiency is warming up this month as workers convert Bromley Hall’s heating power source from natural gas to electricity.

The plan, called the Campus Renewal Project, began in April 2000 with a $25 million, 10-year contract between OU and VESTAR, a Cincinnati-based energy performance contractor. VESTAR is an affiliate of Cinergy Corp., a national diversified energy company.

VESTAR site coordinator Andy Sinozich said he expects the Bromley heating conversion to be complete by the end of the year.

The project will cost approximately $200,000, he said.

Ted Fares, director of energy services, said a second leg of phase two will focus on decreasing water usage costs by tapping into a natural well under the university’s golf course on South Green along the Hocking River.

Fares explained the goal is to stop relying on city water to irrigate the five university playing fields.

The irrigation project will cost about $480,000, Fares said.

Officials estimate the ground water irrigation project will pay for itself within three and a half years after completion, and then save the university $150,000 each year after that, Sinozich said.

"By drilling our own well and irrigating the fields we’re saving (money) by using our own water," he said.

The net savings from using electricity instead of natural gas in Bromley combined with using university water instead of city water amounts to about $320,000 a year, Fares said. Phase two began July 1 and will end June 30, 2002.

Money saved will return to OU's general operating fund.

Facilities Management is also contacting officials in campus buildings and asking them to cut back energy levels if possible, Fares said. Some buildings already have limited their energy consumption by lowering temperatures, depending on the number of people using the building.

For example, because Building 24 at The Ridges is used for storage purposes only, it has been completely shut down, Fares said. An average of $60,000 to $70,000 is saved each month.

Earlier this month, some OU students formed Waste Busters, an environmentally-aware student group, to promote energy conservation within the student body.

OU junior and Waste Busters member Jennifer Sanson believes OU is on the right track to efficiency.

"We have to take an initiative to improve our campus," Sanson said.