Building upgrades will yield financial benefits for OU

by Laura M. Schneider
THE POST

Two new projects on Ohio University's campus will save energy and money and create a more comfortable living and learning environment for students and faculty.

The Campus Renewal Projects include the chilled water project, which will eventually provide campus-wide air conditioning at lower costs, and the energy efficiency project, which will make campus buildings more energy-efficient, said Ted Fares, director of engineering and technical support.

At a cost of $12.1 million, the chilled water project should increase system reliability and decrease costs, he said. The project is state-funded.

According to an informational video from OU Facilities Management, the energy efficiency changes are targeted to save the university more than $2.5 million per year in energy and operating costs. The cost of new equipment would be covered with money saved within 10 years.

The chilled water project is in its first phase of four, he said. The first phase began on Oct. 1 and is slated to be finished during March 2002.

Students might notice the installation of the water-carrying pipes on West Green. When this phase is completed, several buildings on West Green will be cooled in a more efficient manner. By 2002, all buildings on West Green will be cooled by the central system.

And by 2008 or 2010, the entire water-cooling project should be completed, providing efficient cooling for the entire university from one central system, said Fares.

"(One central cooling system) will leave the space for academic programs and would move the chiller away from the building, increasing classroom space, using less energy and reducing noise.

"We want to make the most comfortable environment for the students and faculty," Fares said.

The energy efficiency project, which began in June, is also in its first phase, said Jean Radcliff, OU director of work management.

VESTAR, the company the university hired to carry out the project, will examine buildings on campus and determine how each can be made more energy-efficient, she said.

"They're finding a way to save money on utility costs," Radcliff said. "The two main things going on right now are the electrical changes and plumbing changes. The heating and ventilation work will be right around the corner."

Each of the five phases of the energy efficiency project is expected to last two years.

During phase one of the project, which costs $4.2 million, several buildings have been selected by VESTAR for renovations. Buildings were selected based on how much money could be saved from the upgrades, Radcliff said.

One change during the first phase is the installation of energy-efficient lighting systems, said Lori Yee of VESTAR. Yee said the lighting systems in some buildings would be replaced completely, while other buildings would see new light bulbs.

Other changes include the installation of low-flow fixtures that save water in showers and toilets, thereby saving costs, and changes in building controls to release heat and cool air in a more cost-efficient manner, Yee said.