State Agency Energy Savings Program

April 2006 Update

The extent to which the agency has met the percentage goal it established for reducing its usage of electricity, gasoline, and natural gas.

During the first quarter, the University implemented the following parts of its Energy Conservation Plan: 

• The University Energy Awareness Campaign was established entitled “Conserve TAMIU.”  Adhesive stickers were placed on light switches to remind everyone to conserve energy by turning off the lights. News of the effort was shared with local and regional news media,  distributed electronically with the campus community and featured in the University’s biannual magazine, Prism.
• The University’s HVAC systems, controlled by a Siemens Energy Management System, was recalibrated to lower all heating set points  by 2 degrees and all cooling set points increased by 2 degrees.
• All unoccupied rooms at the Learning Residence Community (a new student housing complex) were set at an 80 degree cooling set point.
• All University computers are automatically shut down after working hours.  The University currently has approximately 1600 computers.

The first quarter results are as follows:

*  Increased usage can be attributed to the following factors:

• Population in campus student housing increased 50%
• The opening of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center increased square footage by 89,000 sq. ft.
• Abnormally warm winter increased the usage of our HVAC system.

The steps the agency may take to increase the percentage goal for reducing its usage of electricity, gasoline, and natural gas.

The University has been notified by American Electric Power that effective January 1, 2006 an additional transmission surcharge will be made to any commercial user that does not meet their .95 power factor requirement. TAMIU has contracted with The Texas A&M University Energy Systems Lab at College Station to study how to increase the current power factor of .85 to .95. The Energy Systems Lab analysis showed that by investing $50,500 to increase our power factor, the University would save $103,355 over five years.  The University is currently in the process of hiring a company to do the proposed adjustments.  (See attached analysis)

Any additional ideas the agency has for reducing energy expenditures relating to facilities.

A recent annual boiler test showed that retuning the boiler would make it burn more efficiently, therefore burning less natural gas.  The boiler will be serviced in April, 2006.

Any additional ideas the agency has to minimize fuel usage in all vehicles and equipment used by the agency.

As seen in the University Progress Report, the University currently purchases less than 600 gal. per month.  This is due to the following:

Document Agency’s Best Practices:

1. The University practice is to minimize the number of gasoline-powered vehicles purchased.
2. The University uses electric golf carts vs. gasoline-powered vehicles for on-campus transportation and maintenance.
3. Any new vehicles purchased will use alternative fuels.
4. University personnel requiring a vehicle for business travel use commercial rental vehicles.
5. The University does not operate a motor pool, a vehicle maintenance facility or a vehicle fuel facility.