Ohio University stands to save tens of millions of dollars over the next decade and a half by spending almost $30 million this year.
OU recently signed a guaranteed energy performance contract with Constellation Energy, a national supplier of power solutions.
The contract will cost $28.3 million to provide water conservation and energy efficiency systems at the university, saving $1.9 million a year after the upgrades are complete, according to a news release.
“We are excited to work with Constellation on this endeavor,” said Steve Golding, vice president of Finance and Administration, in the news release. “This relationship will not only provide significant cost savings for the university, but will also move us closer to achieving the long-term goals outlined in our sustainability and climate action plans.”
The first projects are set to begin Oct. 1 and be completed by the Summer 2014, said Mike Gebeke, executive director of Facilities Management.
Over 15 years, the university is guaranteed to save $38 million from the conservation improvements as well as providing savings beyond that, said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities.
“Some of this equipment will last more than 15 years,” Wyatt said. “It will contribute to stemming the tide of growth in deferred maintenance.”
This project was budgeted to cost $33 million in the six-year Capital Improvement Plan, but after working through the bidding process with Constellation, the university was able to get a lower price on the work, Wyatt said.
Work will occur on 72 academic buildings on OU’s main campus, including improvements and upgrades to interior and exterior lighting, heating and cooling systems, ventilation, and changes to pipe and blanket insulation, among others, according to the news release.
Facilities currently manage about 200 buildings on the Athens campus, Wyatt said.
This project is much more sustainable for the university, and OU is looking to incorporate alternative energies into the housing plan, Wyatt said.
“(For) every project in the capital plan, we look at terms of being a sustainable construction or rehabilitation,” Wyatt said. “We take every opportunity possible to see if that project has opportunities to incorporate alternative energies.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
