Ohio University earned a hefty paycheck by asking campus to power down last week.
OU has participated in Energy Connect’s Demand Response program for three years, which offers universities and businesses money for reducing their energy when the grid is in a state of emergency, as it was on Sept. 11.
OU brought in $121,260 by reducing its energy consumption by almost 30 percent following a university-wide email from Vice President for Finance and Administration Stephen Golding asking the campus to conserve energy.
OU received $74,260 for reducing its consumption, along with its annual $47,000 paycheck for participating in the program, said Mike Gebeke, executive director of Facilities Management.
On an average day, OU draws 21.4 megawatts of electricity but when asked to reduce consumption, campus dropped to slightly more than 15 megawatts and held that level for five hours, Gebeke said.
Facilities worked with Residential Housing to turn off air conditioning and asked construction workers to reduce or cease their energy usage.
“We try to do everything possible not to disrupt classes,” Gebeke said. “That day was a pretty good day.”
@WillDrabold
