Thursday, October 9, 2008
Neil Steiner hopes to give a new look to energy conservation at the KU Energy Fair today.
The KU Center for Sustainability and Chevron Energy Solutions will sponsor the event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Stauffer-Flint Hall lawn.
Alex Krejci, Olathe senior, pours biodiesel fuel from one container to another with the help of Jing Guo, Jiaozuo, China graduate student, on Wednesday morning in the KU Biodiesel Initiative’s refining lab in Burt Hall. Krejci and Guo were transporting the biodiesel, which is made from fryer grease from Mrs. E’s, to test the emissions it would produce.
Steiner, Tulsa, Okla., senior and president of Emerging Green Builders, will discuss the group’s projects. One of Emerging Green Builders’ projects is the rain garden that is being built north of the Student Recreation Fitness Center. Storm water will water the native flowers in the garden. Steiner said native plants would grow better in the climate and require less maintenance.
Representatives of other environmental groups, such as KU Environs and the KU Biodiesel Initiative, will also be present.
Jeff Severin, director of the Center for Sustainability, said the event would focus on the what the University was doing to save energy on campus. Students who have conducted research about alternative energy, energy conservation and sustainability will also talk about their projects.
breakbox
Electric use Electric cost
125,224,335 kWh $6,466,070
Natural gas use Natural gas cost
513,023 MMBtu $4,538,283
* All costs for the 2008 fiscal year
— Source: Craig Hansen, energy manager of the University
Oliver Meade, Flagstaff, Ariz., graduate student, researches biodiesel. He will answer questions at the fair. He said the biodiesel for the Biodeisel Initiative was made from food waste left over from Mrs. E’s.
Craig Hansen, energy manager of the University, will show data at the fair about how much the University spends on utilities.
Hansen said the University spent about $12,248,000 for utilities such as electricity, gas and water in the last fiscal year.
“I think most people are shocked to know,” Hansen said. “That’s a big number.”
Hansen said utility prices were increasing, and it was important for the University to save energy for environmental and financial reasons.
Hansen tracks utility data and audits campus buildings to find ways to reduce energy use. For example, he measured the brightness of light fixtures and reduced the level of brightness when necessary. He said the University raised the temperature setting inside campus buildings from 76 degrees to 78 degrees this summer. He said that was an effective way to save some energy.
He said the University contracted with Chevron Energy Solutions in 2001 to monitor energy use on campus and to work on energy reduction.
Hansen said students could also save energy. He said that lighting accounted for 30 percent of the energy used by the University and that students could help by turning off the lights when they leave a room.
“That’s probably the easiest way to make an immediate impact,” Hansen said.
Severin said a mock office would be set up in a tent and be used to provide energy saving tips. Energy in the tent will be provided by the KU Biodiesel Initiative’s five-kilowatt generator.
Severin said he hoped students would learn some energy-saving tips at the fair.
“The fair mainly focuses on campus conservation, but it can be applied to students’ daily lives,” Severin said.
— — Edited by Becka Cremer
Lawrence hosts annual energy conservation fair
Event will showcase tips on how to be more energy efficient and ...
Anschutz receives environmental award
Anschutz Library is awarded for student-led initiative to use wind power to ...
Kansas students volunteer for the earth
Student volunteers are making biodiesel on campus, and are looking for others ...
Letter to the Editor: Chevron give University ...
Partnership with Chevron has been mutually beneficial.
Student groups team up for environment
From Blue to Green, a sustainability movement, will host events between now ...
Students promote campus sustainability
During Campus Sustainability Day Wednesday, students talked about ways to reserve resources ...
University applies for energy program funding
Center for Sustainability helped develop a program that would reduce emissions and ...
Green living good for earth and wallet
Students use sustainability to keep bills low.
How to save the earth – and ...
Washing clothes in cold water, buying biodegradable dishwasher detergent and using compact ...
Improving energy efficiency isn't cheap
The University designates $25 million to update lighting, ventilation, heating and water ...
Two students design rain garden at Zarco ...
The garden has native plants as part of its water conservation system ...
KU receives C+ in sustainability efforts
Sustainable Endowments Institute evaluated the 332 colleges on their green efforts.
Competition to compare energy usage between three ...
Bailey, Green and Summerfield halls will participate in a sustainability contest in ...
Energy-saving home improvements save money
Renovating a house to save energy is costly, but students can take ...
Editorial: Small steps, big effects
New energy-saving deal needs attention.
Rain garden by recreation center to prevent ...
Native flowers and grasses will allow the $40,000 garden to manage the ...
Green campus groups educate students
Many opportunities exist at KU to get involved with environmental groups and ...
Groups continue to push green initiative through ...
Groups are optimistic, though administration says there isn’t much ‘green’ to go ...
Center for Sustainability seeks award nominees
The KU Center for Sustainability is looking for nominees for its first ...
Energy trackers monitor campus consumption
Facilities Operations staff supervises the University’s energy use to help the environment ...
Faculty members get environmental task force positions
Faculty members Simran Sethi and Jeff Severin were chosen by Climate Protection ...
KU Environs to lead an Earth Day ...
Eco-friendly festivities will aim to increase knowledge of sustainability and its benefits.
Students go green for awareness week
Events during KU Energy Awareness Week will include reusable bag hand-outs, a ...
Campus biofuel lab promotes efficiency
New platforms and funding to lab make fuel production more efficient for ...
Biodiesel offers cheap alternative
Car owners can cut the cost of operating their vehicles by turning ...
Student Senate finances 'green' soap initiative
Alternative Energy Society makes biodiesel fuel and environmentally friendly soap.
Chancellor won't sign national sustainability pledge
Central component of KUnited’s sustainabilty platform will not be signed by Gray-Little, ...
NASA researcher discusses climate change
James Hansen speaks about CO2 emissions and the crisis’ ongoing challenges.
Green fund will help make campus more ...
Student Senate approved $10,000 to start a fund for green projects at ...
Discussing the future of energy
Brownback and 13 experts of energy and regulation debate energy business and ...
Kansas communities to compete in energy efficiency ...
Lawrence will take part the Take Charge! Competition, beginning Saturday.
Graduates bring their art to rural Oklahoma
While many dream of doing their craft in an arts mecca, two ...
Biodiesel fuels a KU test trial
Cross country tour celebrates bio-diversity
First of its kind 'green certified' bus stops in Lawrence on national ...
Manhattan ahead in conservation competition
It'll take more than changing lightbulbs to put Lawrence in the lead.
Daldorph: Campus green initiatives forget about Lawrence
Students can have a positive effect on Lawrence's environmental awareness, too.
Lawrence loses "Take Charge" energy challenge
Despite loss, the Lawrence community has benefited from becoming more energy efficient.
Solar energy’s bright future in Kansas
Faculty and students are exploring new ways to embrace solar energy.
Chancellor proclaims Earth Day for KU
It is the first time the 40-year-old holiday is officially celebrated by ...
University improves sustainability grade
The Sustainability Endowment Institute awarded the University a "B," an improvement from ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID