University of Florida Office of Sustainability

Post Suggestions for energy reduction here.

If the North South circulator was an electric tram, like the Disney trams, running every 7-10 minutes, that would serve most of the needs of people going to meetings around campus. And why couldn't these run on solar power. If engineering can design a solar car to go across the desert, they should be able to design something practical to solve day to day needs of campus. It would be quiet, use no energy and be non-polluting.

When I worked at Motorola, there was an electronically-controlled lighting system. Each night, after 7pm, all of the lights except the emergency lights would turn off throughout the entire campus. If someone was working late, they could call an automated service, type in their location code, and the lights would turn on for them. I've seen this installed, and I know for a fact that it works. Could we explore a similar system here at UF?

I received this note in an email. If it works, I'll try it!

Mark Ontkush wrote an article about the energy saving that would be achieved if Google had a black screen, taking in account the huge number of page views. According to his calculations, 750 megawatts/hour per year would be saved. In a response to this article Google created a black version of its search engine, called Blackle, with the exact same functions as the white version, but with a lower energy consumption, check it out:

http://www.blackle.com/

True or not- here is DOE's page on computer monitor saving tips:
http://www.microtech.doe.gov/E...yStar/info.htm#display

-Change the desktop background on ALL UF computers to a simple black screen, which uses less power

-Use less lighting when possible (many classrooms have a ridiculous amount of light, with some lighted tiles touching one another. In many cases, using half this light would still be sufficient, especially on sunny days). A special switch, either a dimmer or a "half on" switch could be used to control lighting used on brighter days

-Create "scooter/motorcycle only" lanes around campus and on w. university, to reduce congestion (idling wastes incredible amounts of gasoline) and encourage more people to use scooters both by increasing safety from not having to ride directly with cars, and by making it more efficient (scooter lane could allow people to breeze by larger traffic when there is heavy congestion)

-Remove unnecessary lighting in vending machines (just open them up and take out the bulbs)

-Ditch security lighting in favor of more night security personnel

-Convert gyms into "green gyms" by attaching simple generators to bicycle machines, treadmills (switch to human powered rather than electric.) Most people would be more inclined to use the gym if they felt it were helping, even those who do not normally exercise

-Add green roofs or reflective roofing to buildings, which reduce AC costs tremendously

-Modify speed limit in places where there are less pedestrians, raising it to a more efficient level.

-Add more computers to library west and other places; if people had easier access to the internet they might be less inclined to go home in between classes. New computers could also be efficiency models.

-Convert all or most elevators to handicap only

-Offer prizes to most efficient dorm rooms, classrooms, etc. and penalties for those who go substantially over a certain limit

Just some ideas off the top of my head, let me know what you think

Thanks for your interest in saving energy a UF! I have responded to your ideas below... some we are already implementing!

Change the desktop background on ALL UF computers to a simple black screen, which uses less power- this is a great idea, but we do not have control of ALL the computers at UF. Each Department is responsible for managing their own computers. We hope to provide some good information about what people can do to save energy across the departments- like Smart Strips, black screens, lights out, etc...., but also need proactive people to take the lead in getting their departments to commit to making the changes

-Use less lighting when possible (many classrooms have a ridiculous amount of light, with some lighted tiles touching one another. In many cases, using half this light would still be sufficient, especially on sunny days). A special switch, either a dimmer or a "half on" switch could be used to control lighting used on brighter days - we are looking into various possible technological solutions for this issue. We have retrofitted most of the lights across campus to be ultra efficient, and may add motion sensors or other things to help, but again, some of this comes down to individual commitment, and people to remembering to flip the switch if they are the last one to leave.

-Create "scooter/motorcycle only" lanes around campus and on w. university, to reduce congestion (idling wastes incredible amounts of gasoline) and encourage more people to use scooters both by increasing safety from not having to ride directly with cars, and by making it more efficient (scooter lane could allow people to breeze by larger traffic when there is heavy congestion)- This is a hard one to tackle in a few minutes... I can give you some quick thoughts, and if you would like to hear more you can e-mail me directly...

Scooters are not a silver bullet for sustainable transportation, in fact, due to the fact that most scooters are two-stroke without a catalytic converter, they actually cause 2-10 times more air pollution (the kind that creates smog and health issues) than a car (EPA). Safety is an issue, but I think the solutions are education about the dangers so that people dress accordingly- helmets, closed shoes-and do not put themselves in danger- swerving in and out of traffic, riding in a bike lane, talking on cell phones, using Ipods-I understand your concern for scooters in traffic, but the bike lanes act just as you are suggesting, and riding a bike requires no fuel. I can attest to the fact that you can get almost anywhere on campus as fast or faster using a bike. Also, unlike a car which comes and parks for the day, scooters are being used to go point to point throughout the day. This means more gas burned, more chances for accidents, more congestion....

-Remove unnecessary lighting in vending machines (just open them up and take out the bulbs)- Business Services is working on Vending Misers and Energy Star vending. These save energy by going into low power modes when not being used.

-Ditch security lighting in favor of more night security personnel- No matter how much security personnel we have, the lighting will still be required by the administration and the UPD to help patrol and provide safer streets, etc....

-Convert gyms into "green gyms" by attaching simple generators to bicycle machines, treadmills (switch to human powered rather than electric.) Most people would be more inclined to use the gym if they felt it were helping, even those who do not normally exercise- there is some talk of this in SG for the Southwest Recreation Center.

-Add green roofs or reflective roofing to buildings, which reduce AC costs tremendously- good ideas. This is not under our control, however. Our Facilities Planning and Construction department works on new construction and major renovations. They have a commitment to LEED Silver (a green building standard), are always trying to integrate new technology into buildings to make them high performance. The overall life cycle costs and maintenance are taken into consideration, as are the needs/desires of the donors and the departments who will ultimately use the buildings.

-Modify speed limit in places where there are less pedestrians, raising it to a more efficient level- ??

-Add more computers to library west and other places; if people had easier access to the internet they might be less inclined to go home in between classes. New computers could also be efficiency models. Again, the decision of the department. This would be a good suggestion for the Library.

-Convert all or most elevators to handicap only- I wish...

-Offer prizes to most efficient dorm rooms, classrooms, etc. and penalties for those who go substantially over a certain limit being done- check out the Battle of the Halls Button on our home page.

The UF Energy & Climate Change Task Force (ECC-TF) has been exploring ways to reduce energy consumption in campus buildings and is developing an ambitious strategy for significantly reducing energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. Some of the long term outcomes of this strategy will be a Carbon Neutral Campus, significant reductions in the cost of energy, and high performance green buildings whose energy profile is far lower than even our current LEED green buildings.

One of the low-hanging fruits for saving energy identified in the Task Force work is the operating schedule of our buildings. Physical Plant reports that all buildings on campus are operating on relatively normal schedules even during holidays and breaks. During the summer, when the student and faculty population is a fraction of the fall and spring semesters, buildings still operate as if they were fully utilized. The Task Force is recommending that all buildings be set back to temperature schedules that provide only the minimal energy needed to prevent mold in summer and freezing in winter. Additionally the Task Force recommends classes be consolidated into the minimum number of buildings during the summer.

To launch this effort, the Task Force is collaborating with the Physical Plant Division in a pilot program in which a select group of buildings will be setback to minimal temperature schedules during the entire Thanksgiving Holiday. The list of buildings slated for this program is attached for your review. The addressees on this e-mail are listed as having space in one of more of the buildings on this list. Please provide us with feedback concerning any specific functions that would be affected in these buildings, for example, server rooms. You can e-mail this feedback to Eric Cochran at ecochra@ufl.edu with a copy to me at ckibert@ufl.edu This pilot program will be expanded over the winter break to include additional buildings.

We appreciate your collaboration with the Task Force in taking control of our campus energy profile and eliminating unnecessary energy consumption. Please provide us with any suggestions you may have with respect to this and other energy conserving measures. We are especially interested in creating incentives for user groups to reduce energy consumption on campus.

Regards

Charles Kibert
Chair, ECC-TF

 

It seems like we have been wasting energy by turning on the lamps around campus much earlier than necessary. This was taken yesterday:
http://www.axcessmypics.com/ph...db/ae/bd51d1f22df0.jpg

And these are actually from before daylight savings time:
http://www.axcessmypics.com/ph...7f/d8/83b2f86b77c0.jpg
http://www.axcessmypics.com/ph...38/18/0ece14f11af9.jpg

Since they didn't change with DST, I'm assuming they are set to turn on at a fixed time every day... maybe this time could be modified a bit, or we could change to a system where they come on after a certain darkness has been reached (light sensors?)