Method of Energy Conservation

The methodology used for energy conservation for WMU at Holiday break is as follows.

When the Residence Life students leave campus at the end of the semester, the temperature of the heating water is lowered, thus lowering the temperature of the Residence Halls to approximately 62. This temperature remains in place until approximately 5 days before the students return. It takes 5 days to warm the buildings back up prior to the students returning. This procedure is implemented by the Building Automation System. [BAS]

All possible lights are turned off, windows closed, and drapes drawn to also conserve energy in the Res. Halls. Exhaust fans and supply fans are turned off where possible during the closure. Supplemental heat is supplied for Hall Directors that must remain in the building while students are on semester break.

When classes are over, the temperature in vacant classrooms is turned down to 55 Deg. F. for the closure period by the BAS. All lights not on occupancy sensors are turned off where possible. Since the occupancy sensors are also used for heating control in the buildings, this year the sensors were locked out via software so that temperatures would not be raised above 55 if someone decided to use a given space. Lighting remained functional during this period. Some special exceptions were allowed. Normal operations resumed when classes resumed. Buildings that still have manual thermostats were manually turned down. Buildings that have exemptions for certain spaces for special research and animals were not affected by this process.

The same procedure as used in classrooms was followed for campus offices when the campus closure period went into effect.

This entire process has been used since 2004. It has been a learning process, with adjustments made where needed. It has also been a growing process as more energy issues have been identified. The Building Automation System is what makes this process work for the majority of items, however human interaction is still a critical factor.

The intent of this process is to not only save money for the university, but to also conserve energy resources for the good of the planet.

Electrical Savings

WMU avoided spending $149,845 in electrical energy expenses through energy conservation policies during the winter closure period.

Steam Savings

WMU avoided spending $312,943 in steam energy expenses through energy conservation policies during the winter closure period.

Total Consumption Savings

WMU avoided spending $462,788 in total energy expenses through energy conservation policies during the winter closure period.