2008 Woodie Awards
NU improves energy use
Michele Richinick
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: News
During the past year, the university has begun working on projects to cut down on energy consumption. So far, Northeastern facilities has completed cheaper energy projects, and allowing them to tackle the more complex projects.
"In the energy business the easy jobs, like changing to fluorescent light bulbs, are called 'low hanging fruit' [projects] because they're so easy to do and have such good energy savings," said Joe Ranahan, assistant utilities manager. "There are no more low hanging fruit projects left. Those have all been picked so we have to go after the sort of 'big money' type [projects] that cost a lot of money."
The university is currently replacing the heating system in Speare Hall with a more modern system, and the opening of new buildings, like Parcel 18, will have features that are more efficient than in older buildings on campus, said Ryan Fox, Student Government Association vice president for student services.
"Energy conservation projects can require large, upfront investments, but in the end they benefit both the environment and the bottom line of the university, and therefore the students," Fox said. "I think the current structure of performing a few upgrades per year spreads out the financial burden of these large-scale projects, while still bringing tangible results in the here and now."
The low hanging fruit projects facilities workers have been working on include replacing the fixtures in the Columbus parking garage with more efficient fixtures with lamps that use about half the power and provide more lighting, Ranahan said. They are also replacing the liquid hand soap in the public bathrooms on campus with a Green Seal foam hand soap, which will save water by dispensing a smaller volume of soap, but keeps hands just as clean, he said.
Another big money project is the process of taking out old and insufficient air conditioners, which removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression.
"We can start to do a lot of [big money projects], but they all cost money to do and they're not something that need to be done," Ranahan said. "But we'd like to do if we can afford it. It's trying to balance what we need to do with what we want to do. Big capital improvements are what we're up against now."
"In the energy business the easy jobs, like changing to fluorescent light bulbs, are called 'low hanging fruit' [projects] because they're so easy to do and have such good energy savings," said Joe Ranahan, assistant utilities manager. "There are no more low hanging fruit projects left. Those have all been picked so we have to go after the sort of 'big money' type [projects] that cost a lot of money."
The university is currently replacing the heating system in Speare Hall with a more modern system, and the opening of new buildings, like Parcel 18, will have features that are more efficient than in older buildings on campus, said Ryan Fox, Student Government Association vice president for student services.
"Energy conservation projects can require large, upfront investments, but in the end they benefit both the environment and the bottom line of the university, and therefore the students," Fox said. "I think the current structure of performing a few upgrades per year spreads out the financial burden of these large-scale projects, while still bringing tangible results in the here and now."
The low hanging fruit projects facilities workers have been working on include replacing the fixtures in the Columbus parking garage with more efficient fixtures with lamps that use about half the power and provide more lighting, Ranahan said. They are also replacing the liquid hand soap in the public bathrooms on campus with a Green Seal foam hand soap, which will save water by dispensing a smaller volume of soap, but keeps hands just as clean, he said.
Another big money project is the process of taking out old and insufficient air conditioners, which removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression.
"We can start to do a lot of [big money projects], but they all cost money to do and they're not something that need to be done," Ranahan said. "But we'd like to do if we can afford it. It's trying to balance what we need to do with what we want to do. Big capital improvements are what we're up against now."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Mitch
posted 7/02/08 @ 12:10 PM EST
What about light switches with timers or motion sensors for those residence halls and elsewhere.. sounds like low hanging fruit to me?
Kate McLaughlin
posted 7/03/08 @ 10:43 AM EST
One additional item of "low hanging fruit" would be the posting of stickers on light switches in classrooms reminding faculty to turn the lights off when they leave. (Continued…)
Fuck you
posted 7/05/08 @ 11:42 PM EST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg
Compact flourescent light bulbs suck!
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