Power trips

Student electricity-usage audit finds waste,

calls for campuswide education, conservaton

The members of Jane Wolfson's Environmental Science and Studies senior seminar stand firm in their belief that small, conscientious acts can save the university hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in electricity costs.

The 18 students conducted a semester-long assessment that required them to gather, analyze and synthesize information about how TU's faculty, staff and students used--or misused--electricity for lighting and computers.

They had the full support and cooperation of Facilities Management's energy coordinator, Leroy McKee, in their efforts to gather information in Glen Tower B, Cook Library, Enrollment Services and Smith Hall.

Their report, delivered to the campus this week in a poster presentation, provided a less-than-flattering picture of how we manage this increasingly costly resource.

Among the findings were:

TU could be wasting up to about $66,800 of electricity annually by not turning off lights in the four buildings studied.

The electricity wasted by not turning off Smith Hall computers is estimated to cost TU more than $16,300 per year.

The report also called for establishing a campuswide protocol for turning off lights and computers whenever possible, as well as a coordinated energy-use education program using a variety of media.

"The findings weren't surprising, but they're still disturbing," says Wolfson. "People say they conserve electricity at home, but clearly they're not as cost-conscience on campus. This study shows there are lots of opportunities to save money every day.

"It can be as simple as flicking a switch to darken a room or shutting down a PC at the end of the day."

For a copy of the Electrical Energy Assessment at Towson University: How much do we use, and how much could we save? call Jane Wolfson, x44920. The assessment will be posted to the Environmental Science and Studies Web site, www.towson.edu/ess/undergrad.html, in a few weeks.

Story by Jan Lucas

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