College Strives for Energy Efficiency

Thomas A. Smith, Vice President of the College, recently issued a memorandum concerning energy conservation to all members of the faculty and administration. Stating that the College's success in attempting to reduce energy consumption has been good, Smith acknowledged that because "future reduction may not be so great and because prices will continue to rise, the voluntary efforts of all of us are evermore significant in continued efforts to eliminate waste in campus buildings."The Vice President called for the Trinity community to turn manual thermostats to their lowest levels in areas that are not occupied for periods longer than a few hours, and to make sure that thermostats are set at lowest levels overnight. Exterior doors and windows should be tightly closed, lights turned out in areas already reasonably well-illuminated by daylight, hot water use should be minimized, and electric equipment turned off when not in use.

Smith noted that most sections of the campus, both old and new, were not constructed with energy conservation in mind, and that as a result, it would be impossible to achieve similar heating and lighting standards for all buildings, or even within a single building. In general, however, Smith stated that an attempt was being made to hold building temperatures to 65 degrees F.

In calling for all individuals to be "alert to conditions or situations anywhere on campus that seem to be energy wasteful," Smith stated that such situations, if located, would be reported to the Office of Buildings and Grounds. In areas where heat loss could be cut by use of polyethelene sheets, Smith asks that occupants call Buildings and Grounds for materials and assistance in application, if necessary.

The Trinity campus contains approximately 1,322,000 square feet of building space, 77% of which is serviced with light by the electric substation near Ferris, and 74% of which is heated through the central heating plant.

In data pertaining only to this substation and central heating plant, between the years of 1970 and 1979, a 16.9 reduction in average annual kilowatt usage was reported, as well as a 31% reduction in average monthly consumption of oil. To be considered is the fact that approximately 80,000 square feet, in the form of the addition to the Library and the new South Campus Dormitory, were added to the utility system in the fall of 1979. In January 1970, one gallon of fuel oil cost $0.049, whereas the cost in January 1980 is $0.771, over sixteen times as great. Thus, reduction in the use of energy has had no significant impact on the College's total expenditure for it.

In terms of cost, during the 1972-1973 academic year, the actual expenditure for electricity was $175,000, the cost of all fuels was $185,000, and $17,000 was spent on water and gas. The total budget for that was $9 million, with these expenditures representing approximately 4% of the budget. In comparison, in the 1978-1979 academic year, $298,000 was spent on electricity, $464,000 on all fuels, and $42,000 on water and gas, representing approximately 5% of an annual budget of $15 million. For the current year, $361,000 has been budgeted electricity, $563,000 for oil, and $43,000 for water and gas. Smith is certain that these allotments will be exceeded by a "considerable amount" and predicts that over one million dollars will be expended on energy this year.

Smith noted that the most significant decreases in energy consumption have come through the increased installation of insulation, and the efforts of Building and Grounds to gain direct control over systems. According to Smith a 30% or better reduction in consumption can be brought about when Buildings and Grounds can gain control over an energy system; whereas in areas in which individuals are left to their own devices, only a 20% reduction is experienced.

However, Smith acknowledges that voluntary personal efforts to save heat, such as sealing leaks, closing windows, setting thermostats at 65 degrees F in occupied areas and at 50-55 degrees F in unoccupied areas, and reporting wastes have been helpful. The Vice President commented that he has noticed an increase in energy consciousness among the faculty as well as among the students.

Having inspected Jarvis following the students' departure for the Christmas break, Smith reported that students had closed windows and turned down the heat, and that the building was "much tighter than I had seen it before." Smith does not advocate, however, students turning off lighting in areas where it is needed, since this poses a security risk.

Smith stated that he "feels good about the gains made in energy conservation" and considers that the College has not made many bad judgments in effectively utilizing the money made available through these gains. He attributes this largely to the efforts of Riel Crandall and John Wathne of Buildings and Grounds.

At the present time, a computerized energy management system is being installed in fourteen major buildings on the campus. It will increase the direct control of Buildings and Grounds staff over energy use at about 140 points (large motors, valves, dampers, thermostats, other sensors, proofs) in these buildings. The system is expandable, as time and budgets permit, to two-thousand points.

Smith stated that the next major project following the installation of the new boilers would be the refenestration of Long Walk windows. The Jarvis windows are approximately one hundred years old and must be replaced with a high quality window, yet to be found, in which considerations of appearance, durability, and thermal efficiency will have to be balanced.

Stated Smith, "It is difficult to decide what to sacrifice: energy or aesthetics. We have an obligation to keep our changes as close as possible to the design of the original building, yet we are always driven by cost, which necessitates placing emphasis on energy efficiency. It will be interesting to see what the next architectural development will be, as design will have to be dominated, to greater and greater degrees, by considerations of energy.