Little things like flipping the lights off or big things like replacing fume hoods will earn equal respect under the new Campus Energy Conservation Incentive Program.
The new program, sponsored by Facilities and Services and the Office of the Provost, is an annual awards program that recognizes the most prolific energy-saving buildings on campus.
Awards are based on a proven one-year reduction in energy use, as measured by the campus Energy Billing System and certified through the F&S Utilities and Energy Services Division.
"The idea is to offer incentives to everyone on campus to influence their energy-use behavior and make them more aware of conservation efforts," said Kent Reifsteck, the director of utility and energy services.
In addition to the recognition, winners will be allowed to recapture some of their energy savings and use the money to improve their buildings - either aesthetically or by reinvesting in more energy-saving improvements.
"It's something everyone can participate and compete in," he said. "It gives them something tangible to shoot for."
Buildings eligible to compete include academic, administrative and research space; so-called service buildings, such as F&S for example, are not.
The prizes are given in two categories: one level - the Occupant Action category - rewards those who adopt an energy-savings program for their buildings, such as an office drive to replace incandescent bulbs; the other - the Energy Advancement category - focuses on larger campus construction projects that lead to wholesale energy-saving upgrades.
For the larger campus-funded construction projects, first place is a percentage of the "cost avoidance" attained through their efforts. For the Occupant Action category, the first-place award is $50,000 plus the energy savings achieved.
"We run an energy analysis every year and compare the use from the reference year to the baseline year," he said, meaning the annual awards will be based on the prior year's usage, with the reduction measured by the average amount of BTUs of energy used per square foot.
Reifsteck said the awards program was developed as a way to improve the campus "conservation culture."
"We wanted to find a way to give an incentive where you can share in some of the savings," he said.
Last week, during Sustainability Week, F&S announced the first round of winners in the two categories. Reifsteck said the announcement was a test of sorts used to illustrate the process and raise campus awareness for next year's awards.
The awards are building based, meaning several units might have to cooperate to initiate energy-saving projects, and that they all would have to decide how to use the award money.
Reifsteck said the incentive system is only now able to be offered because of technological improvements in energy monitoring systems developed in the last few years. He said the high-tech systems can be used to monitor building energy use in greater detail and that anyone can check usage by accessing the Illinois Energy Dashboard online.
"We continually have been working on our metering and collection systems," he said. "It's really been working well, especially in the major buildings."
F&S will be making presentations about the program to building managers over the next several months to provide details and encourage participation.
Since 2008, the U. of I. has exceeded the goals in the university's Climate Action Plan, which calls for a 20 percent building energy consumption reduction by 2015.
Energy Conservation Incentive Program FY2013 Winners
Energy Advancement
- Atmospheric Sciences Building, 53.3 percent
- Spurlock Museum, 44.5 percent
- Main Library, 43.1 percent
- Grainger Engineering Library, 41.3 percent
Occupant Action
- Undergraduate Library, 35.2 percent
- Law Building, 35.1 percent
- Christopher Hall, 30.6 percent
- Henry Administration Building, 28.4 percent
Note: Percentages reflect total energy reduction