By Joel Smart (The Cascade) – Email
Date Posted: November 1, 2011
Print Edition: October 26, 2011
UFV has begun an intensive energy conservation program on campus, led by UFV energy coordinator Sam Thomas and his “Staff and Faculty Green Team” – an environmentally-conscious group comprised of 15 members. The Workplace Conservation and Awareness (WCA) program is made up of a number of campaigns and initiatives designed to make UFV a more sustainable campus.
UFV takes it on as part of their responsibility as a university to be a positive example to the Fraser Valley with regards to environmental issues. “At UFV, our engagement in energy management stems from our ongoing commitment to sustainability and the environment, in line with the desire to reduce utility costs where possible,” reads UFV’s Energy Management webpage. Following the completion of a 2005 study that found ways for UFV to improve its energy consumption, the Abbotsford campus has reduced it output by 10 per cent, or “approximately $40,000 per year in utility bills, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 120 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year – that’s equivalent to driving a mid-sized car around the world 15 times!” With the WCA program, UFV has already begun to improve on those savings.
Thomas took the time to explain some of the new campaigns the University will be taking part in. “Thanks to the newly established Green Team, our first campaign will be ‘Turn off the lights!’ where we will be encouraging all students, staff and faculty to turn out the lights unless they’re needed,” he said. “So often lights are left on around campus when rooms are empty, which cumulatively is a huge waste of energy. Lighting alone accounts for around 40 per cent of electricity consumption on campus, so any changes which we can make in people’s behavior can provide a real benefit to the environmental impact of our campus.”
Thomas explained that a major barrier to saving electricity costs is that people aren’t aware of whether they are allowed to turn off the lights or not. “To set this straight, any light switch which can be turned off is ok to turn off, unless the area is a washroom or a corridor. So if you are the last one to leave a classroom, lab, [or]dorm room, we ask you to please turn the lights out as you leave!”
“To make a bit of a splash and get the message out,” he continued, “we’re having a ‘Turn it off’ week from November 14 to 18 where we will be making a big push for people to do everything they can to turn off lights, monitors, chargers, desk lamps and anything else they can think of when possible.” In reaching UFV’s current goal of reducing energy intensity another 10 per cent from 2009/2010 levels by 2014/2015, remembering to turn off unneeded lights could make a huge impact.
A contest that will allow one lucky UFV student to win a Rocky Mountain Metropolis YVR bike is also part of the plan. To enter the draw, students must fill out a survey testing their energy awareness at before 5 p.m. on Friday, October 28, explained Thomas. The bike is offered by BC Hydro and Life Cycles bike shop across the road from Abbotsford campus.
“Other initiatives include participating in the ‘Do It In The Dark’ student residence challenge for a second year and engaging students at a student-led ‘enviro night’ in February,” Thomas said. Last year UFV Baker House took third place in the challenge, with only Okanagan College and the University of Northern British Columbia coming out ahead. One of the keys to their success was using the stairs instead of the elevator, when possible.
The energy management team is also hard at work on other projects, he explained, including some that have already shown substantial results. “We have optimized the operation of the main air handling (fan) unit for the new gymnasium on the Abbotsford campus, which is projected to save around $8000 in annual energy cost and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 tons of CO2 per year,” he said.
“We are also working on a variable speed fan system upgrade for the kitchen exhaust hood in the main Abbotsford cafeteria, which will vary the exhaust fan speed based on how much cooking is taking place. This reduces the heating and cooling requirement for replacing the air that is exhausted from the kitchen, as well as resulting in fan energy savings.” Thomas explained that the change could save UFV approximately $3500 in annual energy cost, and could “reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18 tons of CO2 per year.”
Thomas wants to encourage students to get involved as well, to be part of the push towards a more sustainable future. Simple things can make a big difference, he said. “Get to know where the light switches are, or ask an instructor if you’re not sure. Peer encouragement goes a long way too – if you see one of your friends leave the lights turned on, encourage them to turn them off. Do the same to your instructors too!” Students can also sign the UFV Green Pledge online.
Saving energy on campus will benefit more than just the institution. As Thomas explained, it is actually to everyone’s advantage. “I often get asked, ‘Why should I try to save energy at UFV? I’m not the one paying the bill.’ Well, in actual fact this is not entirely true… If we reduce the amount of electricity we consume, whether it’s at home, school, work, or in fact anywhere, then we offset the need for BC Hydro to invest in additional electricity generation. This in turn keeps the cost of electricity down, which means the electricity bill you receive at home also remains low,” he said. “Saving energy also has environmental benefits, including reducing the need to dam rivers to generate more electricity. So saving energy at UFV does benefit each and every one of us.
