“As a result of the upgrades, the university will lower its energy costs and conserve energy for the future,” said President Dorothy Leland. “Everyone is looking for ways to save money during this economic turndown, and thinking ‘green’ has fiscal and environmental benefits.”

The $1.9 million awarded to Georgia College is part of $63.1 million distributed to 135 energy efficiency projects across the state.

Energy efficiency retrofits will save the state millions of dollars in energy costs year after year and will reduce our energy consumption,” stated Gov. Perdue in a Sept. 2 release. “Many of these projects may go unnoticed to the average Georgian, but the results will be substantial energy savings and a more efficient state government.”

The federal funding announcement came just months after Gov. Perdue direct state agencies to reduce energy consumption 15 percent below FY2007 levels by 2020.

“The fact of being selected by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) for the award of two (2) projects is unbelievable,” said Ben Pratt, Assistant Vice President for Facilities. “It speaks well for the university’s efforts in being ‘out front’ with energy conservation and cost reduction measures. We take these tasks seriously and would like to thank the GCSU community for its continued support.”

The main campus project calls for the installation of multiple meters to monitor the utility usage on 36 of the buildings located on or adjacent to the main campus square. Currently all utilities on campus are metered and monitored through a master meter system.

Once the meters are operational, a Strategic Energy Plan will be initiated for these facilities and allow the monitoring of chilled water, hot water/steam, domestic water, landscape irrigation, electricity, fuel oil and natural gas.

The monitoring will provide data to identify additional energy saving projects and peak periods for cost reductions.

The multi-metering project will cost $783,675. The anticipated annual savings of $242,671 will yield a payback in 3.2 years.

The $1.1 million project will the replace the existing building automation and control systems in Centennial Center, Herty Hall, Maxwell Student Union and Health Science West Building with direct digital control systems.

The project also includes the installation of variable air volume systems in the Maxwell Student Union and the replacement of pipe insulation at Health Science West. The change will allow more flexibility in the air controls and temperature ranges throughout the facilities, establish protocols to provide the greatest flexibility, and reduce energy consumption.

The direct digital control systems will cost $1,099,150. With an anticipated annual utility cost savings of $121,335.00, the project will yield a payback in 9.1 years.