If you haven’t seen the email from Energy Management regarding energy conservation over the next few days, here is a quick overview:
City Utilities will be looking at the amount of energy we use now through Wednesday, August 27th.
They will then use this number to plan for how much energy we will use for the rest of the school year. This will tell them how much we must pay for demand – regardless of how much energy we actually end up using.
While it is important to always conserve energy, it is especially important over the next several days so that we are not overcharged for our high demand during this hot weather.
Here are some tips on how to conserve energy:
- Turn off/unplug all electrical equipment and appliances that are not in use.
- When leaving your office/classroom, turn off lights and computers.
- Turn up the thermostats in those spaces where they are accessible.
- Secure all windows and close shades, blinds and/or curtains.
This information was provided by MSU Energy Management, see below for the original notices that were sent out.
For more information, visit the Energy Management Website or contact EnergyManagement@MissouriState.edu
August 21, 2014
NOTICE
To all Springfield Campus faculty, staff and students –
Since we are experiencing the highest outdoor temperatures of the season, the campus annual electrical demand rates will likely be set for the entire year sometime today through Wednesday of next week. The combination of students back for the Fall Semester and the extreme high temperatures will cause the electrical consumption to peak and therefore determine what electrical capacity City Utilities must plan for our campus throughout the entire year. This establishes the minimum we must pay through the next 10 months for the demand portion of the electric bills, regardless of the actual electricity we consume. This is a cost the University must understandably pay, but if it is set with unnecessary consumption, we will have adversely impacted the utility expenses when it could have been avoided.
Therefore, it is most important that we do what we can to minimize our electrical peak for these next few days.
Please help with the following:
- Turn off electrical equipment and appliances that are not in use.
- When leaving your office or classroom, turn off lights and computers if you are not returning for some time.
- Turn up the thermostats in those spaces where they are accessible.
Facilities Management is taking additional measures to conserve, including shutting down the fountains that are operated with large electrical motors. Please join the campus community to step up and make a difference!
Thank you for your cooperation.
August 25, 2014
NOTICE
To all Springfield Campus faculty, staff and students:
Thank you for your efforts to conserve energy during these recent very hot days when we are setting our peak demand for the season! We are doing very well and making a difference!
We are tracking the peak demand of our major electrical feeds to campus as compared to the highest peak demand value set last summer. See the graph below which illustrates last year’s peak in orange and our current 24-hour tracking this past Thursday and Friday. Though the weekend had very high temperatures as well, the reduced activity in most of the buildings relieves us from setting peaks on Saturday and Sunday.
So far, we have been consistently below last year’s peak demand, but we need your continued help through the next few days as the temperatures are going to continue to peak in the mid-90’s.
You can actually track real-time consumption of many of the campus buildings by going to the MSU Energy Dashboard at http://bedashboard.com/kiosk/86?autoplay=true. (Use the drop down menu to locate buildings; this will also bypass the video, if desired.)
Please keep conserving energy by doing the following:
- Turn off/unplug all electrical equipment and appliances that are not in use.
- When leaving your office or classroom, turn off lights and computers if you are not returning for some time.
- Turn up the thermostats in those spaces where they are accessible.
- Secure all windows and close shades, blinds and/or curtains.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you!