Lynchburg Business

Energy Emphasis: How Lynchburg College is Reducing Their Consumption

Issue: May 2010 by Megan Norcross in Going Green, Inside The Magazine

For some of us, when we think back on our college years, we’ll remember late night parties, cramming for exams and copious amounts of pizza. For the alumni of Lynchburg College, they will likely remember the same things—but with a special twist.

Over the course of the next few years, Lynchburg College will spend $4.65 million in energy improvements for the college which will result in a reduction of $583,000 in annual energy costs, according to a recent press release. Those savings add up to about a third of the college’s utility bills.

So what initiated this campus-wide quest for change? Back in 2007, Ameresco, a nationwide energy services company, audited the college to determine how they could best reduce their carbon footprint. The decision to be environmentally audited was a big step in and of itself as Lynchburg College is one of the first places in Lynchburg to work with a company like Ameresco.

“There were several projects that Lynchburg College was interested in pursuing, but the expense involved was prohibitive,” explained Lynchburg College’s Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Chair of Natural Resources Committee, Jamey Pavey. “By combining them into one project and using the energy savings realized to basically make the loan payments, Ameresco made it feasible. The audit specifically was conducted to determine which types of upgrades to complete.”

Setting the bar for change and environmental awareness, Lynchburg College has a host of improvements planned out for the years to come—and with a $70,000 grant from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, the improvements will be made with a little more ease. Plans include lighting upgrades, water conservation initiatives, and changes and upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Further improvements also include installation of a photovoltaic array for partial energy usage for one building, a series of control upgrades on equipment, installation of new boilers and enhancement of individual room temperature controls.

Essentially, what this means is that all of these enhancements combine to equal a serious savings in energy as well as the school’s bottom line. Ameresco estimates that the improvements could potentially reduce carbon dioxide output by 5,348 metric tons per year, which equates to planting 1,215 acres of trees per year. In addition, Lynchburg College could save 607,000 gallons of gasoline, which can power 741 homes per year.

With every ounce of change, there typically comes hesitation and, at times, opposition but, according to Pavey, the Lynchburg College community has been completely supportive.

“We are presently trying to raise awareness among the students. As they gain a better understanding of the project, they are universally supportive. We’re hoping to instill more of an environmental consciousness in members of the campus community, including faculty, staff and students,” Pavey said. “We feel that the choice by the college to make these investments in energy and water upgrades makes a statement that we are serious about minimizing our environmental impact. We are trying to emphasize, however, that it is up to the individual to do their part.”

To further that excitement and support, returning Lynchburg College students find a surprise this fall when they move back into their dorms. Lynchburg College plans to use some of the grant money from the Jessie Ball DuPont fund to install energy usage meters in 12 campus dorms. Those 12 dorms house 1,320 students—approximately 60 percent of the undergraduate population.

The information garnered from the metering project will provide students and faculty with facts and figures about energy usage, current usage and total consumption for the building, as well as a way to monitor changes related to the adjustments within each individual building. These statistics will be available on the college’s website and a kiosk on campus. The data will help the college, as well as other institutions, make strategic and informed decisions about future energy consumption and improvements.

As for the present, Pavey says everyone involved in this project has learned a lot about keeping our community, state and nation clean and healthy.

“Personally, I learned a lot about newer energy and water saving technologies,” she said. “I feel that the entire committee learned more about how energy and water are used on our campus. We will also have a better grasp of this once the dormitories on campus are individually metered.”

Lynchburg College plans to take an even further step in energy awareness during the coming year.

“Next year is slated to be LC’s Year of Conservation and Sustainability. Hopefully we will be able to build on this project and raise awareness within the campus community, as well as the greater Lynchburg community,” Pavey said.

Whether you choose to be environmentally audited to make major changes in your workplace or home or simply start turning off the lights when you leave a room, every conscious transition combines to create a more sustainable and healthy world. Think, for a moment, if 50 colleges or universities in the state of Virginia made the same adjustments as Lynchburg College—it would reduce enough carbon dioxide to equal the planting of 60,750 acres of trees. Furthermore, these changes would save enough gasoline to power 37,050 homes. It’s change that adds up fast and results in savings, environmentally and fiscally, in the long run.