Energy
Several of the goals set by the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices are directly related to energy efficiency: (1) reduce green house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and (2) reduce UC system wide growth-adjusted energy consumption by 10% of 2000 levels. Even before these goals were part of the UC policy, UCLA has been taken measure to increase energy efficiency for many years. In addition, many new projects are underway to reach the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices goals.
Energy Efficiency at UCLA
UCLA has been increasing energy efficiency on campus for many years and continues to implement new projects to reach the goals of the UC Policy on Sustainability. Even though the campus has been growing over the past 10 years, UCLA has continued to become more energy efficient while meeting the campus energy demand from almost 200 buildings and parking structures.
Many projects such as the holiday closure program, the cogeneration power facility, and the thermal water storage system have lead to the continual reduction in energy per square foot at UCLA. Visit the Energy Conservation page of the UCLA facility management's website for more information about many of Facility Management's programs. Or link directly to:
Current Initiatives, HVAC Modernization, Leed Certification,
Advance Lighting Sensor, Thermal Energy, Recycled Water,
Building Controls, Lighting Retrofit Program
HVAC Retrofit Project
Over the next four years, UCLA will invest $16.65 million in an energy conservation project, which when fully implemented, will reduce UCLA's carbon footprint by approximately 17,000 tons of CO2 per year and save $4.2 million in annual operating expenses. The project involves the retrofit of HVAC systems in 25 buildings (involving 185 subsystems) to modernize their control and distribution equipment to improve energy efficiency. Learn More >>
LEEP: Laboratory Energy Efficiency Program
The Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) began LEEP to promote energy conservation and efficiency specifically in campus laboratories. Laboratories are particularly significant because they use about 4.5 times the amount of energy as other areas such as classrooms and offices. LEEP aims to inform laboratory researchers about ways they can reduce energy consumption without compromising safety or interfering with their research. By explaining to lab researchers how they can help conserve energy, we encourage a greater part of the campus community to decrease energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. Learn More >>
Lighting
UCLA is currently in the process of switching the standard T12 fluorescent light bulbs with the more energy efficient T8 fluorescent bulbs. T8 bulbs use an electric balast rather than a magnetic ballast as in the T12. These more efficient ballasts reduce the energy consumption of the light bulb by about 20%. This has a considerable impact on the campus energy consumption considering there are over 350,000 lamps on campus. UCLA's outdoor area lighting is also energy efficient. The outdoor lamps use high-pressure sodium light bulbs, which require less than a third of the energy of an equivalent incandescent bulb.
Published: Monday, April 14, 2008
