As part of the effort to continue working toward a more carbon-neutral campus, the U of A will begin energy-saving upgrades across 6 million square feet of facilities across campus.
The university has contracted with Entegrity to help facilitate the project. This is the fourth Energy Savings Performance Contract for the U of A. The project is the next step in advancing the university’s sustainability goals through a combination of cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades.
“This project will not only help the University of Arkansas campus become more energy efficient, but it will also provide another example of our commitment to leading the way in supporting environmentally beneficial projects that also make good financial sense,” Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said.
The improvements will include LED lighting, retro-commissioning, fault detection diagnostics and upgrades to HVAC and building envelope systems. These upgrades will help the university reduce their annual expenses by $1.35 million per year and save enough energy to power approximately 1,240 homes annually.
In 2007, the U of A became one of the first institutions to become a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and establish the goal of net carbon neutrality by 2040. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz recently reinforced this position by encouraging more aggressive federal carbon reduction goals. The university is working to reduce its carbon footprint with a combination of sustainable building practices, energy efficiency upgrades and sustainable commuter transportation options.
This project will be overseen by the Arkansas Energy Office, which will help navigate the process, evaluate project economics and ensure that Pre-Qualified Energy Service Companies maintain the highest levels of quality. Becky Keogh, cabinet secretary of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, added, “We applaud the university for continuing their leadership role by making measurable progress toward their carbon neutrality goals.”
