3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160

2006 KUMC Energy Conservation Policy

The University is facing a significant increase in its utilities expenditures for this fiscal year. Most of you have seen the media coverage of the increasing costs of natural gas for this winter due to the Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina.. We anticipate a cost increase for gas well above $600,000. We are also facing higher electricity bills due to increasing rates and consumption from additional square feet being added to the campus.

In an effort to reduce energy use on the campus, the following energy policy is now in place:

1. Where individual controls are available on key units, Facilities Management will set thermostats according to the table below. During the winter, where individual occupants can control temperature settings, thermostats should be set at 70° during the day and should be set back to 60° before the end of each business day and over the weekend. During the summer, temperatures should be set at 75 during the day, turned off at the end of each business day, and set at 85 over the weekend.
2. Facilities Management will utilize the night setback features of the Building Management System (BMS) to reset building temperature at 60° at night and on weekends except in the libraries and in research facilities.
3. Electric space heaters should not be used.
4. We ask all members of the University community to engage in routine practices that will reduce the consumption of energy. While classrooms, laboratories, and work areas must be adequately lighted, lights that are not needed should be turned off. When rooms or buildings are unoccupied, lights not needed for safety and security purposes should be turned off.
5. Most new computer equipment is designed with power management (PM) features that save energy by powering down and 'going to sleep' when not in use. PM can be activated through options on the computer desktop. Once activated, it is engaged when the computer is left idle for a set amount of time (user adjustable) and the monitor goes black. The Environmental Protection Agency generally recommends that PM be set to enter sleep mode after 15 to 30 minutes of inactivity. A simple move of the mouse or touch of the keyboard will cause it to power back up. If employees need assistance in setting their computers to enter sleep mode, they should contact the technical support person for their areas. Screen savers do not really save energy. If you use a screen saver, set it to display for a short time, then enter the sleep mode. Because computers and monitors continue to draw some power even when in the sleep mode, they should be turned off if employees are going to be away from their desks for several hours. They should always be turned off at night and on the weekend. Many computer printers also go into sleep mode when not in use. Those that do not have this feature should be turned off at the end of the workday.
6. Copiers that do not automatically turn off after a period of inactivity should be turned off at night and during the weekend.
7. All persons using research equipment that requires water for cooling and other similar purposes should use the minimum amount of water required and should cut off the water supply when the equipment is not in use.
8. Facilities Management will work to reduce lighting levels in all corridors. We will maintain adequate lighting for security and safety requirements.
9. Water leaks and dripping faucets should be reported immediately to Facilities Management.
10. Windows should be firmly closed and locked to prevent seepage of warm air. Doors should be closed when rooms are not in use.
11. Employees are encouraged to contact Facilities Management (8-7928) regarding temperature control problems.

We recognize that the some of the measures described above may result in inconvenience and discomfort for some individuals. However, if these and similar measures are not effective or do not reduce energy consumption sufficiently, we will have to implement more severe cutbacks and will have to rescind money from budgets already allocated to cover energy costs. Thus, cooperation in implementing the measures outlined here may help avoid more severe measures later.

October 21, 2005