Facilities, Management and Planning — an ‘exceptional’ team

Two years ago, Ken Hansen, assistant vice chancellor for facilities, management and planning, told the University of Nebraska Board of Regents that UNMC would cut its energy expenditures by 25 percent in five years.

The facilities, management and planning staff was presented with a plaque Wednesday to recognize their work to help UNMC reduce energy expenditures by 20 percent in two years.

His statement caused more than a few butterflies to float around the stomach of Don Leuenberger, vice chancellor of business and finance.

“When Ken said that, I gasped,” Leuenberger said.

The claim still stands

But since Hansen made his claim, UNMC already has reduced its energy consumption by 20 percent and on Wednesday, Leuenberger made it a point to honor UNMC’s facilities staff for the work they have done to make the drastic reduction possible.

“What you’ve done has been absolutely exceptional,” Leuenberger said. “I don’t think people understand the impact of your efforts.”

For example

A sampling of these efforts includes:

• Installation of improved energy systems that were funded by federal stimulus dollars;
  
• Major overhauls in the UNMC Central Utility Plant that increased energy efficiency and other efforts by facilities personnel to lessen energy use around campus; and
  
• Implementation of the UNMC LiveGreen initiative, which has fostered and promoted energy-efficient behavior change among employees and students on campus.

And on top of that …

Such accomplishments become even more impressive, Leuenberger said, when one considers that they were done in tough economic times, which placed stress on staffing, and in the face of major heat waves that strained campus energy systems.

“People don’t appreciate your efforts enough, frankly,” Leuenberger said. “But you have a lot to be proud of and I can’t thank you enough for your efforts.

“What you have accomplished has been truly remarkable.”