For the past month, UNMC has remained on track for an overall 5 percent reduction in its energy consumption.
“We did quite well everyday actually,” said Nick Combs, UNMC’s manager of Maintenance and Utilities. “We are beyond the time when we set our peak demand for energy, but we are still striving to reduce daily energy consumption.”
UNMC/NHS launched its energy conservation campaign to “turn off the energy, turn on the savings” July 29 with the goal of reducing energy demand by 5 percent over the next year. Peak energy demand is usually set in August.
Safety first
In spite of the campaign, Combs urged employees to put safety and security first, especially with darkness overlapping work hours in the mornings and evenings. “Safety and security are first and foremost, followed by energy savings,” he said.
Lighting is not being turned off in stair towers, Combs said, and hallways should not be completely dark. If they are, employees should contact Facilities, Management and Planning.
Track our progress
Employees can track the campaign’s success online at www.unmc.edu/energy/. New graphs have been posted comparing UNMC’s progress to days with comparable outdoor temperatures. The site also includes a list of energy-saving tips.
The bigger picture
As part of its budget reduction strategy, UNMC hopes to achieve a $1 million savings in state general fund money by reducing its utility consumption and decreasing the amount of money used for utility maintenance.
How to help
Combs says the biggest difference in energy consumption is the result of employees turning off lights, computers and monitors in offices, whenever possible.
Departments interested in reducing lighting in their respective areas should contact UNMC Facilities Management and Planning at 559-4050. Requests also may be e-mailed to the UNMC Facilities Help Desk or mailed to ZIP 7100.