OSU adjusts energy usage, saves millions

By Monique Headley - Newspress

Not known to be a rocker, Rick S. Krysiak, Jr., director of Oklahoma State University Physical Plant Services, loves green day.

The kind of green days associated with sustainability at Oklahoma State University, that is.

Day to day application of sustainability predominantly falls upon the shoulders of Krysiak and his staff.

According to Krysiak, his group handles the architecture and engineering needs for Oklahoma State University Stillwater and its other branch campuses, Langston, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College, Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

They also oversee recycling and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

According to an online posting of OSU President V. Burns Hargis, “As a premier land-grant institution, Oklahoma State University is dedicated to the stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. Through its sustainability practices, OSU seeks to more effectively and responsibly serve its university community, as well as the citizens of Oklahoma, our country and the world. OSU faculty, staff and students will advance all aspects of sustainability through instruction, research, outreach, administrative decision-making, innovative design and operation of our physical facilities, and our daily behavior.”

Appointed by Hargis to oversee sustainability is Stephen McKeever, vice president for Research and Technology Transfer.

The group focuses on everyday application, education and course offerings and research to determine new opportunities to advance sustainability.

Appointed as a member of the task force, Krysiak oversees execution of sustainability applications.

Behavior modification is integral to sustainability integration, said Krysiak.

Since January 2008, such attitudinal modifications have resulted in a savings of more than $5 million, he said.

“It’s a culture change,” he said. “People are thinking about energy consumption on a daily basis, not just on Earth Day.”

The university utilizes an energy conservation program from Energy Education of Dallas, Texas, Krysiak said.

Energy Education was founded by OSU alumnus William Spears.

The company estimates it has saved more than $1.5 billion over 23 years of working with more than 900 clients in higher education and churches.

“We have five energy managers in Stillwater and one at each branch campus to create the mindset of energy conservation,” he said.

The result has been a reduction of carbon emissions by 78,000 metric tons, thereby reducing energy consumption by 335,000 kilowatt hours.

That represents the equivalent of 5,000 cars being taken off the highway for a full year, he said.

OSU staffer Doug Ferris is undergoing training to become a certified carbon reduction manager for further in-house assessment.

“He knows the steps on managing to make sure you can reduce usage,” said Krysiak.

Krysiak is concerned with capital costs.

“If we do something, we have to keep costs down so as not to affect tuition,” he said. “We have taken the savings and reinvested so there has been no increase in the utility budget in two years. We are bringing five new buildings online based on the savings at no cost to students.”

According to Krysiak, it is important to take a look at a facility and the way its occupants utilize its space.

Building by building, the application committee met with occupants.

“We talked about turning off monitors, lights, etc.,” he said. “Little by little, multiplied by 23,000 people, it’s made a big difference. Now it’s a part of the culture.

“The students love it,” he said. “They are more socially conscious and are driving more of what we do.”

The Student Government Association participates in a volunteer paper recycling program that may soon be expanded to include glass and plastics, said Krysiak.

Not just a facilities concern, sustainability positively affects the OSU dining experience.

“University dining utilizes local food producers and eco-friendly cleaning products. Organic foods are regularly offered. There are even trayless Tuesdays to cut down on dishwashing,” he said.

Other good news includes being awarded Grand Finalist as the best practice of 2009 in the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers. Since then, the university has received calls from other universities inquiring about OSU conservation and sustainability programs, said Krysiak.

The award generated $1,500, which Hargis announced would be donated to the Staff Advisory Council’s Scholarship Fund.

According to the university Web site, Hargis said, “There is no way this program would have had the success and savings it has had without our employees embracing our energy conservation practices.”

In the next one to two months, such improved trends and accolades will be more fully reported in the next College Sustainability Report published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

The current report yielded a grade of D+ for OSU. The University of Oklahoma received a C+.

“We are preparing for the next round,” said Krysiak.

With the first report, said Krysiak, “The university didn’t have a lot of time to respond. A lot of information was missed about all that we are doing.”

This time, the university will be more proactive and vocal about its green good news and push it to the forefront, he said.

Cost efficiency and capital investment are important to Krysiak.

“We are connected to Stillwater and want to create a sustainable campus and community.”

The Institute, founded in 2005, interviewed 300 public and private colleges and universities with the largest endowments.

The independent survey will review administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green buildings, student involvement, transportation, endowment transparency, investment priorities and shareholder engagement.

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