Spring Break allowed Syracuse University to cut down on its energy consumption.

Since the break only lasts one week at SU, the amount of energy the university saves is fairly limited, but Associate Director for Sustainability Steve Lloyd said the university does what it can to reduce energy usage.

“Students are allowed to stay on campus, so we are unable to shut down residence halls, and staff are still here, so academic and administrative buildings are still occupied,” Lloyd said. “We do shut down areas where there is no activity, such as classrooms and auditoriums.”

SU officials have improved the school’s energy management by creating temperature-control projects, scheduling building energy use based on its occupancy and implementing a campus temperature policy, Lloyd said.

He added that the financial effect is something to consider when thinking about saving energy.

“Even if you don’t believe in climate change, it’s pretty stupid to spend money on wasted energy when that money could be put to better use,” Lloyd said.

Weather is also a factor in how much energy is saved during break, he said. The colder the weather is, the more energy the university is forced to use.

While SU officials make a variety of efforts to use less energy during break periods, it is difficult to save a large amount of energy in such a short period, especially while students and staff are still able to stay on campus. But the efforts the university makes to be energy efficient are valuable.

The way the school controls its energy output while campus is less active makes SU a very energy-efficient school given its size and location, said Rick Martin, principal sustainability analyst at SU.

“Based on survey results we’ve seen, SU is quite efficient for a school of its size, particularly given the climate in Central New York. We actively manage our building energy use, and operate pretty efficiently as a result,” Martin said in an email.

Some of the specific measures taken to cut down on energy consumption include running campus shuttle services less frequently, operating dining facilities for shorter amounts of time and reducing supply runs, Martin said.

By putting all of these different energy-saving measures into effect, Martin said, several positive results can occur in the present and future.

“The reasons to save energy during break times are the same as the reasons to save energy when classes are in session: reducing fossil fuel consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and saving money for the university and, indirectly, for current and future students” Martin said.

The efforts made by the university are paired with efforts made by students to increase the overall amount of energy saved.

The Office of Residence Life encouraged students to take measures of their own to promote sustainability and reduce the amount of energy used while away on break, according to an email sent March 1 to students living in university housing.

Students were asked to unplug electronic devices, turn off lights and recycle items in their rooms before leaving for the week, thus limiting the amount of energy consumed in rooms and apartments that were empty during break, according to the email.

Published on March 17, 2013 at 10:54 pm

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27