University of Illinois Facilities and Services

Energy Conservation Efforts Earn Departments and Units $169,000 for Future Facility Improvements

CHAMPAIGN, IL – In an era when stewarding resources is more critical than ever, departments and units in eight campus facilities will be recognized for their energy conservation success during the Campus Sustainability Celebration Wednesday, October 25 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center.

The Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP) will award $169K toward future building or site improvements at the facilities which showed the greatest percentage energy reduction from fiscal year 2016-17.

This year’s ECIP features two repeat winners: 1207 W. Oregon and the Early Child Development Laboratory. Staff at 1207 W. Oregon significantly reduced their reliance on air conditioning over the summer months. This same approach was taken by employees working at Foellinger Auditorium, winner in the Occupant Action category, to produce a record-setting improvement. The results show how syncing energy system operation to facility usage can make a significant impact.

The ECIP started five years ago as a way to encourage and reward energy conservation achievements, in support of the Climate Leadership Commitments. Since its inception, the ECIP has awarded approximately $1.1M for sustainability upgrades across campus such as adding bicycle racks, LED lighting, and occupancy sensor controls for lighting and HVAC.

State-supported campus buildings of 10,000 gross square feet or more are automatically enrolled in the ECIP. Buildings compete in two categories: Occupant Action, which recognizes building users’ efforts, and Energy Advancement, which recognizes facilities that partnered with Facilities & Services (F&S) to complete a large-scale energy conservation project. The awards are calculated as a function of energy reduction cost-avoidance.

ECIP DID YOU KNOW:

• The 41% energy reduction for Foellinger Auditorium marks the largest improvement for the Occupant Action category in the program’s history - the next highest total was an Admissions and Records 39.2% reduction in FY15
• ACES Library, Information & Alumni Center is the fourth library to win an ECIP award. The Undergraduate, Main, and Grainger all won in 2013
• There have been seven repeat winners in the ECIP: 1207 W. Oregon, Early Child Development Laboratory, Atmospheric Sciences Building, Davenport Hall, Spurlock Museum, Admissions and Records, and Doris Kelley Christopher Hall
• 1207 W. Oregon tied with Temple Hoyne Buell Hall for fourth place in Occupant Action in 2016
• The Early Child Development Laboratory also won in 2015 in Energy Advancement

Media Contact:
Steve Breitwieser
Customer Relations & Communications
Facilities & Services
sbreit@illinois.edu
217-300-2155

Department Contact:
Morgan White
Sustainability
Facilities & Services
mbwhite@illinois.edu
217-333-2668

Facilities & Services (F&S), provides and maintains a physical environment that is conducive to supporting learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. F&S supports the university’s education, research, and outreach missions by improving the physical condition of the facilities and grounds through construction and building maintenance activities, providing utilities production and distribution, implementing energy conservation initiatives, and increasing customer satisfaction by delivering quality services in a responsive, reliable, and customer-focused manner. www.fs.illinois.edu