College Utility Costs Reduced by Milions of Dollars

The editors at SchoolFacilities.com like to see news about energy efficiency and green building retrofit. This release covers both subjects and can act as a footprint for other universities, k-12 schools and education facilities in the United States and abroad. The expectation to reduce energy and operating expenses by more than $30 million is astounding.

Post your energy saving stories here on the SchoolFacilities.com blog. Thanks.

 

 

 

HONEYWELL AND UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

REDUCE CAMPUS UTILITY COSTS AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

 

First Energy-Efficient Upgrades Completed in Time for Earth Day;

Program to Deliver $30.8 Million in Energy and Operational Savings

 

MINNEAPOLIS, April 19, 2011 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced it has completed the company’s first energy-efficient building upgrades at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), which will save the school an estimated $620,000 in annual energy costs. The work is part of a multi-phase, $21.7-million energy conservation and infrastructure renewal program that will improve comfort and efficiency in university facilities while cutting utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

All the improvements UWM has asked Honeywell to make are expected to reduce energy and operating expenses by $30.8 million over the next two decades. They will also trim electricity use by more than 10 million kilowatt-hours annually — enough energy to power nearly 940 homes. And they will decrease annual carbon dioxide emissions by an anticipated 31 million pounds as well. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 2,700 cars from the road.

Honeywell is completing the work under three 20-year performance contracts with the university. These contracts allow school officials to pay for the upgrades using the savings they generate, which Honeywell guarantees. As a result, the program won’t increase school budgets or require additional taxpayer dollars.

“Through our Energy Matters program, we demonstrate how progressive partnerships lead to environmental improvements and cost savings that benefit everyone,” said UWM Interim Chancellor Michael R. Lovell. “By working with external partners like Honeywell, we’re making it possible for faculty, staff and students to better understand sustainability and make meaningful reductions in the amount of energy, water and other resources UWM requires to operate each day.”

To kick off the program, Honeywell performed a comprehensive energy audit on campus to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, focusing on the ten facilities with the largest utility bills in particular. The first phase of the program included improvements to five of those buildings and incorporated a variety of conservation measures, such as:

·         Updating building controls and HVAC systems to give facility personnel more granular control of comfort and energy consumption;

·         Replacing lighting with high-efficiency fixtures and occupancy sensors;

·         Weather-stripping, caulking and sealing buildings to reduce the loss of conditioned air;

·         And installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures that lower water use and bills.

Honeywell is also helping UWM improve energy awareness with a sustainability dashboard that tracks real-time energy use and carbon dioxide emissions to showcase the impact of the upgrades. The dashboard can be accessed online at http://buildingdashboard.net/uwm. The university will also include a physical display at the Golda Meir Library.

Honeywell recently began construction on a second phase that includes similar upgrades at the five other facilities. The company also started work on a third retrofit project at the University Services Research Building. In addition, UWM and Honeywell are discussing improvements at several on-campus housing facilities and the university data center.

“Colleges and universities are starting to see buildings as much more than shells to hold classes and board students,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “The program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is an example that facility retrofits aren’t just a means to reduce energy and operating costs. They can also positively impact the learning environment and increase sustainability awareness.”

Honeywell provides a broad range of services and technology designed to help colleges and universities reduce utility bills and environmental impact. The company is currently helping schools nationwide improve infrastructure and reduce carbon dioxide emissions with guaranteed energy and operational savings.

 

About University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee makes its home along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, just a few miles north of the economic and industrial center of Wisconsin. Nearly 31,000 students, 180 majors and degree programs, and a world-class faculty drive UWM's progress as a top research university and engine of economic development for Southeastern Wisconsin and beyond.

 

About Honeywell

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

 

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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