Energy News

Charger Village Wins Residence Hall Energy Competition

Huntsville, AL, April 30, 2012 – Charger Village (CV) is the winner of the UAHuntsville Residence Hall Energy Competition 2012! Central Campus Residence Hall (CCRH) and CV were neck and neck until the very end of the competition. Charger Village earned 30 points the first week and 17 points the second. The third and final week saw CV earn 15 points for bulletin boards, 3 points for Facebook posts, and 18 points for a commitment to the UAHuntsville dashboard, giving them a grand total of 83 points! CCRH earned 23 points during the final week and came in a close second with 74 total points.

UAHuntsville Partners with TVA on "Green Campus Network" Program

Washington, D.C., July 28, 2011 – UAHuntsville and five other college and universities in four Tennessee Valley states can expect dropping energy bills and increased energy-efficiency education, thanks to a pilot program by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Alliance to Save Energy.

The Green Campus Network is a classroom-to-workplace program that involves students, faculty, administrators, and campus support staff in cutting energy use on college campuses, incorporating energy efficiency into curricula, encouraging students to pursue careers in sustainability after graduation and generally increasing awareness of energy efficiency. Click here for the full press release.

Take Charge Go GREEN! Residence Hall Contest Winner Announced

November 3, 2010 - Charger Village residents have won the first annual Take Charge Go GREEN! energy conservation and recycling contest. The contest ran from October 1-29, 2010, and challenged residence halls to compete against each other to obtain the lowest rates of energy consumption per resident and the highest rates of recycling per resident. Charger Village will receive a trophy and banner, and a pizza party for all its residents as part of the grand prize.

Two Exciting Energy Management Contests - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The Winners have been selected for both the Green Office Certification Slogan/Logo contest and the Energy Conservation Slogan contest. There is a tie for the Green Office Certification Logo/Slogan contest. Since there is a tie, UAHuntsville will use one for offices and the other for University Housing.

Jazmine Grier and Shannon Leutzinger Avenatti are the winners of the Green Office Certification/Logo contest. (Click on their names to see the winning entries.)

Nathaniel Mauch is our winner for the Energy Conservation Slogan contest:
Conservation. Today. Tomorrow. Forever. UAH

Energy Savings Seminar - Friday January 15, 2010

January 2010 - A brown-bag lunch seminar on energy efficiency was conducted at the Shelby Center on Friday, January 15. The one-hour seminar discussed ways you can save money on your utility bills at home as well as how you can help UAHuntsville reduce its utility bill. If you would like to have a seminar for your department, please contact Vanessa Ennis

To view the PowerPoint presentation, click here.

Consumption Down, Cost Up

August 2009 - UAHuntsville is happy to report that our energy conservation programs are showing positive results. Electricity and water consumption were down for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, as compared to the same period one year earlier. Electricity use (actual kilowatt hours used) was down by approximately 6.4%, and water use was down by almost 16%. Natural gas consumption was up by a small 2.3%, however this increase was partially offset by a reduction in heating oil use. Sewage disposal expenses were down by almost 12%.

UAHuntsville cannot lose focus of our energy conservation efforts, however. The reduction in electricity consumption was offset by recent rate increases from TVA and Huntsville Utilities. Electricity rates increased by 20% in October 2008 as TVA implemented its largest rate increase in 30 years. As a result and despite a significant reduction in energy consumption, UAHuntsville's electricity costs rose by approximately 11%. UAHuntsville paid an average $0.0867 per kilowatt hour in 2008-2009 vs. an average $0.0732 for the same period in 2007-2008.

While UAHuntsville achieved a notable reduction in consumption, in light of last year's electricity rate increase and continued concerns of shrinking budgets, it is increasingly important for the University community to strengthen its energy conservation efforts. Utilities expenses are a sizeable portion of the university's overall budget. The goal for 2009 was to reduce utilities expenses by 10%, but with the rate increase, total actual costs rose by 8.3% to an all-time high of $5.46 million dollars.

Help your university continue efforts to reduce its energy consumption and carbon footprint. Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

For more information and a three-year comparison of UAHuntsville's utilities use and expenses, click here.

UAHuntsville's First Annual Christmas Break Energy Savings Plan Nets Large Savings

February 2009 - UAHuntsville's first Christmas Break Energy Savings Plan has proven successful. Utilities expenses for the two week period were down $25,000 from the prior year. With record utilities rates, increased campus population and building development, this savings is a great first step towards reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions footprint.

All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to continue their energy conservation efforts. Not only will you be helping to sustain and protect our environment, but in these times of shrinking budgets you will also be helping to protect and sustain our University.

Space Heater Policy

November 2008 - The University would like to remind all faculty and staff that the use of personal space heaters is not allowed under current UAHuntsville energy policies. As utility costs continue to increase for the University, it is increasingly important that everyone works to reduce energy consumption. Space heaters are inefficient and consume excessive amounts of electricity. If your office or building is below the target temperatures of 69-71 degrees F, please submit a Work Order request to Facililties Maintenance. If supplemental heating is required until repairs can be made, Facilities will issue a temporary space heater. For more information on the University's space heater policy, you may view it here.

TVA Approves Largest Rate Increase in 34 Years

August 2008 - Electricity rates are increasing by 20%. This will have a tremendous impact on UAHuntsville. Read the full TVA press release here: Rate Increase Article