Daily Camera, The (Boulder, CO)

October 20, 2005
Section: News
Page: A07
Todd Neff Camera Staff Writer

ON THE WEB

www.campusclimatechallenge.org

The University of Colorado at Boulder is among 30 U.S. and Canadian universities cited as leaders in energy efficiency and renewable-energy use in a new report by two energy-advocacy groups.

The report also marks the launch of the "Campus Climate Challenge," which aims to enlist 500 universities to help combat global warming. CU is one of the 110 universities already signed up. The challenge`s goal is ambitious: to reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels 90 percent by 2050.

The report, "New Energy for Campuses," cites CU for its 2000 and 2004 student votes to pay $1 per semester for wind-power purchases. Wind now provides the three student-run buildings on the CU campus with 8.8 million kilowatt hours per year, or roughly the consumption of 1,200 homes.

The report also discusses CU`s 2004 installation of a 7.5 kilowatt photovoltaic system, the first on campus, which more than meets the CU Environmental Center`s power needs.

The Apollo Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to achieving U.S. energy independence, and Connecticut-based nonprofit Energy Action co-wrote the report. Among their goals is to help college campuses become examples in alternative energy and energy efficiency.

"Universities are large enough to have an impact on our overall energy consumption, small enough to implement bold and aggressive programs, and house millions of students who will ultimately need to lead our country`s efforts to shift to a clean energy future," said Brennan Proctor, CU`s coordinator for the Climate Challenge.

Moe Tabrizi, CU`s energy conservation officer, said CU saved $1.7 million in electricity, steam and water costs in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. CU is using less water, electricity and steam now than a year ago thanks to technical improvements and conservation efforts, Tabrizi said.

Tabrizi said more than 13,000 CU students signed pledges committing to cutting their own electricity usage 10 percent. In addition, 50 of the roughly 200 buildings on campus have been retrofitted to improve energy efficiency, and another 30 are scheduled for overhauls in the next year, he said.

Ghita Levenstein Carroll, program manager at the CU Environmental Center, said the roughly $157,000 coming in each year from a student-approved $2.80 per-semester fee for projects incorporating renewable energy, energy efficiency and other efforts could bring more wind purchases and solar projects in the future.

"I think the students have taken the lead here, and I appreciate the energy and enthusiasm with which these initiatives have been embraced," said CU Regent Cindy Carlisle.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Todd Neff at (303) 473-1327 or nefft@dailycamera.com.

Original Article