Goshen continues to significantly lower energy use and bills

GOSHEN, Ind. – Energy usage for the Goshen College campus during the 2009-10 school year has been added up, and the energy bills and consumption continue to head in the right direction: down.

Last year the college had its lowest total combined (electricity and gas) energy bill since 2001-02, saving about $175,000 over the prior year's bill (when gas prices were also higher).

"We seek to be good stewards of all resources, financial and environmental," said Glenn Gilbert, sustainability coordinator and utilities manager. "Fortunately, saving money and reducing our carbon footprint are in line with each other."

From July 2009 to June 2010, the college used 5,392,000 kilowatt-hour (kwh) of electricity. This is the lowest electrical consumption since 1992-93. During the same time, the college used 28,640.4 decatherms of gas. This is about 21 percent less gas consumed per year than the college was using in 1990.

Another way of looking at it is comparing how much energy is used per square foot. The college is using significantly less energy despite the fact that the college has added 60 percent more square footage of building space since 1990, all of which needs to be heated and cooled. The college used 7.34 kwh of electricity per square foot, the lowest electrical consumption per square foot since before records began being kept in 1990. By comparison, in 2003-04, the electrical consumption per square foot was 11.34. And the college used 0.39 therms of gas per square foot, which is less than half of what was consumed (0.80) in 1990-91.

The ways that the college is working on reducing energy use is varied, but includes technical adjustments to systems, education of students and employees about what they can do to conserve, and more energy efficient construction and new purchases of equipment. For example, the college uses a computerized energy management system, which can control heating and cooling in rooms across campus based on detailed schedules of occupancy. There are timers, sensors and motion detectors to turn the lights off when rooms and hallways aren't in use or the outside light is sufficient. Energy-efficient light bulbs are used across campus. And hot water temperatures are adjusted based on outdoor temperatures.

"While it is becoming more challenging to think about continuing this downward trend, I think it is still quite possible. We know there is more that we can do to reduce energy consumption," said Gilbert.

He added, "I want to acknowledge the central role that our Systems Operation Technician Steve Shantz has played in find strategies for energy consumption. His creativity, ingenuity, determination and diligence are largely responsible for this significant success."

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.