SOCORRO, N.M. August 19, 2009 – New Mexico Tech administrators are asking all employees to think about conserving energy – both for economic and environmental reasons.

“We have many reasons to be conscious of our energy consumption,” university president Dr. Daniel H. Lopez said. “The budgetary impact of utility costs is significant, but the environmental impact is equally as important.”

This past year New Mexico Tech paid more than $3.5 million in utility bills. For 2009, the university expects to see an increase of at least 5 percent rate increase, which would lead to a cost increase of $175,000 if no conservation measures are enacted.
In recent campus forums, students have increasingly asked administrators to enact policies and adopt systems that conserve energy.

Campus buildings are not currently metered separately. However, the hot water loop project that will commence in October 2009 will include installation of meters for each building.

Lopez said metering will allow the university to develop measurable goals for consumption, to identify areas of waste and to devise systems of accountability. The university is also considering energy-saving devices, such as low-usage lighting and motion-activated lights.

In the meantime, everyone on campus is being asked to take small steps to curb energy consumption.

Yvonne Manzano Brown, director of Facilities Management, offered a few reminders that can help reduce electricity usage:

• Turn off your computers every evening
• Turn off your office light every evening
• Turn off restroom lights when not in use
• Turn off air conditioning units if not already on a thermostat.
• Unplug your phone charger when not in use; chargers continue to draw energy when plugged in.

These simple steps can have a meaningful impact on the university’s energy consumption.

– NMT –

By Thomas Guengerich