Facts About Energy at Drew:
- Drew University spent over $2 million last year on electricity.
- Drew University spends almost $1.2 million per year on natural gas and heating oil.
- Drew University uses over 40 million gallons of water per year.
Reducing energy costs is good for everyone! Drew University has a comprehensive energy management program which is designed to reduce consumption and save money while improving the environmental quality. Energy management is addressed through a variety of internal systems. These include but are not limited to:
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Procurement Analysis
- Equipment Maintenance
- Defined Operating Protocols
- Community Awareness and Participation
By reducing consumption and costs without negatively impacting the Community members’ space, funds become available to provide additional services, projects, and planned maintenance.
Drew University has a number of utility and energy management protocols in place to help reduce consumption. These protocols may be of help in understanding how your building operates.
Remember, energy conservation is a community effort – please do your part to help the overall goal of conservation!
- Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
- Turn down the thermostats when a room is not occupied.
- Turn the air conditioning off when you are not in the room.
- Keep windows and doors closed when the heat or air conditioning is on.
- Do not let water run continuously.
- Promptly report any malfunctions or problems.
What We’re Doing to Conserve:
Lighting Retrofit
Drew completed a lighting upgrade in five buildings: the Learning Center, Methodist Archives, Simon Forum and Athletic Center, Rose Library, and University Commons over the summer in 2011. The lighting retrofit project will cut energy consumption by half and has a two and a half year payback. Total carbon reduction from the lighting retrofit project will be equivalent to planting 181 acres of forest–Drew’s campus is 168 acres!
Before the retrofit: Pool lights took 10 minutes to reach full brightness and each light bulb used 1,000 Watts each.
After the retrofit: Pool lights turn on instantly and use half the energy they did with older lighting.
| Building | Energy Savings |
| Learning Center | 63% |
| Methodist Archives | 51% |
| Simon Forum and Athletic Center | 45% |
| Rose Library | 43% |
| University Commons | 36% |
Check back here for updates and pictures.
Energy Conservation
ENERGY SUPPORT PROGRAM
Drew initiated an Energy Support Program in January 2010. During the first six months of the Energy Support program, Drew achieved a 9 percent reduction in overall energy consumption while saving $65,848 and reducing carbon emissions by 250 metric tons of eCO2 – equivalent to permanently removing 49 passenger vehicles from New Jersey roadways.
Actions taken to reduce energy consumption included more efficient building scheduling, reduced steam pressure at the central heating plant, replacing older window air-conditioning units in Tilghman House with new units.
ENERGY CONSERVATION IN CAPITAL PROJECTS
Drew University has taken steps to address the goal of cost reduction through energy conservation. The capital improvements previously undertaken include implementation of the philosophy of plant clustering for heating and cooling, replacement of older windows with newer, more insulating windows, and the installation of occupancy sensors combined with the replacement of older, inefficient light sources, i.e. light bulbs, ballasts, fixtures, and other lighting components.
The philosophy of plant clustering has been implemented through the Baldwin Mini-Plant, Commons Mini-Plant, and most recently the Welch Mini-Plant. The upgrade of the Central Heating Plant would also fall into this category. The implementation philosophy can reduce electric and natural gas consumption. This reduction in consumption is dependent upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, efficiency of the systems being replaced and the habits of the occupants.
The University has replaced many older single pane windows with double pane thermal windows in Riker, Hoyt-Bowne, Brothers College, Hall of Sciences, Seminary Hall, Lewis House, Hannan House, Wendel, Tipple, Baldwin Hall, Haselton, and Welch-Holloway within the last 15 years. The replacement of single pane with storm windows with double pane windows can reduce average heat loss through the windows by approximately 20%. These savings represent the heat lost through the glazing only, and do not include infiltration (air leakage) which will most likely also be reduced. Finally, in S.W. Bowne, many broken windows were repaired, the stained glass window in the Great Hall was rebuilt, and the office windows had fixed storm panels installed.
The occupancy sensors are installed where they will not present a safety hazard, including offices, classroom, corridors, mechanical rooms, and restrooms, in Brothers College, the Hall of Sciences, Learning Center, and Simon Forum.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
To reduce fuel use, Facilities owns 7 electric cart vehicles. Drew owns a total of 11 electric cart vehicles and only one gasoline powered cart vehicle.
Temperature
GENERAL HEATING INFORMATION
Day Schedules for the most of the buildings on campus, whether they are academic, residential, or auxiliary, are set at a target temperature between 68° and 70°.
Night Schedules for many of the academic buildings vary depending on the night classroom schedule. As a rule, the buildings are set back at their scheduled closing time and return to normal heating schedule several hours before they are open for business. The night set-back temperature for academic buildings and office spaces is approximately 65°.
GENERAL COOLING INFORMATION
During the summer cooling season, occupied spaces will be cooled to 73-75° F (where air conditioning equipment currently exists). Buildings will be set back to 78° F during unoccupied hours.