The added benefit is better control of the working environment in our offices, labs, patient areas, and common areas. In 1990, the University undertook an aggressive five-year energy management plan involving both the supply and demand of electrical energy. We have saved more than 7 million kilowatt hours annually through a number of low-cost efforts such as replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, replacing inefficient fluorescent bulbs and mechanical ballasts with higher efficiency bulbs and electronic ballasts, and connecting outdoor lighting to the energy management system. We are reviewing a proposal that promises substantial savings that was submitted to us as part of joint-energy arrangement with Rochester Institute of Technology, Monroe County, and the Rochester District Heating Cooperative. Two of the more significant projects were reestablishing a night setback of air changes and temperature in the Ambulatory Care Facility at Strong Memorial Hospital and establishing a night temperature setback in the administrative areas of the Medical Research Building.
Discussions are under way to establish such settings in other research and administrative areas.
We also are reviewing night setbacks in the residence halls and Alumni Gym. Each University area will be examined in detail with the active participation of the occupants to reduce energy use. Recent studies indicate that one of the fastest growing areas of electricity use is individual workspaces. Computers, monitors, speakers, printers, fax machines, and copiers are now commonplace throughout the University, including student rooms. Multiply that by 15,000 to 20,000 workstations and there are significant savings.