Facilities & Services will be hosting a Sustainability Celebration on Wednesday at the Levis Faculty Center to recognize the success of eight facilities on campus in energy conservation.

The event is open to the public and F&S encourages anyone interested in learning about progress in the University’s sustainability initiatives to attend.

The facilities will be recognized and awarded by the Energy Conservation Incentive Program, which was founded seven years ago to encourage energy conservation practices.

Any state-supported building of 10,000 square feet or more is eligible for awards. 

According to a press release from Facilities & Services, the winners saved a combined $189,000 in fiscal year 2019 as a result of their conservation projects.

The awards are divided into two categories, for “Energy Advancement” and “Occupant Action”. 

Morgan White, Facilities & Services associate director for sustainability, said the ECIP awards visible sign of work that is being done to reduce campus energy and will give winning facilities an opportunity to share their accomplishments. 

According to White, the English Building won second place in the Energy Advancement category, with 26.6% savings as a result of a new roof.

“This helps increase understanding about the great work being done by both Facilities & Services and individual departments to make campus run smoothly, efficiently and sustainably,” White said in an email.

The parking department also had the greatest savings after switching to LED lights. 

“Chancellor Phyllis Wise committed our campus to being an LED campus, with a goal of all exterior lights and all exit signs being LED by 2025.” White said. 

White said growing awareness and participation in sustainability on campus will give students an important sense of contribution to efforts to fight climate change and make the University more environmentally-friendly.

“Sustainability is a global effort that needs every individual to participate, and everyone on campus can help guide and support the effort by joining us at the celebration next Wednesday,” White said.

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