ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan experts in energy efficiency programs are available to discuss how university efforts support President Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, released last week.

In its third full year, an innovative energy-conservation program spearheaded by Planet Blue Operations Teams and aimed at system tune-ups combined with occupant education, has cut energy use in 67 campus buildings by an average of 14 percent resulting in a utility cost avoidance of nearly $5.2 million in FY 2010.

And while U-M is in the midst of its largest building boom in 60 years bringing growth in both research and jobs to the region, per person energy use, water consumption and trash production are all declining. U-M’s program is being emulated by universities across the country.

In 2009, U-M adopted the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Standard +30 policy in its building design guidelines, which mandates that major projects be 30 percent more energy efficient than the nationally recognized standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.

U-M experts include:

Hank Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations, who can discuss traditional and renewable/alternative energy programs, alternative transportation, and operational excellence related to building construction and renovation. Contact: (734) 764-3402 or avpfo@umich.edu.

Terry Alexander, executive director for the Office of Campus Sustainability, who oversees the office that facilitates the myriad of sustainability initiatives underway in units across campus and connects university operations in the area of sustainability with academic and research initiatives at U-M. Contact: (734) 647-1143 or tgalex@umich.edu.

U-M Sustainability fosters a more sustainable world through collaborations across campus and beyond aimed at educating students, generating new knowledge, and minimizing our environmental footprint. Learn more at sustainability.umich.edu.

Related Links:

• Planet BlueReport on Planet Blue (pdf)