University Times

James Richmond, left, and Kelvin Verity of Energy Solutions Network take some final notes on the steam system at Bellefield Hall as part of energy audits the company is conducting on behalf of Duquesne Light in selected Pittsburgh campus buildings.

Cameras, clipboards and tablet computers in hand, energy auditors from Duquesne Light have explored several Pitt buildings in recent weeks in order to model energy usage and recommend ways the University could reduce its utility bills.

Duquesne Light contractors from Colorado-based Energy Solutions Network, who also are calculating the savings from projects that already have been done on campus, arrived in January to document lighting, heating and air conditioning systems and building occupancy in Posvar Hall, Bellefield Hall and Lawrence Hall as part of their energy audit.

They wrapped up their work on campus last week. Armed with information on the buildings’ systems, usage and utility bills, they will create a calibrated computer model that then can be used to show how changes to the systems or people’s schedules could affect energy usage, said Energy Solutions Network President James Richmond.

Richmond said the report should be complete in about three weeks.

Laura Zullo, Facilities Management’s senior manager of energy initiatives, said the three buildings were selected because they appear to have significant potential for energy savings.

Although the benefit to the University won’t be known until the auditors complete their calculations and make recommendations, Zullo told the University Times, “Our immediate benefits are free evaluations by the consultants and hopefully significant rebates to partially or fully offset the costs of implementing the conservation measures. Our future benefits are ongoing, sustainable reductions in energy consumption and costs.”

She said that the energy audits are being done at no cost to the University as part of Duquesne Light’s response to Act 129, noting that Pitt is one of Duquesne Light’s largest customers.

State legislators in 2008 mandated power consumption reductions through Act 129, which gave the state’s major power companies a May 31, 2013, deadline for cutting electric consumption by at least 3 percent and for reducing by 4.5 percent their annual system peak demand.

The state act requires that at least 10 percent of the reductions in consumption come from federal, state and local government units, including municipalities, school districts, institutions of higher education and nonprofit entities.

Statewide, the law applies to Duquesne Light, as well as to Allegheny Power, Metropolitan Edison, Pennsylvania Power, Pennsylvania Electric, PECO Energy and PPL Electric Utilities.

Duquesne Light spokesperson Joe Vallarian wouldn’t comment on specifics of the auditors’ job at the University, but he said the effort is part of the power company’s Watt Choices plan (www.wattchoices.com), which is designed to help residential, commercial and industrial customers conserve energy.

Residential customers may be familiar with initiatives that provide free or discounted CFL light bulbs and offer rebates for installing energy-saving appliances and devices.

The Watt Choices educational facilities program aims to share energy efficiency best practices and support implementation of campus-based energy efficiency projects to both save energy and reduce peak demand, according to company information posted online.

In addition to benchmarking and energy audits, program services for educational institutions include installation of free or low-cost efficiency measures and rebates and installation assistance for other measures, as well as training for energy managers.

Details on Act 129 can be found at www.puc.state.pa.us/electric/Act_129_info.aspx.

—Kimberly K. Barlow