In response to a $1.5 million permanent reduction in University Park's utilities budget, the University Faculty Senate will discuss cutting energy costs at its meeting today.
The permanent budget cut was approved in response to reductions in state funding, according to a report that will be presented at the meeting. The university's budget this year includes $50 million in cuts and savings, according to a statement on Penn State Live.
Paul Ruskin, spokesperson for Office of Physical Plant (OPP), said the new recommendations -- Energy Conservation Policy AD-64 -- were approved by the university over the summer, amid skyrocketing electricity costs that also provided an incentive to conserve more energy. He said the university's cost of energy doubled in January 2009 as a result of a rate change with a power provider.
"Part of the motivation for the policy now is that our cost of energy has gone up so dramatically," Ruskin said. "In tough economic times, it is always good to be wise in our use of resources. Anywhere we can reduce unnecessary cost is a good way to save our financial resources."
Lee Coraor, chairman of the Faculty Senate and a professor of computer science and engineering, said the informational report on a new energy conservation policy focuses on actions students and faculty members can take to lower energy consumption.
According to the report, key strategies for reducing energy use include minimizing the use of artificial lighting and air conditioning. Thermostats will now be set to 75 degrees in the summer and 70 degrees in the winter.
The energy conservation policy is also a response to the university's pledge to reduce greenhouse gases by 17.5 percent by 2012, according to the report.
Carlo Sica, president of Eco-Action, a student environmental organization, said he supports the university's "ambitious" efforts to reduce energy consumption.
"Energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit in the struggle for energy independence, a green and resilient economy, and a cheaper cost of tuition for every Penn State student," Sica (senior-physical and environmental geography) said.
A presentation on the university's response to the H1N1 virus, commentary by Penn State President Graham Spanier and the results of the most recent faculty climate survey will also be revealed at the meeting.
Coraor said the H1N1 presentation will serve primarily as a reminder to individuals of how to minimize the spread of the virus and a reiteration of university recommendations on how to cope with the illness.
The 2008 faculty climate survey report will be an interesting point for faculty members, he said. The survey has previously been administered in 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2004, according to the report.
Spanier has appointed a new Taskforce on Workplace Enhancement to review the findings of the survey and produce suggestions and solutions, according to the report.
The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. in 112 Kern Building and is open to the public.
