University Dining Services implemented an innovative warewashing system for cleaning dishware, glassware and utensils in fall 2009. The program reduces energy and water consumption, controls chemical usage and limits packaging waste sent to trash incinerators

For more information, visit University Dining Services.

Over time, building systems typically become less efficient as components wear out and building usage changes. Just as a mechanic can improve a car’s fuel economy with a tune-up, a recommissioning team improves a building’s energy efficiency.

A typical recommissioning study will yield between 5% and 15% energy savings, depending on the type of building. The U of M recommissioning team takes things a step further by finding ways that new technology or different operating methods can further improve efficiency and performance, like recommending that old lighting systems be replaced with newer technology.

Since 2009, the building recommissioning program has realized $5.6 in annual avoided energy costs and reduced CO2 emissions by over 50,000 metric tons.

For more information, click here.

To reach the goals laid out in the Climate Action Plan, the University plans to renovate the Old Main steam plant to build a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. As a result, the CHP will generate electricity and use the excess heat to create steam for the campus’s heating and cooling needs, thus increasing efficiency and reducing total fossil fuel use. This renovation will help the Twin Cities better control its utility costs and will reduce its carbon footprint by 10% or more.

For more information, visit Facilities Management.

University of Minnesota Residential Halls have washers and dryers for students that are energy efficient and water-saving

For more information, visit Housing & Residential Life.

University Dining Services has an energy curtailment program to decrease the use of energy during summer months when some dining facilities are closed or have fewer customers. This program includes shutting down all water and power to ice machines, booster heaters, coffee brewers, espresso machines, soda fountain machines, and juice/tea dispensers not in use. Steam-fed equipment such as steam jacketed kettles and steamers are also powered off.

For more information, visit University Dining Services.

The University participates in the Energy Design Assistance program from Xcel Energy, electrical utility provider to the Twin Cities campus, to implement the most cost effective and energy efficient strategies within new construction and major renovation projects on campus. The program provides designers and contractors with a set of energy-saving strategies appropriate for each building project. New construction projects which have taken advantage of the program include the TCF Bank Stadium and the 17th Avenue Residence Hall.

For more information, visit Sustainability and U.

The University of Minnesota's Donhowe Building and Education Sciences Building became the first two campus facilities to be rated as ENERGY STAR Buildings by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011. Energy Management uses the EPA's ENERGY STAR rating system and the State of Minnesota's "B3" (Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond) database to benchmark and compare University buildings' energy performance against similar buildings. Collectively, these tools also facilitate recognition of the U's achievements in energy efficiency, and help the University direct future efforts and resources to buildings where significant efficiency improvements are possible.

Click here to read a story about the Donhowe Building receiving the University of Minnesota's first Energy Star Rating.

Click here to read a story about the Education Sciences Building receiving the University of Minnesota's second Energy Star Rating.

Green Resident Certification is an opportunity for on-campus residents to measure and be recognized for the steps they take to be sustainable.  Green Resident Certification has three levels (Maroon, Gold and Green).  The certification program asks residents to identify areas in which they can make a change; calculate their footprint and set related sustainability goals; and encourage their friends to do the same.  Participants get a decal for their residence hall door so to record and display their progress, as well as buttons that show the level the levels they have completed.  

For more information, visit Housing & Residential Life.

Typically, lighting comprises 15-25% of a building's energy bill. Technological advancements over the past decade provide new opportunities to reduce energy costs by replacing inefficient light sources.

Although the vast majority of the campus's number one offenders -- incandescent and T12 lamps -- have been replaced during the past decade, Energy Management is attempting to clear out the remaining energy-wasting lamps. Since the summer of 2011, nearly 2,000 lamps had been replaced with more efficient options, resulting in annual energy cost savings of more than $25,000 and CO2 emission reductions of 349 tons.

You don't have to be an electrician to help out. Departments and individuals can make a difference by actively looking for inefficient T12 and incandescent fixtures and reporting them to Energy Management. T12's can be identified by their "fat" appearance (1.5" diameter compared to 1" for T8), and are usually found in less traveled areas (i.e. mechanical rooms or storage spaces) or specialty applications (i.e. fume hoods or elevator cars). Incandescent lamps are still installed in many classrooms, offices, conference rooms, lobbies and spaces where down-lighting or track lighting is used.

Report your T12 and incandescent discoveries at Energy Management’s website.

The Live Green Games educates on-campus residents on how to live more sustainably and make a lasting impact on resource conservation. Sustainability education programming is offered from September through April, for which residents can earn participation points that add to their residence hall's Live Green Games Points Bank. The residence hall with the largest point total at the end of April is treated to a catered "Sustainable Study Break" during finals.  The program’s goal is to encourage students to live sustainably and develop lifelong habits for their journey after college.

For more information, visit It All Adds Up - Live Green Games.