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Chunk of OSU green fee to go to campus energy
Twenty-three percent, or around $100,000 of this fee will go toward energy efficiency projects on campus
Rebecca Johnson
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: News
The Student Incidental Fees Committee has approved diverting 23 percent, or around $100,000, of the OSU green fee towards energy efficiency projects around campus and is now awaiting approval from the ASOSU Senate.
The green fee is an $8.50 incidental fee voted for by students in November 2007. The fee was imposed in an effort to convert OSU to 100 percent renewable energies.
Since the fee was put in place, OSU has only reached around 75 percent of that goal. While this still puts OSU in the top five schools for renewable energy use among universities in America, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is felt that more could be done.
By using some of the funds towards energy efficiency projects, no more money will have to be taken from students in order to reach the 100 percent goal.
Jones said this may lower OSU's ranking when it comes to purchase of renewable energies, but he said in the long run enhancing energy efficiency is more important.
"Nothing is cleaner than the energy we don't use," said Nathan Jones, Director of Environmental Affairs for ASOSU.
The money will be used to create a Sustainable Energy Revolving Loans Fund (SERLF), in which money will be loaned out to fund efficiency projects and then paid back with money saved from lower energy costs. The money will then be loaned out again to fund another energy efficiency project around campus.
"The money is not being given away, it's money we're investing into the infrastructure around campus," Jones said.
The payback period for the funds being loaned out is expected to be around three to five years.
Michael Koch, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and a key player in creating the SERLF, said that the university was focused on purchasing renewable energies, but not on curbing its energy consumption. He said both are important when it comes to creating a sustainable campus.
While plans are still being made as to what projects will be undertaken, some ideals are to restructure the lighting in buildings around campus and for solar water heating. Koch says that lighting is an obvious choice because it is a relatively easy fix, while generating a quick return.
Before proposing the ideal, a student survey was conducted which showed overwhelming support from the student body for restructuring the Green Fee towards energy efficiency projects, with around 83 percent of those surveyed showing support for the idea.
The revolving loans fund is not a new idea and has already been put into practice by several universities across the country, including Harvard University and Macalister College.
Jones hopes engineering students can be involved and learn from the technology being used to increase energy efficiency in projects around campus.
Rebecca Johnson, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
The green fee is an $8.50 incidental fee voted for by students in November 2007. The fee was imposed in an effort to convert OSU to 100 percent renewable energies.
Since the fee was put in place, OSU has only reached around 75 percent of that goal. While this still puts OSU in the top five schools for renewable energy use among universities in America, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is felt that more could be done.
By using some of the funds towards energy efficiency projects, no more money will have to be taken from students in order to reach the 100 percent goal.
Jones said this may lower OSU's ranking when it comes to purchase of renewable energies, but he said in the long run enhancing energy efficiency is more important.
"Nothing is cleaner than the energy we don't use," said Nathan Jones, Director of Environmental Affairs for ASOSU.
The money will be used to create a Sustainable Energy Revolving Loans Fund (SERLF), in which money will be loaned out to fund efficiency projects and then paid back with money saved from lower energy costs. The money will then be loaned out again to fund another energy efficiency project around campus.
"The money is not being given away, it's money we're investing into the infrastructure around campus," Jones said.
The payback period for the funds being loaned out is expected to be around three to five years.
Michael Koch, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and a key player in creating the SERLF, said that the university was focused on purchasing renewable energies, but not on curbing its energy consumption. He said both are important when it comes to creating a sustainable campus.
While plans are still being made as to what projects will be undertaken, some ideals are to restructure the lighting in buildings around campus and for solar water heating. Koch says that lighting is an obvious choice because it is a relatively easy fix, while generating a quick return.
Before proposing the ideal, a student survey was conducted which showed overwhelming support from the student body for restructuring the Green Fee towards energy efficiency projects, with around 83 percent of those surveyed showing support for the idea.
The revolving loans fund is not a new idea and has already been put into practice by several universities across the country, including Harvard University and Macalister College.
Jones hopes engineering students can be involved and learn from the technology being used to increase energy efficiency in projects around campus.
Rebecca Johnson, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
David LeBourveau
posted 3/05/09 @ 10:27 AM PST
Awesome! I wonder if the university would use this as an investment opportunity for the endowment. What's the return on investment look like?? 100% clean energy!!
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