Educational Procurement Journal - September 2007 - (Page 19) sors, incandescent lamp replacements, exit signs conversions for high voltage to low voltage etc. Routine technology upgrades includes items such as improving roof insulation, windows replacement with high performance insulated materials, lighting control systems, data acquisition systems, solar hot water systems, reductions in pump and fan energy, replacement of oversized motors, and the application of variable speed drives. Major Strategic Capital Projects are also self-explanatory. Examples might include chiller replacement for AC systems, central controls implementation, replacing air cooled condensers with cooling towers, replacing central plumbing system for hot water with a distributed one, replacing transformers, installing power factor correction capacitors and peak load shaving technologies. Commissioning and Ongoing Maintenance To ensure that these items and procedures are not sub-optimized, it will be important to properly commission the work to be done, to train the maintenance staff, and secure long term training and sufficient operating monies for the technologies. Without long term effective maintenance, we will not be able to deliver promised benefits on a sustained basis. Presidents Climate Initiative The green revolution is happening all around us and maybe it has happened on your campus too. Twelve new institutions have signed the (ACUPCC) American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in the last week. These campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. 284 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment. Higher education is stepping up to the plate. What is happening on your campus? In the Private sector The private sector is heating up too. Both General Motors and Ford Motor Company are speeding up production of their electric cars. A major banking system, Wachovia announced it intends to build 300 LEED®-certified banks throughout the US starting this year. Michael Dell announced that he was going to begin building the “greenest P.C. on the planet.” And Atlanta based world leader in soft drink beverages, Coca-Cola, announced that it will reduce its water use, recycle more water used in manufacturing, and work to conserve freshwater resources worldwide. Some of these announcements seem unlikely and for some, I am sure they are unimaginable but change is happening. Corporations are beginning to compete on environmental issues! Who would have thought that could happen so quickly? WalMart changed the equation with compact fluorescent lamps and their partnership with General Electric. They have caused more change in the last six months than all the rest of the world’s activity in the prior ten years. So it proves true again Baby Steps Do Count. What are your baby steps? What are you doing on your campus to facilitate the green revolution and the reduction of climate changing emissions? Remember that you too can do great things! Brian K. Yeoman, Director of Education and Development at NAEP, is the retired Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning and Campus Development at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. e-Mail: byeoman@naepnet.org www.naepnet.org EDUCATIONAL PROCUREMENT JOURNAL 19 http://www.naepnet.org
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