Texas A and M Energy Conservation Committee

Type: Policy

Status: Launched in 2001

Source File: http://energy.tamu.edu//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=74

Description:

Former Texas A&M President Ray M. Bowen formed a University Committee on Energy Conservation in November, 2001 with the charge of determining methods for reducing energy consumption and thus energy costs on campus. Dr. Roland Haden, Dean of the Look College of Engineering, chaired the task force which was composed of representatives of a broad constituency of faculty, staff and students. Of the more than 50 recommendations from the task force, one of the main recommendations was the formation of a standing Energy Conservation Committee.

Dr. Robert Gates, President of Texas A&M University, noted, "In times of tight budgets, it is natural to look for many ways to cut costs. Saving energy in every way we can has to be a commitment by every one of us. Each of us can change the way we work to conserve energy. Even though some of the ways we can change may seem insignificant, for a campus with thousands of employees, thousands of pieces of equipment, such as computers, copiers, printers and lights, a community can save hundreds of thousands of dollars every time."

Following up on the Energy Conservation Task Forces' recommendation and President Gates' message, Charles A. Sippial, Sr., Vice President of Administration, appointed an Energy Conservation Committee to seek ways to encourage faculty, staff and students to assist in saving energy.

ECC Goals

• Raise awareness of the importance of energy conservation. Implement a campaign for conservation. Educate and inform faculty, students and staff regarding the benefits of conservation and specific ways each individual and department can contribute to the cause.
• Improve communications on campus to improve the understanding of utility costs, ways costs can be reduced and the impact on departments and individuals.
• Establish a website to provide information and a conservation hotline (via website and/or phone) to encourage feedback from campus.
• Promote involvement by the campus community with an exchange of ideas and information, encouraging active participation in energy conservation.
• Establish a healthy competition between dorms, departments and/or individuals to see who can generate the most useful recommendations for conservation.
• Establish an acknowledgement program for individuals or groups who achieve the greatest results for conservation.