Newly Approved Summer Schedule Could Save UA $1.4M in 2009
A newly approved program will allow University of Arizona employees to work one less day each week next summer to try and save on gas costs and also to help drive down the amount of money the University is spending on utilities.
The “4/10 work/class schedule” program was approved this week by members of the UA President's Cabinet, including UA President Robert N. Shelton and Joel D. Valdez, the UA’s senior vice president for business affairs, among others.
"We've gone through this exercise when we close through the winter break. I would like to see it happen every year," Valdez said. "We have to do this."
Facilities Management has estimated that the UA could save nearly $1.4 million – which includes the cost of inflation – in chilled water, steam and electricity costs by scaling down to four-day weeks with 10 hour work days and a corresponding class schedule, instead of the typical five-day, eight-hour timetable.
“We’re looking at any way not only to save energy, but also to become a more sustainable campus,” said Richard Knott, the unit’s assistant director for maintenance, adding that Facilities Management has operated under the 4/10 schedule for the last year.
This will allow the University to target buildings – 46 buildings have already been identified that can be shut down during unoccupied hours – to be placed on the program for the 14-week period during the summer of 2009, said Mark Marikos, a senior staff technician for Facilities Management.
Certain buildings, particularly those that are used for types of research and studies that require continuous power, will not be affected. Classes, Marikos said, will not be scheduled for Fridays. Marikos also said that while employees will spend longer days at the UA, the air handlers will not work as often, which results in a large amount of cost savings.
“You have an incremental cost per day, so if you’re shutting off air handlers on a regular schedule that’s a time that they otherwise wouldn’t have been turned off,” he said.
The plan is just one example of numerous efforts the UA has introduced to improve its sustainability efforts, especially in recent years.
Last year, Shelton signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a pledge to reduce and eventually eliminate campus greenhouse emissions.
Also, the UA is using melting ice to cool buildings – a method that has proven to be more energy efficient than relying exclusively on electricity. Other efforts include water harvesting, the use of solar energy and using 85 percent ethanol for numerous University owned vehicles.
“We want to be a leader in this area,” Knott said, “and it is very important for us that we reduce utility costs as the campus grows.”
A report authored by Facilities Management staff members explains that air handling units in 46 buildings would be shut off during unoccupied hours and an estimated 900 hours of off-time for buildings would occur.
“The reduced occupancy during those scheduled systemic off hours also impacts the consumption of electricity related to lights, computers and other equipment,” the report noted. The report also said that projected savings for utility costs during the summer of 2009 would be about $350,000 for chilled water, more than $420,000 for steam and more than $513,000 for electricity.
Also, an additional $30,600 in anticipated savings should come in the form of reduced costs for UA students, employees and staff. This should come by way of less trash being produced and the reduced use of University vehicles.
Knott also estimates that UA students, faculty and staff will save more than $800,000 in gas costs alone during the summer’s 14-week period because of the program.
Other benefits would include reduced reliance on fuel, custodial services and supplies, as well as water and natural gas needs, the Facilities Management report noted. Officials also expect that the program will help reduce traffic congestion on and around campus.
"A side benefit people have already experienced at small schools back east is that your sick leave and your turnover drops," Valdez said, adding that the University of Utah just recently approved a similar program for its employees.
To learn more about the work of Facilities Management, visit http://www.fm.arizona.edu.