The boilers and chillers of the University power plant, located in Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research, help to heat and cool more than 60 buildings on campus.

Over the past couple of years cities have wrestled with the threat of energy blackouts, faced overloaded electricity grids and absorbed drastic increases in the price of electricity and fuel. Despite this energy crisis, Columbia was able to shave $2 M off its anticipated energy expenditures last fiscal year. The savings result from the University's strategic approach to energy conservation and procurement and its ongoing efforts to use the University's infrastructure wisely.

"We were able to reduce our energy consumption, effectively returning electricity back to the grid this summer, when New York City was facing the threat of an electricity shortage," said Executive Vice President for Administration Emily Lloyd. "While measures were taken by Facilities Management to keep energy costs under control, we must thank everyone who went about their business with temperatures a few degrees warmer during summer and a few degrees cooler during the fall and winter months."

Prompted by a bleak energy forecast and the growing demand on electricity, Facilities Management senior staff modeled the University's energy consumption to better understand how and when energy was used. It became clear that the University's electricity consumption and overall energy costs could be controlled by shifting the type of energy used at the University's power plant, both steam and electricity, to heat and cool University buildings. Almost half of the University's electrical consumption for air conditioning was shifted onto the steam driven boilers and chillers that produce the steam and cold water that is piped through campus to help heat and cool more than 60 campus buildings.

"The University has to put the lights on everyday despite skyrocketing energy costs and the threat of limited sources of electricity. For an organization the size of Columbia, this can cost as much as $ 21 million annually, " said Mark Burstein, vice president for Facilities Management. "But by being smart about the use of the resources that we do have, and educating our motivated Columbia community we were able to keep the University lit, heated and cooled, with no one department feeling the squeeze of last year's energy crisis. Our energy use dropped for the first time in five years and $2 million is back in the University's budget to be better spent elsewhere."

A number of other ongoing energy conservation efforts assisted in last year's energy savings. Energy efficient lighting, with automatic shut off features or motion sensors, were installed as a part of ongoing capital renovation projects. Additionally, the more than 15 miles of underground pipes that carry steam and cool water to buildings were reinsulated.

"If you think about it, we act as a utility for a medium sized town," said Marc Valera, assistant vice president for operations, who oversaw the team that devised Columbia's energy strategy. "We heat, cool and provide electricity for six million square feet, the same is 3,000 homes or 5,400 apartments."

A number of additional efforts are planned to help build upon the University's progress in energy savings. Facilities Management plans to purchase another steam-run 2,000 ton chiller to accompany the one that currently meets one quarter of Morningside campus' central air conditioning needs. Aging air conditioners will be replaced with new more energy efficient models. And the installation of energy efficient equipment, such as new HVAC systems, water heaters and lighting, will continue into the next capital construction plan.