SUSTAINABILITY

Energy Advisory Committee (EAC)

Case is committed to maintaining a sustainable and environmentally responsible campus within the context of its educational mission, resources, and responsibilities to students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community and our environment. As such, we employ a systems approach to campus sustainability, incorporating student learning and research opportunities, identifying potential partnerships with faculty for curriculum and research development, and enhancing the University’s role as a partner in our community. We have a great deal of pride about what we are accomplishing, the level of engagement our campus community is taking, and the increased sense of place at Case.

The Energy Advisory Committee was formed in November 2005 by the University Provost, John Anderson. The EAC is charged with institutionalizing a commitment to cost effective, environmental impact reduction in association with campus facilities and operations, curriculum development, research, and student life, while also serving as the critical link to constituencies across the CASE campus. EAC members are Case staff, faculty, students, and members of the University administration, making up an advisory group to the University’s CFAO, Campus Planning and Operations, and the Department of Facilities Services in the review of the campus’ use of energy, water and other resources. The committee, with input from administration, the campus community, and sources of expertise, help shape campus conservation and sustainability practices and protocols, and encourage effective management of resources and their associated fiscal and environmental costs. Several programs have been developed, under the auspices of the EAC. We have highlighted a few of our key initiatives here as examples of how “sustainability is taking place at Case.”

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How it all started

Energy Conservation at Case

To: Faculty, Staff and Students
From: John Anderson, Provost and University Vice President
         Hossein Sadid, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
Date: November 17, 2005
Re: Energy Conservation Initiatives

Throughout our country, the cost of energy (electricity, oil, natural gas, and water) has escalated dramatically in recent months, and rising prices are expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Case consumes a large amount of energy to support its education and research programs. Within the next twelve months, the university’s energy costs could easily double. As an institution committed to developing a sustainable and environmentally responsible campus, we seek your assistance and support in our efforts to conserve energy. We must work together with renewed vigor to reduce our energy consumption, conserve resources, and contain costs.

Over the last decade, Case has invested millions of dollars in energy efficient technologies and building systems. The most recent example of our sustainability and energy conservation efforts can be seen at the new Village at 115. We are committed to continuing these types of investments.

Listed below are some immediate steps that we are taking to further advance our conservation efforts:

Based on the findings of the energy audit and the existing energy conservation plans, our facilities staff will be working closely with the leadership in all the schools to assess and implement, as appropriate, energy saving measures such as lighting retrofits, reduction of lighting systems, adjustment to building temperature settings, reevaluation of operating hours of building mechanical systems, and the like.

Equally important is the role we play as individuals to conserve energy. Please turn off lights when not needed, place recyclable materials (paper, aluminum, plastic) in the appropriate containers, minimize the amount of water used, remove unnecessary energy-consuming devices such as space heaters, and report all leaking water fixtures.

We welcome any suggestions as to how the university’s energy conservation efforts might serve as an opportunity for experiential learning and research involving our faculty and students. If you are already engaged in energy research or scholarship and are interested in further exploring opportunities in our campus-wide energy conservation initiative, please send an e-mail to the Energy Conservation Committee at energyconservation@case.edu.

Thank you for supporting our conservation initiatives—and for your role in elevating our university as an example of responsible environmental stewardship.