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November 7, 2008
For Immediate Release

For an Interview:
Denny Rucker
(801) 863-8326

Being Green: One of UVU's Top Priorities

Utah Valley University’s school color is green, which is appropriate when looking at the school’s continued efforts in being an energy-efficient campus. So far, UVU has saved approximately $1.2 million in the past three years due to consolidation efforts and improving power utilization.

"We have a rich heritage at our institution for being green from the day it was founded in the mid 70's," said Denny Rucker, project director of engineering at UVU. "Until recently, green and conservation were not popular issues and didn’t draw much interest, but it has always been a top priority at this institution."

UVU began its quest to be environmentally friendly when it added a geothermal well in 1975, the first one in the state of Utah. Geothermal wells are used to transfer heat in and out of building through aquifers. Today, UVU continues to add unique features on campus such as light-level sensors in hallways to conserve power as well as a computerized host system that monitors the entire campus. All of the buildings on the main campus benefit from the lighting, controls and new equipment.

Many conservation projects were considered when the new library was built on campus last summer. The library is the most energy-efficient building in Utah with its major "green" features including:

  1. Evaporative cooling instead of refrigerated.
  2. New high-tech efficient glass that cuts down 90 percent of heat gain due to solar loads.
  3. Very high-tech computerized building management system that controls heat, cooling and lights.
  4. Above-standard quality insulation, white roof, motors and piping insulations.
  5. Re-using waste heat from interior computer farm to warm the building and using exterior cool air in economizer cycle to cool the computer farm.
  6. High-quality efficient lighting that adapts to occupancies and outside light levels.
  7. Daylight harvesting to bring in outside light at useable levels.

"Every remodeling or construction project is conservative in usage of utilities, waste and materials," Rucker said. "Becoming more green is a hard step when you are already far up the ladder to green."

Although UVU is already high up on the ladder in its conversation methods, it still looks for opportunities to optimize and improve. For example, a new UVU Sustainability Committee was formed and recently held its first meeting. The committee’s current goal is to focus its limited resources to the areas that need immediate attention on campus. They are planning to have all future buildings that are added on campus be mandated "green" to follow suit with the rest of the buildings.

"It is not logical to waste or throw away anything that is useful as long as it can be used in a practical manner," Rucker said. "This institution has always had that philosophy at its core and we have always been a shade of green. Management and facilities are committed to the most economical and practical operations that we can provide."

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College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807

Written by:
Britnee Nguyen
(801) 863-8504