N.C. State has received a positive response from campus-wide efforts to conserve energy since a notice from Chancellor James Oblinger was sent out last December. Conservation improvements are coming from construction sites, offices and dorm rooms. The number one priority now, according to campus officials, is to maintain the flow of positive feedback and act to increase conservation awareness across campus.

Officials are able to check how much energy a particular place on campus is using by looking at the bill and doing meter checks.

“We do meter buildings to check and see how much a particular place is using, other than that we’re really just coming through and seeing where we can visibly see energy being wasted — like lights being left on in empty classrooms and offices,” C.C. Maurer, energy conservation coordinator, said.

Set-back efforts over the holidays proved to be successful tactics in saving energy and a significant amount of money.

“We had some really excellent results from the set-back efforts over the holidays,” Kevin MacNaughton, associate vice chancellor for Facilities, said. “We have been able to save $185,000 over a period of time where we usually spend $650,000 — This saving is from the set-back implemented just between Christmas and New Year’s, about a 10-day period.”

The success of the holiday set-back could lead to a similar effort to take place over spring break.

“We learned a lot from [the holiday set-back]. We’re hoping to be able to go around over spring break and set-back some classrooms that aren’t being used. This may even be done in between summer sessions,” Maurer said. “We’re also looking into better set-back schedules — controlling the heating [and] air conditioning units.

Lights have recently been changed on the squash courts in Carmichael Gym and the ground floor classrooms of Tompkins Hall have had occupancy censors installed. This enables the lights to turn on and off when no one is there. “I haven’t really noticed any difference as far as a dorm lifestyle goes. Lights are always left on around here and I personally try to turn lights off — but I haven’t gone out of my way to make sure they were,” Ryan Kerns, a freshman in chemical engineering, said. “Campus should maybe do something out in the Brickyard to increase awareness. Most students just delete e-mails that are obviously sent out in bulk, like the energy conservation one.”

Brandon Bergin, a freshman in engineering, said he agreed with Kerns as he noticed no difference in his lifestyle or those living around him.

“I’ve always thought about cutting my lights off, and now I suppose I’m a little more aware, but I really haven’t been any more conscientious about energy conservation in general,” Bergin said. “Campus should definitely try a different approach to reach students, like with posters in the tunnel or a demonstration in the Brickyard.”

Because of the air and heating systems on campus, some of the older buildings are either heating or cooling at any one time, which does not allow student to run both systems. The newer buildings have separate thermostats–one for heating and one for cooling.

“It is important that students are not fighting the heating and cooling against each other,” MacNaughton said. “With our new controls [and] ventilation program, we’re getting rid of window units — Riddick and Withers are both under renovation and both will be getting central air, which is much more efficient.”

MacNaughton said it is important students understand that a lot of money is being spent on things like renovations and Facilities is constantly trying to improve the controls system.

“I’ve seen improvement in places where construction was going on and generally I’ve seen more lights off at night,” Maurer said. “I’ve also had a positive response in feedback — we encourage people to contact us with problems and or suggestions.”

MacNaughton said Facilities is now partnering with Keith Nichols, director of media relations, to think of ways to get the word out across campus in order to keep students mindful of energy conservation.

“What we’re really focused on now is trying to continue a real awareness on campus, on just being mindful of turning off lights when not in the room and keeping the temperature as low as possible — the one thing that really hurts us is if [people] have space heaters — they’re just like giant toasters that use a lot of energy but they’re also not allowed in dorm rooms since they’re dangerous to leave on,” MacNaughton said.

Keeping lights off when not needed and thermostats as low as possible make a huge difference.

“If everyone is mindful we will have a real big saving campus-wide,” MacNaughton said.