UMMS hailed as a business leader for energy efficiency
Outstanding energy efficiency efforts honored by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
May 17, 2012
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| | Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships recognized UMMS as a Northeast Business Leader for Energy Efficiency. |
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UMass Medical School will be recognized by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships as a Northeast Business Leader for Energy Efficiency at the Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit in Stamford, Conn., on June 14. Nominated by National Grid, UMMS is being honored for outstanding achievements in energy efficiency.
The Northeast Business Leaders for Energy Efficiency recognition program highlights the accomplishments of organizations that are participating in energy efficiency programs across the region, and were selected for recognition based on their successes in:
- Achieving energy savings through investment in cost-efficient measures;
- Addressing comprehensive changes in major energy systems such as lighting, HVAC, building envelope, office equipment and industrial processes, with a focus on improvements in multiple fuel categories;
- Continuing improvements in energy performance through management level support and operational practices; and
- Demonstrating leadership to advance energy efficiency and to promote its benefits within their communities.
Through the recent expansion of its combined heat and power plant, UMMS continues to showcase its leadership in energy efficiency. At the heart of the power plant expansion, which serves the Worcester campus with steam, chilled water and electricity, is a high-efficiency, 7.5-megawatt, gas-fired combustion turbine and an associated heat recovery system. The addition of the new turbine will allow UMMS to accommodate the power needs of the Albert Sherman Center, a 500,000-square-foot research and education facility scheduled to open in December.
With the new cogeneration system in place, UMMS will increase its capacity to generate electricity on its Worcester campus while reducing its green-house gas emissions. UMMS has also recently upgraded the lighting in many areas of the campus with Energy Star lighting. In addition to reducing electric loads, these upgrades will reduce maintenance costs for replacing the lights while maintaining quality lighting.
“As a public institution, we believe it is incumbent on us to lead by example and manage our resources in ways that limit the impact on our environment,” said John Baker, associate vice chancellor of facilities management. “Our energy efficiency measures help us reduce our carbon footprint by introducing cleaner technologies to our campus that will pay dividends for the people of the commonwealth for decades to come. At the same time, we are actively engaging staff, faculty and students to be more aware of how, through small everyday actions, they can help reduce energy consumption.”
“National Grid is passionate about sustainability and its stewardship of our region’s energy resources. We are pleased that UMass Medical School has been awarded this recognition," said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid MA. “UMass Medical School has a long history of championing and implementing energy-efficient measures and is truly leading by example. The school is a great example of National Grid's commitment to driving energy efficiency awareness through its partners in Massachusetts and surrounding areas.”
Related links on UMassMedNow:
Sherman Center video series: Designing efficiencies
National Grid gives $5.6 million rebate for UMMS power plant
Garage light replacement project will save $80,000 annually