Yale Building recognized for energy savings

Thanks to collaborative efforts by Hutchinson Center staff to cut energy consumption, the Yale Building has earned a prestigious Energy Star designation from the U.S. government.

The Environmental Protection Agency awards the Energy Star label to buildings that score in the 75th percentile or higher for their energy efficiency. The Yale Building scored in the 89th percentile, illustrating the Center’s commitment to lessening its environmental footprint while limiting overhead costs. 

“It’s a team effort between Facilities Engineering and the occupants of the Yale Building to help the Center save money and earn an Energy Star rating at the same time,” said Bob Cowan, director of the Facilities Engineering Department.

How energy consumption declined

As part of the Center’s recent attempts to trim its operating expenses amidst a budget shortfall, Facilities Engineering undertook a detailed evaluation of 50 potential means for cutting energy consumption. They ultimately implemented a number of important changes, including:

• Adjusting the number of hours per day that air handlers and lights are turned on by default
• Cutting back energy use on weekends and holidays
• Installing a more energy-efficient technology for cooling computer servers.