Additional Energy-Saving Upgrades Planned for Campus

Photo by Chieko Hara

Cross-Laminated Timber Pavilions at Vol Walker Hall

As part of the effort to continue working toward a more carbon-neutral campus, the U of A will begin energy-saving upgrades across 6 million square feet of facilities across campus.

The university has contracted with Entegrity to help facilitate the project. This is the fourth Energy Savings Performance Contract for the U of A. The project is the next step in advancing the university’s sustainability goals through a combination of cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades.

“This project will not only help the University of Arkansas campus become more energy efficient, but it will also provide another example of our commitment to leading the way in supporting environmentally beneficial projects that also make good financial sense,” Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said.  

The improvements will include LED lighting, retro-commissioning, fault detection diagnostics and upgrades to HVAC and building envelope systems. These upgrades will help the university reduce their annual expenses by $1.35 million per year and save enough energy to power approximately 1,240 homes annually.

In 2007, the U of A became one of the first institutions to become a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and establish the goal of net carbon neutrality by 2040. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz recently reinforced this position by encouraging more aggressive federal carbon reduction goals. The university is working to reduce its carbon footprint with a combination of sustainable building practices, energy efficiency upgrades and sustainable commuter transportation options.

This project will be overseen by the Arkansas Energy Office, which will help navigate the process, evaluate project economics and ensure that Pre-Qualified Energy Service Companies maintain the highest levels of quality. Becky Keogh, cabinet secretary of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, added, “We applaud the university for continuing their leadership role by making measurable progress toward their carbon neutrality goals.”

About Facilities Management: Facilities Management oversees the design and construction of capital projects as well as renovations and maintenance of education and general-purpose buildings on campus. Some services include general maintenance, custodial, recycling, outdoor space reservations, and more. Those needing to report a maintenance problem or wishing to begin a project should visit the Facilities Management website.

About the Office for Sustainability: The mission of the University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability (OFS) is to motivate, facilitate, and coordinate responsible practices through partnerships with students, faculty, and staff across all campus departments. The OFS uses the campus as a living laboratory by overseeing the implementation of the University of Arkansas environmental goals. These programs are part of the UA Resiliency Center, hosted by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, and are supported by UA Facilities Management.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.