In 2023, the University of Minnesota achieved over 8 million kilowatt hours in electricity savings, exceeding the goal we set in partnership with Xcel Energy! That’s enough electricity to power 880 average Minnesota homes for a year and avoid 5 million pounds of CO2 emissions.
The Minnesota Legislature has deemed energy efficiency very important for decades, as it helps keep energy costs lower, avoid construction of power plants, and reduce pollution. Legislation states that in order to receive state funding for buildings both existing and new, the University must meet energy efficiency standards. Similarly, utilities, like Xcel Energy, have certain energy efficiency goals required by the state. The U and other major utility customers are offered an incentive, in the form of a rebate, to help them reach that energy savings goal.
With support from other Facilities Management areas and campus customers, Energy Management’s work on energy efficiency allows the institution to reduce costs, achieve our sustainability goals, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s rebate, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, ultimately goes back into a cycle within the University, allowing us to continue investing in energy reduction and working to reduce our energy use. We hit 8.2 million kilowatt hour (kWh) in savings this year, meeting electricity consumption and demand reduction (i.e. kilowatts or kW) goals thus earning the U a bonus Xcel rebate. Energy saved is energy the institution didn’t have to purchase, which contributes to keeping tuition costs down for students in addition to benefiting the environment.
With each new year, savings are more difficult to find because the "low hanging fruit" have already been reduced, so Energy Management staff find creative ways to continue saving energy through various projects across campus. While many types of projects in all five campus districts achieved energy savings on campus, these are the major projects that helped the University achieve this goal: lighting, ventilation improvement, design assistance, building recommissioning & controls upgrades and motor control.
Thanks to Energy Management and all who support these efforts!