November 18, 2004

Observer Q & A: Ron Nayler

Observer Q & A / Associate Vice President for Facilities Management discusses the timing and strategy behind Northwestern’s energy and conservation policies

Northwestern has new policies and guidelines for environmental sustainability and energy conservation. Why now?

This is an evolutionary step, rather than a revolutionary step.

It is part of the process of continual improvement in both conservation and sustainability. On the conservation side, we’ve undertaken a number of projects in the past and we’re simply moving forward with additional initiatives. We’re looking to create cogeneration facilities on each campus. We’re implementing a mix of no-cost and low-cost policies and projects, such as building temperature set points and occupancy sensors. As Evanston sewer rates have risen dramatically in the past several years, we’ve shown we can accomplish significant water conservation and cost savings in academic buildings. Now we want to expand that success to other campus facilities.

We’re utilizing the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for all new campus construction. Buildings are rated at various levels depending on the requirements they meet. The Ford Engineering Design Center is our first building that we expect to be certified at the LEED silver level, and it might even make it to gold.

What is a cogeneration facility?

It’s a facility that, in Northwestern’s case, will generate electricity and steam from the same fuel input. Currently, we only generate steam at our utility plants and we buy electricity from ComEd. In the process of generating electric power at electric utility plants, there is excess heat produced that is generally wasted. In cogeneration, we’ll burn natural gas to generate steam and run the steam through a turbine that spins to create electricity. At the end of the turbine, the waste heat (as steam) will be supplementally fired and distributed through steam pipes to heat the campus. We’ll be generating two energy commodities from one fuel input, thereby getting more bang for our buck. We’ll be able to lower our costs and minimize the amount of pollution generated to meet our heating and electricity needs.

What is an example of an environmental sustainability effort at Northwestern?

The Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center is a good example. One thing we’ve done is to install cisterns that will capture rainwater so we can supply the site’s irrigation needs without using City of Evanston water from Lake Michigan.

The University recently installed several massive underground oil tanks at the Central Utility Plant. What are they for?

We currently have only one fuel source (natural gas) and one line coming into the Evanston campus. If that line is ever broken or we should experience a major pressure drop in the winter, we would have problems heating the campus. We decided to add a backup fuel source to provide additional protection for the campus and in anticipation of the creation of the cogeneration facility. In case there are problems with natural gas fuel supply to the cogeneration system, we will be able to switch over to the use of oil.

The new policies describe temperature ranges and occupancy sensors. What do you tell a staff member who worries she’ll be working in a cold, dark office?

We established a comfort level for heating and air conditioning that makes sense. We think that the majority of people probably have their home thermostats set to about the same comfort range that we’ll be implementing University-wide. For those who don’t feel comfortable at those temperatures, we suggest that they wear more comfortable clothing, depending on the season.

Beyond the policies that will be implemented, what else can one do to help conserve energy?

It takes everyone’s active participation to make this successful. People should take a good look at the policies and try to make them a part of their routine. Talk them up with coworkers. And think of things we haven’t. We certainly welcome feedback. There will be a link on the Facilities Management Web site for questions and suggestions.

How will you monitor compliance?

Our custodial staff, on the second and third shifts, will help by making sure lights are out and coffee machines are turned off. But they won’t go around turning off computers or fax machines. In terms of temperature control, most of that is regulated through our central energy management control system. From time to time we’ll monitor locally set spaces but we won’t have compliance officers walking the halls. We encourage people to work with the policies, provide support and encouragement to your co-workers and stay within the standard ranges.

— Stephen Anzaldi