UI to expand study on ways to save energy

MOSCOW, Idaho – Officials at the University of Idaho have approved expanding a Seattle company’s analysis of ways the campus can become more energy efficient.

The decision last week means the university can consider larger projects like adding another water chiller tank, bringing more buildings onto the main heating and cooling system, and adding a second wood boiler.

The school hired Seattle-based McKinstry Essention six months ago to find more ways to improve how the school uses energy. For the previous five years, Richard Nagy, the school’s conservation resource manager, had made changes that have saved the school up to $350,000 annually.

“I see this as a very urgent and timely effort to become more sustainable,” said Rose Keller, 21, director of the university’s student-led Sustainability Center.

Once McKinstry Essention concludes its audit in the spring, it will present options for the administration to consider. If the administration chooses to continue, construction could begin in June.

Nagy said that some of the possible options could take up to two years to complete, but could save up to $800,000 annually.

According to the contract, McKinstry Essention is guaranteeing the amount of savings the school can expect by following its recommendations. Those savings will be used by the university to get a loan to pay for the upgrades to the campus.

Keller said that, eventually, the money the university saves on energy costs could help students.

“The university itself becomes financially sustainable and it can use that money saved or gained to recycle it into more funds which will have a broader reach to students,” said Keller.

She also said the school can serve as a role model for others with its energy efficiency.

“Since the University of Idaho is influential even in the state of Idaho, we have a much better chance to expand our influence and our projects and policies to go beyond Moscow, to serve the greater region,” she said.