RPAC plans to save energy

"This building was designed in 2000 or 2001, about seven years ago, and the estimated utility cost has doubled since then," said Diane Jensen, associate director for the Department of Recreational Sports. "We try to keep the operating cost as low as possible, and the environmental awareness wasn't there (during the design process)."

The number of hours RPAC is open, the quantity of water in the pools and the amount of glass, which offers little insulation, are all factors that cause the facility to use more energy than other buildings on campus, Dial said.

The RPAC complex, which includes the RPAC, the Physical Activities and Education Services building and McCorkle Pavilion, has already taken steps to be environmentally friendly, using green cleaning products, low-flow toilets, urinals and showers and a recycling program, Dial said.

"There are a few more opportunities there, which is what the audit will look at," Dial said.

"Because of rising utility costs, we look for anything to do to reduce cost and be environmentally sensitive," Jensen said.

The audit will be complete in about two weeks and decisions will be made from there about any possible changes to the facilities or equipment, said Tracy Willcoxon, environmental manager for ESS.

One change recommended by ESS is to insulate steam pipes within the building, which would cost about $45,000 to implement but would save about $41,000 each year, Jensen said.

Other changes include changing the type of lighting used and turning off the lights in the weight room during the day, Jensen said.

All the changes suggested by FOD would save between $100,000 to $200,000 per year, though it would cost more upfront to make those changes, Jensen said.

Electric and chilled water costs are about 20 percent over the original estimates while the cost of steam is 20 percent under original estimates, Libby Eckhardt, communications director for FOD, wrote in an email.

Jensen and Dial both said there is also a component of student responsibility when it comes to energy conservation and efficiency.

"People figure they pay for it, they might as well use it instead of thinking how to conserve it," Jensen said. "We encourage the staff to recycle and turn off the lights."

"Half (of the student fee) pays for the retirement of debt, or the bond, that was used for the construction, half is the operations of the facility-utilities, staffing, equipment," Jensen said.

The RPAC is currently billed according to an average cost rate across campus, Jensen said. A building might use more or less energy than other buildings but they all pay the same amount.

The entire OSU campus will spend $62 million on utilities for the 2008 fiscal year, Dial said.

Michelle Fehribach can be reached at fehribach.4@osu.edu.