College Implements New Energy Conservation Measures

Above: (L-R) Vice President of Facilities Management John Morris, CofC President Andrew Hsu and Siemens CEO Ruth Gratzke with Siemens and CofC facilities leaders at a ceremony celebrating a new energy savings contract. (Photos by Heather Moran)

The College of Charleston is working with Siemens Industry to improve the university’s energy efficiency.

Under an agreement signed during a ceremony on July 8, 2021, Siemens will identify and implement energy conservation methods campus-wide that will reduce energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, while also improving the living and learning experience at the College.

CofC President Andrew Hsu signs an energy savings contract with Siemens Industry that will save the College $1.8 million annually.

“Our partnership with Siemens will help our institution continue to transform our infrastructure so that we can be better stewards of our resources and also limit our impact on the environment,” says College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “I very much like that, through this work, we will continue to practice what we preach – and we are going to do it in even more real and even more efficient ways.”

The energy conservation measures are expected to provide about $1.8 million in utility savings for the College every year. The upgrades will also reduce the College’s greenhouse gas emissions by 11,260 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

Over the next several years, the College will see many improvements in its HVAC systems, boilers, steam and condensate lines, building automation and controls, water conservation, new LED lights and more.

“It’s going to help our operational costs and improve our building efficiencies,” says John Morris, vice president for Facilities Management. “This work is vital not only to our campus, but also to our planet.”

The project begins this month and is expected to take 24 months to complete.