Winthrop is continuously identifying opportunities to improve its energy efficiency since adopting its energy policy in 2009. Strategies implemented include upgrading campus lighting as well as pre-setting room temperatures to maximize efficiency during heating and cooling seasons. Changing individual behaviors can also impact our ability to meet our goals and there are ways you can help.
The reduction of energy is measured by consumption rather than cost because if there is a price increase, the cost could increase even if consumption declines. The total energy consumption for FY2023-22 was 235,724,548 kBTU, or 102 kBtu/sqft. Winthrop consumed 85,927,744 kBtu or 25,183,981 kW-hr of electricity and 149,825,291 kBtu or 4,498,252 therms of natural gas. The total energy cost for electricity and natural gas was $3,618,810 or $1.52 per square foot ($1,052,457 or $0.44 kW/sf for natural gas and $2,566,352 or $1.08 kW/sf for electricity).
If each student, faculty and staff member committed to reducing his or her energy use, significant cost savings could be realized, not to mention the social and environmental benefit.
Below are several saving strategies that can be implemented in any office and/or building.
Energy Saving Measures in the Office
For more detailed strategies, see our Sustainable Office Practices, which provides a comprehensive certification program that analyzes work place activities within the following categories: energy, materials and resources, transportation, indoor air quality, water, and social equity.
Section 48-52-620, Code of Laws of South Carolina, requires all state agencies, school districts, public colleges, and universities to develop energy conservation plans to reduce their energy consumption by one percent annually during fiscal years 2009-2013 and by a total of a 20 percent reduction in energy use by 2020, as compared to 2000 levels. A Winthrop University Energy Conservation Plan (pdf - 278 KB) and a campus wide Energy Policy For Winthrop University (pdf - 20 KB) were developed by Winthrop's energy team; the Energy Policy was approved in 2009. Both are a realistic and comprehensive document that identifies strategies to meet energy and water conservation and efficiency goals as significant issues for the entire campus community.