SBU Goes Green, Saves Some Green

Tom Missel, director of marketing and media relations, was one of hundreds of SBU employees and students to work by just natural window light on Sustainable Bona’s Day. (Photo Courtesy of St. Bonaventure University)


Going green saved quite a bit of green during St. Bonaventure’s day-long effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

Nearly $4,000 in savings was realized as a result of Sustainable Bona’s Day, a campuswide energy rollback on Oct. 16 that was hampered slightly by dreary skies but helped more significantly by temperatures in the low 60s.

“We weren’t able to keep, for example, the classroom lights off in Plassmann and take advantage of all the windows they have for natural light,” said Phil Winger, associate vice president for facilities. “But it was mild enough that we essentially were able to shut the heat down.”

Electricity usage dropped by 24 percent compared to Oct. 15, thanks to reduced lighting and the idling of unused air conditioning and ventilation equipment, Winger said. The drop, he said, eliminated three tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The reduction saved about $800.

But the biggest savings — about $3,000 — came because of a 50 percent reduction in natural gas usage, Winger said. The drop, which prevented 23 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, was attributed to lower settings on heat, conservation of hot water, and shutting off the central boiler plant for part of the day.

“We proved that individuals can make a difference,” Winger said. “I think it was certainly a big success.”

Students and staff were also encouraged to carpool if possible, and to limit how much they drove on campus during the day. Based on a census of parking spaces, vehicle usage dropped by 20 cars for students and 25 cars for faculty and staff, while maintenance and housekeeping idled 12 vehicles that would normally have been used, Winger said.

Discussions have already begun about a sequel to Sustainable Bona’s Day, possibly in the spring, Winger said.

Sustainable Bona’s Day is just one component of the SBU Green Commission, which is studying ways the university should react to the challenge of global climate change associated with energy use and other activities of a modern society.