WELL DONE — Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby accepts an Energy Excellence Award from Stephen Jones, a regional vice president of Cenergistic. The university’s energy-conservation partner presented the award for Stetson’s 17-percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over three years.
PHOTO COURTESY STETSON UNIVERSITY
At its spring meeting, the Stetson University board of trustees announced the approval of the university’s annual budget plan that includes more than $11.7 million in capital improvements and expenditures for the university’s campuses in DeLand and at the College of Law in Gulfport.
In DeLand, the fiscal year 2018-19 funding will go toward finishing work on the renovation of the Carlton Union Building (CUB), home to the university’s student government and organization offices, Campus Life and Student Success offices, food services and the Commons dining area.
Since the trustees’ meeting, the CUB has opened the new student government and student organization area on the second floor that includes a new student lounge, student radio station, student-government offices and a unique meeting area called the “Garage.”
Soon the CUB will reopen the Stetson Room, its multipurpose meeting and dining area. The Stetson Room will initially be used to support summer programs and camps at the university, which launched shortly after the May 12 commencement ceremony.
Finally, in August, as new and returning students begin to arrive on campus, the university will reopen the Commons dining area with an expanded facility and exterior patio dining.
There also will be some additional work to finalize the second floor of Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center and support summer renewal and replacement projects.
At the College of Law, the majority of funding will be directed toward renovation of the Gulfport campus’s classic tile fountains and courtyard, as well as renewal and replacement projects to upgrade plumbing, roofs and air handling.
The board of trustees also took time out from their board duties to hear from Cenergistic, the university’s energy-conservation partner, and to honor the facilities staff involved in university energy-conservation efforts. Stephen Jones, a Cenergistic regional vice president, presented the university with its Energy Excellence Award for achieving a more-than-17-percent reduction in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions over three years.
“We’ve reduced our CO2 by 7,299 metric tons,” said Al Allen, associate vice president of facilities management. “That would be the equivalent of energy to operate 1,100 homes for a year, or 1,500 cars, but also the equivalent of running the entire Rinker Welcome Center for 10 years.”
Allen complimented the university’s plumbing, electrical and chiller plant management teams for their ongoing efforts to manage energy and water conservation while meeting and exceeding university needs.
“I want to congratulate you for doing a fantastic job,” said Cenergistic’s Jones. “We like to celebrate success, and congratulate you on significantly reducing your energy consumption while growing your student body and campus at the same time.”
According to Cenergistic’s calculations, the energy reductions are the equivalent of more than $1.6 million in energy cost savings for those three years.
— Janie Graziani