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Green Campus

RSU Energy Plan Protects the Environment, Saves Money

The RSU school colors may be blue and red, but when it comes to protecting the environment and conserving energy, RSU is a “green” campus.

The university adopted an innovative energy savings plan that protects the environment by utilizing cleaner and more efficient technology. The plan also has vastly reduced the amount the institution spends on utilities.

The comprehensive, long-term energy savings puts RSU on the leading edge in Oklahoma and the nation in terms of conserving energy, and provides a responsible, long-term energy solution for the campus.

The plan features the installation of equipment to monitor overall energy usage; adoption of measures to save electricity, natural gas and water; and the conversion from outdated heating and air conditioning units to a geothermal energy system in several of the largest campus buildings.

The energy savings plan is projected to garner savings of more than $8.7 million over the next 20 years. A portion of the funds generated by the savings will be used to retrofit other campus buildings with new energy-saving technology.

The centerpiece of the plan is the utilization of renewable geothermal energy to heat and cool Preparatory, Meyer and Baird Halls and Will Rogers Auditorium on the Claremore campus. Geothermal systems also will be used to treat the air in all major buildings to be constructed on the campus, including the Student Services Center and Classroom Building. A geothermal environmental climate system also was installed in the university’s Innovation Center.

The geothermal method derives heat by tapping into thermal energy contained in the rock and fluid of the earth’s crust, approximately 375 feet below ground. Approximately 200 wells were drilled on the Claremore campus to tap into the underground heat source and two small pump houses were constructed to channel the energy into the buildings.

The energy savings plan also includes the upgrading of electrical lighting in all campus buildings, including the installation of new energy-efficient light bulbs, ballasts and sensors that shut off the lights when classrooms and offices are not in use. In addition, new plumbing fixtures and valves were installed to conserve the use of water on all campuses.