Date: 02/27/2006

According to Carol Beebe, program manager of energy, utilities and engineering, for Facilities, Development and Operations, PG&E recently allocated $2,500,000 for San Jos?? State and three other sister campuses in the California State University system, to help reduce the demand for energy required to light our buildings. By working with us to help reduce our demand, PG&E avoids the need to build new power plants, says Beebe. In order to take the greatest advantage of the funding, SJSU has undertaken an aggressive schedule to identify buildings that can be retrofitted in standardized ways and which have the greatest potential for energy reduction when existing lamps (fluorescent tubes) and ballasts are replaced. An audit team is currently conducting a survey of building lighting. After selecting the buildings and spaces with the greatest potential for savings, the contractor will work at night to implement the strategy by the June 30 deadline. ???It is our goal to make this project as transparent to our building occupants as possible,??? adds Beebe. For more on this project and the impact on the campus community, see http://planning.sjsu.edu/new060222.htm.