Berkeleyan

A dim bulb . . . and darned proud of it, too

22 July 2004

Physical Plant – Campus Services’ Energy and Engineering Unit recognized the staff of the Business & Economics Library of the Haas School of Business for its energy-conservation efforts on June 16 with the first annual “Dim Bulb” award (shown here being accepted by Milt Ternberg, Haas’s head librarian).

When library staff reported that they were unable to turn off the lighting after hours, PP-CS responded by replacing the facility’s faulty automatic switches for free —resulting in a decrease to the campus electric bill of nearly $12,000 a year at current rates.

“Due to large increases in electrical rates over the last several years, we encourage everyone to reduce consumption in the workplace as best they can,” says Paul Black, PP-CS manager of utilities engineering. To submit ideas for reducing campus costs in the areas of lighting, ventilation, heating, and water use (and to be considered for the next “Dim Bulb” award), e-mail Black at pblack@uclink.berkeley.edu.