Second energy savings project will save UT Arlington money in 2012
The University of Texas of Arlington will start 2012 saving money and decreasing energy use after this month’s completion of a $9.9 million package of efficiency-boosting facility upgrades.
Dallas-based TDIndustries Inc. carried out the yearlong project, which will guarantee that UT Arlington saves about $1.1 million each year in energy and maintenance costs and reduces its energy usage by 9.8 million kilowatt hours annually. An initial evaluation of energy bills from March 2011 through September 2011 showed the University already has saved more than $488,000 through the project.
"TDIndustries has been a strong partner in UT Arlington's ongoing efforts to improve energy efficiency,” said John Hall, UT Arlington vice president for administration and campus operations. "These projects not only save dollars, but they help the University fulfill an important responsibility to promote economically-sustainable practices within our campus community and the greater North Texas region."
Fifty-five UT Arlington buildings were involved in the upgrade. Improvements included the replacement of two thermal energy plant chillers, upgrades to heating and air-conditioning systems and roofing repairs and improvements.
The project was funded through a low-interest loan from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The loan initially will be repaid through the $1.1 million in annual energy savings.
The TDIndustries project is the second major energy-savings initiative UT Arlington has completed since 2006.
Siemens Building Technologies completed the first package of improvements in 2009. That project was funded through an $18 million loan from the UT System. The University saved nearly $3 million in energy costs the first year those changes were in place and reduced energy usage by more than 19 million kilowatt hours.
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of 33,439 students in the heart of North Texas. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more.
Media contact: Traci Peterson, tpeterso@uta.edu, 817-272-9208
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