More than six universities and colleges will be a part of the White House’s Better Building initiative. This initiative will specifically focus on enhancing the energy efficiency of selected buildings by at least twenty percent.
Better Buildings Challenge is a $4 billion program announced by the White House recently. Schools that will be a part of this program for a start include the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Delaware State University, Allegheny College, University of Utah, University of Hawaii-Manoa, University of California at Irvine and Michigan State University.
According to a White House Press release by the President, one of the easiest way to create new jobs, cut down on harmful pollution and save money is to make American buildings energy efficient.
According to the White House, companies such as GE, CB Richard Ellis, Alcoa, 3M and Kohl’s Department Stores are expected to participate in this program. Efforts are already on in schools that are a part of this program to make their premises energy efficient. They will continue to work towards this goal. University of Utah’s President Lorris Betz said that they are extremely proud to be a part of this unique initiative.
He said that to be selected among institutes that will be leading the way for environmentally sound operations and energy efficiency in future is indeed a matter of pride for the entire university community.
Instead of destroying an original 1970s building at this university, it will be retrofitted to be more energy efficient and used rather than constructing a new structure. College of Architecture and planning Dean Brenda Scheer said that this initiative will be an inspiration for thousands of colleges and universities across the country to adopt innovative, energy saving methods.
Across US, buildings will benefit from green energy upgrades and this in turn will enhance job vitalization through this $4 billion package announced recently by President Obama and Bill Clinton, former President. One half of the money will be funded by federal government and the other half from post secondary education sites, hospitals and private industries.
There are plans to modify and conserve energy usage at the Michigan State University, says a university press release. Some of the changes that will be brought into effect include turning lights off in classrooms that are not in use through installation of occupation sensors, addition of energy monitor systems in the two residence halls and addition of geothermal energy in the new life sciences building.
The announcement made by President Obama was attended by at least 50 officials including President of Michigan State University, Lou Anna Simon in Washington DC. The event was hosted by Steven Chu, US Secretary of Energy. Lou Anna Simon said that their schools was more than prepared to move ahead with their commitment to the program.
In a press release, she said that we will accept the challenge of making our 20 million square feet building space including the main campus buildings energy efficient. She said that they will strive to target areas in a bid to achieve energy reduction goal.