Wind Energy. In April of 2006, UCO began to purchase electricity from 100% wind power. To date, UCO has saved over 50,000,000 kwh of electricity provided via wind.

TRANSPORTATION
Carpool incentives include providing students carpooling in high occupancy vehicles parking spaces closest to campus buildings while the “Bum-a-Bike” allows students to borrow bicycles for up to two weeks as a means of alternate transportation.

PURCHASING
By supporting Green Purchasing, the University realizes the positive impact it can make on the environment through purchasing decisions.
Best Green Purchasing Practices include the following:

• Reduce Waste at the Point of Purchase
• Consider Life Cycle Costs
• Encourage Reuse of Items within the University’s Community
• Energy and Efficiency - Require Energy Star Compliance

Performance Contracting.
Performance Contracting was recognized as the medium to resolve UCO’s energy problems. Since the implementation of Performance Contracting, more than $3.8M has been saved and we have reduced our CO2 emissions by 60,000,000 pounds.

The projects included not only the emergency repairs, but numerous retrofits of lighting, plumbing and HVAC controls systems which would increase creature comfort, while providing reduced energy consumption.

• Average annual utility costs have been reduced from $1.56 per sq ft to $1.18 per sq ft or a reduction of 24%.
• Improved controls for building HVAC temperature management
• Low flow/waterless bathroom fixtures
• Motion detector lighting controls
• Replaced every single light ballast across campus for improved efficiency
• Thermal energy storage tank
• eBay sales of junk otherwise headed to a landfill or State surplus
• Recycling programs across campus (paper, aluminum, refillable toner cartridges standardized, dry cell batteries, vehicle batteries, tires, scrap metal, plastics, cardboard, refrigerants, etc)
• Energy efficient chillers and boilers
• Generator to reduce electrical demand load
• Energy misers on vending machines
• Emergency LED exit lights use no electricity
  

Bio-Diesel.
In 2006, the employees of UCO Physical Plant saw an opportunity to use their abilities to promote change in the world of Bio-Diesel. A byproduct of the Bio-Diesel process is glycerin. The motor-pool uses the glycerin as degreaser and soap for the mechanics. Bio-Diesel is fuel produced for diesel engines from vegetable oil or animal fat. This change allowed UCO to embrace a more economical fuel source, a more environmentally friendly fuel substitute, and create a template for other interested parties to implement.

Landscape Management
Computer controlled irrigation system Mulching
Integrated pest management Disposal of litter
Wildlife Habitat (National Wildlife Federation) Display Gardens dedicated in 2007 with plans to
Use of green chemicals and fertilizers become botanical garden

ANNUAL EMISSIONS 62% reduction of CO2 emissions from 2004