Central State University Welcomes IFS and Energy Efficiency Programs
Wilberforce, Ohio (PRWEB) August 13, 2015 -- On Thursday August 6th, Central State University's President, Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, welcomed back faculty and staff at the annual University Institute on campus in Wilberforce, Ohio.
The University Institute is a forum to discuss new programs for the 2015-2016 school year and promote the six Compelling Priorities that affect student course completion, retention, and graduation rates as effective performance outcomes. One particular priority, Efficient and Effective Institutional Operations, focuses on energy efficiency programs and led to the hiring of Brewer-Garrett as the University’s Integrated Facility Services (IFS) partner.
The IFS program outsources all technical facility services, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, painting, locks and general maintenance. The team includes a regional operations manager overseeing a local staff of technicians, supported by a customer service representative and a program manager. The IFS program is expected to save the University over $500,000 in operating expenses in the first year.
Part of the IFS program includes Brewer-Garrett’s unique Green Apple Project. Mr. Ted Howell, Energy Integration Manager, was introduced by the University’s Vice President for Administration and CFO, Dr. Daarel Burnette, to the audience and asked to review the premise of the Green Apple Project and show how it supports the University’s Compelling Priorities to be an Efficient and Effective Institutional Operation.
Mr. Howell began with a TED talk by Alex Laskey, showing how behavioral science can lower your energy bill. Peer pressure is the most compelling reason why people will take steps to save energy, and the Green Apple Project aims to provide the training and support for such an initiative. The program for Central State also includes student internships, a college teacher’s guide to Problem-Based Learning and the initiation of a Green Team- a small team of early adopters that help determine effective communication methods and strategies.
Ms. Katie Hollo, Green Apple Project Coordinator, was also in attendance and very impressed with the audience’s reaction to Mr. Howell’s message. “Before the day To reinforce the Green Apple initiative, water bottles were handed out to all attendees with Green Apple energy savings reminders printed right on the bottle to be a constant reminder for everyone to be on the lookout for energy and environmental savings opportunities.
According to Greg McDonald, Service General Manager for The Brewer-Garrett Company, both the IFS Program and Green Apple Project fit hand in glove with the University’s tag line- Change is Central. “The mission of Central State University is to prepare students with diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research and service. Operating facilities and managing utilities is not their expertise. They chose Brewer-Garrett for their expertise in facility management and energy conservation to become efficient and effective in Institutional Operations, while they focused on their core mission of education.”
Erica Larson, The Brewer-Garrett Company, http://www.brewer-garrett.com, +1 440-243-3535, [email protected]
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