The University of Chicago is proud to announce that it received its third consecutive Peoples Gas Energy Efficiency Commercial and Industrial Partner of the Year Award. People’s Gas provided the following statement regarding the award. 

“We are so fortunate to have built a long-term partnership with the University of Chicago Team over their many years of participation in our programs. Our partnership has allowed us to grow our understanding of the University’s facilities and processes. Plus, we have great relationships with the members of their staff. In 2021 alone, we were able to fund five gas optimization studies, one engineering study, and supply one staffing grant. The University also completed traditional projects such as upgrading kitchen hood demand control ventilation systems in the University of Chicago Laboratory School and two university dining halls. They also installed pipe insulation and completed steam trap testing and replacements. In 2021, The University of Chicago saved 340,000-therms, and Peoples Gas provided more than $200,000 in incentives to get this important work done. Congratulations to the entire University of Chicago Team for their work completed not only in 2021 but through all our years working together. Congratulations on being our Commercial & Industrial Partner of the Year!” 

Replacement of lights in the atrium area often requires a lift or scaffolding. Installing LED fixtures rated for 50,000-hours reduces the operations and costs of maintaining light fixtures.

The University of Chicago is a proud recipient of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award in 2021 and 2022, collaborating with peer institutions to reduce higher education campus energy usage. The goal of this energy efficiency program is to: (1) reduce the impact on the environment as about 70 percent of University greenhouse gas emissions are from energy usage in campus buildings; (2) redirect funds currently going to utility providers back into maintenance of our campus buildings; and (3) reduce the risk of disruption to our educational and research mission by locating and correcting issues before systems and components in our buildings fail.   More than 300 energy efficiency measures have been completed in the University of Chicago campus buildings since 2009, and buildings will continue to be the primary target of our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.