As the cost of energy remains in the headlines, the smart use of energy on campus continues to be a critical issue.

To re-emphasize the importance of campus energy conservation, I have asked Facilities, Planning and Management to detail and implement a plan to trim campus energy consumption per square foot by 20 percent by 2010.

This goal is in line with Gov. Jim Doyle’s executive order that sets these energy-saving goals throughout state government and the UW System.

The university has worked to strengthen its role in protecting the environment to ensure that we use energy wisely and safeguard the quality of our air, water and land for future generations.
Additionally, as we all know from our personal lives, energy costs have a significant budget impact.

We have developed a program called “WE CONSERVE” to highlight ways in which faculty, staff and students can play a meaningful role in energy conservation and adopt energy savings as part of their daily routines.

Leading this conservation effort is Faramarz Vakili, Associate Director of Physical Plant. His work has been instrumental in implementing our ongoing campus energy savings programs, and I hope you will welcome his leadership and suggestions as we begin our latest drive to slash energy consumption by 20 percent by 2010. He can be reached at 608-265-2757 or at fvakili@fpm.wisc.edu.

The “WE CONSERVE” effort calls for us to make capital investments in energy efficiency to make sure building systems are operating at peak efficiency. It also calls for daily actions, such as turning off lights when feasible, dressing to the season for comfort, setting thermostats sensibly, and using laboratory and other equipment wisely.

Together, our efforts will not only cut costs, but will encourage smart energy use that will help protect the environment. We are confident the goal is attainable, but it will require a team effort and the spirit to follow through with responsible action.

I urge you to embrace the challenge of energy conservation and build a new energy ethic that will serve the campus well in years to come. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.