Greening UM
The University of Montana
Greening UM
The University of Montana
Thus far,approximately $40,000 have been allocated from KRELF funds to impliment approved projects. The projects listed below were approved and are either completed or are currently being implemented. Congratulations to the students whose projects were approved and thank you for working to make the University of Montana more sustainable!
A grant of $1,730 helped University of Montana College of Technology students build a solar powered utility vehicle to compete in the 2012 Shell Eco Marathon April 2012. KRELF funds were used to purchase items like battery cells and a battery management system for the competition vehicle. Congratulations to the UM Eco Marathon Team!
A small loan financed the purchase of two low flow shower heads for the UM FLAT house. Each low flow shower head uses approximately 1.25 gallons per minute (GPM) of water, compared to the existing shower heads which used approximately 2.5 GPM.
This grant allowed UM FLAT to purchase an Energy Star approved refrigerator and freezer unit to replace an existing, damaged unit. The new refrigerator and freezer requires less energy to operate, does not contain ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and serves as another example of how to implement more sustainable practices in a residential setting.
Funded in part through a loan and in part through a grant, a 3,000 square foot hoop house (greenhouse) will be constructed at the PEAS Farm. The hoop house will capture and use solar energy, extend the growing season, increase productivity during the growing season, and provide intensively-grown, healthy, local produce to University Dining Services and the university community through UM Farm-to-College Program, in conjunction with Garden City Harvest. The loan will be repaid from the sale of veggies grown in the hoop house.
This grant project provided electrical upgrades and prepared the roof of the UM Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology (UM FLAT) for installation of photovoltaic array. Northwestern Energy provided the panels to UM FLAT for free. The panels were installed summer 2011. From their installation date until October 2011, the panels have produced more energy than the UM FLAT consumed during the same time period.
This loan and granted funded project allowed the School of Extended Life Long Learning to install a 2.3 kilowatt solar panel on the James E. Todd Building, pictured below, and an energy monitoring system. Ten operating solar panels can produce up to 2,300 watts of power. The Environmental Studies Program and School of Extended and Life Long Learning also helped fund this project. Check out the real-time energy monitoring data provided by Alter Enterprises.
As part of a larger project in collaboration with Northwestern Energy, KRELF provided a $4,000 loan to the UM Recreation Center to improve the lighting within the gym. Completed over the 2011 summer, this project added skylights and enhanced occupancy sensors, as well as other upgrades, to provide better lighting as well as conserve energy. Check out the skylights and other improvements the next time you are on the basketball court!
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This project used KRELF funds for University Dining Services (UDS) to purchase reusable to-go containers and offered their use to students as an additional service for $5. It seeks to provide a reusable, affordable alternative to the compost-able to-go containers currently provided to students at the Food Zoo; to reduce landfill waste;to instill values of reuse; to reduce the costs of the current to-go program; and to reduce energy consumption. For more information about the to-go containers, check out the Montana Kaimin's story on the containers.
Four Kill A Watt™ electricity usage monitoring power strips and ten single-plug electricity usage monitors were purchased under a KRELF grant. The monitors are available for temporary checkout to students and others wishing to conduct energy monitoring for developing and/or carrying out KRELF proposals. The goal is to make low-cost electricity use monitoring equipment available to students wishing to develop KRELF proposals so that they can gather electricity usage data for developing energy conservation project proposals. Information regarding how to check out an electricity monitor is available on the GreeningUM website.
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Approved for $2,500, for laundry room exhaust fan heat-switch, motion-activated light sensors, and installation cost in Jesse Hall and Aber Hall. Project includes funding for 2 AC Hour Meters and 2 Light On/Off Dataloggers. The equipment will reduce electricity costs of having exhaust fans and lights run 24 hours a day all year long. The project has an approximate 3 ½ year payback, which will be negotiated with Resident Life.
Approved for $10,400, to replace 16 washing machines in Jesse and Aber. The RELF Committee considers this project a loan and expects pay back over a maximum of six years. Note: Although the project proposer provided some additional information and made a better case for there being substantial energy saving, he still did not provide hard data based on energy costs to UM, granted that is difficult for washing machines that use electricity and hot water.
The Office of Sustainability
UM Facilities Services PP 110
32 Campus Dr MS 9288
Missoula MT, 59812
