Understanding Energy Conservation

Much like a small city, Purdue University requires a significant amount of energy to run seamlessly. Conserving energy reduces our impact on the environment, limits utility curtailments and helps the university avoid costly infrastructure investments.

Faculty, staff and students must work together on energy conservation initiatives to ensure a functional and comfortable campus environment, especially during extreme temperatures and humidity levels.

What are Energy Conservation Action Days?

Energy Conservation Action Days are days with projected high temperatures and/or humidity levels that are beyond the design of building systems and are expected to strain the utility system’s ability to keep spaces at normal comfort levels.

You will be notified of Energy Conservation Action Days by email or by following @sustainpurdue and @purdueoperations on Instagram.

Quick actions to reduce energy consumption 

By working together, we can ensure a comfortable and operational campus even when outdoor temperature and humidity levels are extreme.

Close windows, blinds and doors in air-conditioned facilities to prevent heat from entering.

Turn off and unplug any unused equipment/devices to eliminate power loss and reduce risk of electrical fire.

Eliminate/reduce indoor heat sources including ovens, autoclaves and coffee makers.

Turn off any lights that are not needed or in use.

  • Close fume hood sashes completely when not in use to reduce the amount of conditioned air that is exhausted.
  • Turn off equipment and lights when leaving the lab and set the computers to automatically turn off or enter sleep mode.
  • Report drips of water from sink taps, chilled water connections or reverse osmosis (RO) faucets.
  • Furnishings should not block vents nor should devices be placed near thermostats that would affect the temperature.
  • Use preferred appliances, which carry the energy star rating.
  • Turn off and unplug any unused equipment/devices to eliminate power loss and reduce risk of electrical fire.
  • Close windows and doors in air conditioned/heated areas.
  • Close blinds, drapes and curtains during warm weather.
  • Turn off unneeded lights.
  • Keep air vents clear.
  • Turn off and unplug any unused electrical equipment.

Building occupants can submit non-emergency work orders for maintenance and service requests online. These can aid in the conservation of energy by reporting issues such as leaky faucets, drafty windows and doors, air conditioning and/or heating issues, etc. Log in with your BoilerKey credentials.

Campus infrastructure and initiatives
supporting chilled water efforts 

What is chilled water and how is it utilized?

Chilled water is used throughout the West Lafayette location to provide air conditioning and process cooling for research equipment. Chillers and chilled water pumps distribute chilled water to campus buildings to provide the necessary cooling.

Using a centralized chilled water system to cool campus buildings is a more sustainable and efficient approach compared to installing individual air conditioning units on each building. These efforts greatly contribute to reducing the university’s energy consumption.

Wade Utility Plant

Purdue University in West Lafayette benefits from a combined heat and power system that utilizes steam not only to provide heat to facilities but also to generate electricity and the chilled water that is used to cool facilities. Additionally, the university rents electric, air-cooled chillers during the peak summer months to increase chilled water capacity to combat extreme heat and humidity.

Chilled Water Capacity Enhancements

To increase cooling capacity to Purdue’s ever-expanding campus, a capital project has been set in motion to install a new cooling tower at the Wade Utility Plant and a dedicated chilled water main to south campus. Both additions will increase campus cooling capacity and the efficiency of the campus chilled water distribution piping.