ONU working to make campus energy-efficient

Making an entire campus energy-efficient takes a lot of logistics. But Ohio Northern University this summer is embarking on a $3.6 million project that officials anticipate will pay for itself within several years in lower utility bills. In only a few places on the more than 300-acre campus is creating energy-efficient lighting as simple as changing the bulbs, swapping out incandescent lights for LEDs. Many of the light fixtures themselves are older and need to be pulled down and replaced, said vice president for financial affairs Jason Broge. In addition to about 420 outdoor light poles, the interiors of many of the buildings are being "re-lamped," among them the Freed Center for the Performing Arts, the King Horn Sports Center and the library. The project also involves upgrading HVAC systems and installing smart technology, which will allow staff to control systems from a computer or a phone. Broge said this will make it easier to turn down the air conditioning, or the heat, overnight in classrooms and turn it back up in the morning when classes resume. The lighting improvements will improve the visibility of sporting events at King Horn and performances at the Freed Center, Broge said. The changes to the outdoor light poles may also help students have a "better sense of security walking across campus" at night. Broge had been involved with a similar project at another school, with a commuter campus. There, students told him that heading down the pathway to their cars felt safer once the campus was better lit. Broge said the energy savings from the project as a whole will mean ONU will be paying $400,000 to $500,000 less in utility bills each year. So, within several years, "these things will pay for themselves." Broge said the contractors are trying to get as much of the work as possible done over the next couple of months, to take advantage of students being away from campus for the summer. He said there have been some supply chain issues, however. Much of the project is being paid for through some bonds ONU already had, which were coming up for renewal, he said. Arthurs: 419-427-8494