New program cutting down universities’ energy consumption

A new program, called Emergency Demand Response, is empowering American universities to earn income for reducing their campus’ energy consumption. This comes in response to regular electrical spikes across the grid, since more people are inclined to blast their air conditioners and run fans all day long during the summertime.

Is your university on the list of those raking in the big bucks? This year alone, Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA will earn $99,000. The University of Virginia - $192,000!

Just think of all the dorm room systems and multimedia libraries that go unused during the summer. That’s money that could be going towards other things. Like paying teachers. Renovating facilities.
So by now you’re probably asking, “How can I get my school involved so we can get some decent cafeteria food around here?”

Well, participation in Emergency Demand Response requires a university’s facility to be on ‘standby mode’ to reduce energy consumption during periods of increased grid activity, from June 1st to Sept. 30th.

"We want to be efficient as possible, and [Emergency Demand Response] is certainly a driving force," said Michael Brewer, Muhlenberg College’s director of operations. The money earned from the program has allowed them to construct automated electrical systems where software now manages energy efficiency.

At Ohio University, both the students and faculty are taking this issue seriously. 2013 marks the University’s third year with Emergency Demand Resources, and by 2014, they’re set to earn $47,000 annually.

Other institutions use incentives to raise awareness. "If someone makes a post on our Facebook wall about how they will cut their energy usage for an hour, they can win a water bottle," says Nina Morris, a faculty member at the University of Virginia. "Social media is helping to get the word out about our sustainability programs."

The only downside to the program is that a university is required to shut down power to its facilities if they receive a phone call from an official dispatcher. Now think if that university could oblige, earn money, and stay online all at the same time.

With the SH-Box by NRGLab, you could power a computer lab, a library, or the dean’s office without ever plugging into the public grid. Not only that – the SH-Box is carbon-free, so you won’t be contributing to the climate crisis.

It’s nice to see society finally coming together to find solutions that work for everyone. Curbing consumption and cutting down on carbon emissions is going to require a unified effort. From the U.S. to the Ukraine – it’s only one planet Earth. To learn more about NRGLab and the revolutionary new SH-Box, visit nrglab.asia.com.