EPA grants Green Power award to St. Thomas

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The Environmental Protection Agency presented St. Thomas last week with its third consecutive annual award for using the most green power of any college or university in the MIAC.

The Green Power Award not only recognizes St. Thomas as the MIAC’s largest green power user, but the EPA provides incentives to help the university continue toward energy efficiency.

“It’s part of an EPA challenge called the EPA Partnership,” Associate Vice President for Facilities Jim Brummer said. “We submit energy usage that we use through Xcel’s Windsource program.”

The physical plant, which is in charge of electrical work for St. Thomas as well as other services vital to the maintenance of the university, gets 82 percent of St. Thomas' electricity from wind. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
The physical plant, which is in charge of electrical work for St. Thomas as well as other services vital to the maintenance of the university, gets 82 percent of St. Thomas’ electricity from wind. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas was presented with the 2012-2013 Green Power award last April. This is the third consecutive year St. Thomas has received the award. (Whitney Abrahamson/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas was presented with the 2012-2013 Green Power award last April. This is the third consecutive year St. Thomas has received the award. (Whitney Abrahamson/TommieMedia)

Brummer said the university purchases 82 percent of its total electrical consumption through the Xcel Windsource program.

The 2013-14 challenge involved 33 collegiate conferences and 79 schools. According to the EPA, St. Thomas uses nearly 33 million kilowatt hours of wind-generated power which can be compared to taking more than 5,000 cars off the road.

“When it comes to sustainability, we’re assisting making things happen by volunteering in the Windsource program,” Brummer said.

Junior Kelly Geraghty said she is excited about the award.

“I think it’s great that we’re being recognized for such an impactful award,” Geraghty said. “It’s not something that people often about when they think of St. Thomas.”

Junior Riley Reinhart said St. Thomas’ updated campus is a step forward in sustainability.

“It’s nice that the new buildings are contributing to energy efficiency,” Reinhart said.

While it is not possible to determine which buildings consume the most energy, Brummer said the buildings with the most activity are top candidates.

“When you think about energy consumption, you have to think about the buildings with the most activity, resources and occupants,” Brummer said. “Those are the ones that probably use the most energy.”

Sophomore Emily Peters is also enthusiastic about the award.

“The fact that we’re saving enough energy equivalent to taking over 5,000 cars off the road is awesome,” Peters said.

Michelle Doeden can be reached at doed1842@stthomas.edu.