Projects & Outcomes
Sustainability projects are initiatives that reduce waste, consumption and/or expenses. Some projects might be educational in nature, teaching Bucknellians about ways to reduce energy use on campus. Other projects might implement new, energy-saving systems or technologies.
The Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS) tracks all project history as well as projects future benefits.
Completed Projects
Proposed by Jeff Bishop ‘21
Paper towel dispensers were replaced by hand dryers in Carey House, Edwards House, Galloway House, Hulley House, Leiser House, Martin House, and Taylor House. This will eliminate all paper towel waste and save on trash bags and trash bins. A total of 21 hand dryers were installed.Proposed by Jeff Bishop ‘21
Occupancy sensing thermostats will be installed in Roberts Hall and the South Campus Apartments, replacing each existing thermostat in every living space to save. These new sensors have to potential to save 43,000 kWh of electricity, 365 mmBtu of steam energy, and 225 mmBtu of chilled water energy annually.Proposed by Jeff Bishop ‘21
Instead of routeing the steam heating condensate water down a floor drain at Edwards house, a condensate return pipe was installed to route the water back to the boiler plant to be reused, saving 65,000 gallons of water annually.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ‘19
Replacing 3.5 gallons-per-flush toilets with 1.28 gallons-per-flush toilets and installing waterless urinals conserves over 2.1 million gallons of water each year and saves Bucknell $42,000 annually.Proposed by Jeff Bishop ‘21
By replacing Kinney Natatorium’s pool filtration media (sand) with AFM Glass media, roughly 300,000 gallons of water per year are saved and 40% less chlorine is used.Proposed by Tatum Contreras ‘20
Installation of 44 bathroom hand dryers across Larison Hall, Trax Hall, and Kress Hall saves nearly 11,000 lbs of paper towel waste annually and the need for trash bags and bins in the bathrooms.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ‘19
Retrofitting constant volume/speed domestic water pumps with variable volume/speed drives in Bertrand Library and McDonnell Hall saves 47,500 kWh of electricity annually because the pumps are able to operate at lower speeds.Proposed by Gary Napp, BU Plumbing Supervisor
Replacing all the toilets, faucets, and urinals, in the ELC bathrooms with low flow water fixtures saves nearly 1.4 million gallons of water, as well as $27,000 in cost annually.Proposed by Maxwell Skirpan ‘20
Reduce thermal energy losses and steam demand by installing thermal blanket insulation on steam piping/fixtures saves the campus roughly 270 mmBtu of steam energy each year.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ‘19
In first-year dorms Vedder, Smith, McDonnell, and Swartz Halls, bathroom paper towel dispensers are replaced with hand dryers, eliminating 35,000 lbs of paper waste each year, as well as minimizing the need for trash bags and bins.Proposed by Fern Morrison ‘19
Installing Variable Speed Drives (VSD) in the Bucknell University Barnes and Noble Bookstore will reduce the speed of the hot water and chilled water pumps to save 71,000 kWh of electricity each year.Proposed by Claire Andrews ‘20, Michael Chen ‘20 and Taylor Gray ‘20
The post office fluorescent lamps were replaced with new LED lamps to reduce annual energy consumption by over 53,000 kWh.Proposed by Fern Morrison ‘19
An upgrade to the Bucknell University Barnes and Noble Bookstore fluorescent lighting to LEDs was made to reduce electricity consumption by 63,000 kWh annually and improve indoor lighting quality.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ’19
Replacing outdated shower heads located in the locker rooms of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium is estimated to save more than 157,000 gallons of water a year.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ’19
Replacing outdated water fixtures in the residence hall bathrooms of Larison Hall is estimated to save 521,979 gallons of water — and result in $8,352 in financial savings — annually.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ’19
Replacing older, inefficient shower heads in the University-owned houses along St. George Street is estimated to save nearly 90,000 gallons of water — and save Bucknell $1,785 — annually.Proposed by Lauren O’Connor ’19
Replacing inefficient water fixtures in the Gerhard Fieldhouse staff locker rooms and second-floor restrooms is estimated to save more than 670,000 gallons of water annually.Proposed by Cooper Josephs ’17 and Amy Caporale ’17
By investing in 16 Dyson hand-dryers across two residence halls, we expect to see a paper towel reduction of 100%.Proposed by Mary Brigid Coughlan ’18
This project replaced 27 high-flow water fixtures including sinks, toilets and showers with improved low-flow fixtures.Proposed by Amy Caporale ’17 and Lucia Smircich ’17
This project reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions within these two areas on campus by revamping lighting fixtures with eco-friendly LED bulbs.Proposed by Taylor Sheldon ’17
This project ensures that students, staff and faculty all contribute to conserving water in buildings on campus with 16 new toilet systems.Proposed by Jacob Hannah ’17
Retrofitted water-less urinals in the men’s restroom of Dana Engineering Building help lower the building’s water footprint.Proposed by Maeve Greeley ’18
Replacing 32 shower heads in Trax Hall has reduced water flow to 1.5 gallons per minute.Proposed by Claire Rodgers ’16
This water conservation project replaced an old liquid-ring vacuum pump with improved rotary claw technology. Bucknell Labs in Dana are now wasting no potable water.Proposed by Claire Rodgers ‘16
A new air-cooled x-ray water chiller replaced the old water-cooled chiller and saved O’Leary Science Building over 620,000 gallons of water annually.Proposed by Katelyn Rothney ‘15
A major air handler which serves the Weis Center lobby was retrofitted with variable speed drives (VSD) to reduce electricity consumption by over 35,000 kWh annually.Proposed by Carly Robb ‘16
By replacing inefficient lamps with new LEDs and lighting controls, the ELC Student Center saves over 42,000 kWh of electricity each year.Proposed by Josh Berliner ‘15
High efficiency water fixtures including low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets were installed in Carey House, saving 190,000 gallons of water each year.Proposed by Marissa Graham ‘16
Replacing incandescent lamps with LEDs in the Weis Center Lobby improves the indoor lighting quality and saves over 91,000 kWh of electricity each year.Proposed by Josh Berliner ‘15, Zach Berliner ‘15, Bryan Horowitx ‘16 and Tim Kim ‘16
By upgrading outdated incandescent lighting fixtures with LEDs, the indoor environmental quality inside 7th Street Cafe is improved and nearly 18,500 kWh are saving annually.Proposed by Josh Berliner ‘15 and Zach Berliner ‘15
By installing occupancy sensors at various locations around campus, rooms and study spaces become more energy efficient and save roughly 34,000 kWh of electricity annually.Proposed by Josh Berliner ‘15 and Zach Berliner ‘15
Incandescent lighting fixtures on the walls of the KLARC Building are retrofitted with energy efficient LEDs that save over 9,700 kWh of electricity yearly.Proposed by Bob Wallett
Vending Misers were installed on vending machines across campus to conserve electricity by using motion detection. Roughly 46,000 kWh and $3,000 are saved each year.
Contact Details
Green Fund
Location
Geisinger Physical Plant Building