University of Southern California Honored by LADWP for Energy Efficiency Efforts.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2002

Utility's General Manager Presents $1 Million Rebate Incentive Check

to USC for Cost Effective State-of-the-Art

Lighting and Chiller Installations

Serving as an environmental leader and trendsetter among universities, colleges and large city institutional utility customers, the University of Southern California (USC), was awarded a $1 million rebate check yesterday, from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

The rebate covers installations for lighting and chillers at USC's main downtown campus and health sciences campus in East Los Angeles. The projects covered by the rebate will result in savings equal to the amount of electricity consumed annually by 3,000 homes. The efficiency projects are part of a five-year $10 million Master Energy Plan that have realized 10 percent savings in USC's peak power usage, reducing the average 25 megawatt peak load by three megawatts.

"The savings we've realized have resulted from a variety of measures from the simple to the complex, including new light bulbs and also major construction efforts," said Maurice Hollman, USC's associate senior vice president for Facilities Management. "The Master Energy Program was developed by a group of talented facilities management people whose vision and technical expertise have positioned USC at the forefront of campus conservation efforts," Hollman added.

In presenting the $1 million check to Dennis F. Dougherty, USC senior vice president for administration, LADWP General Manager David H. Wiggs, said, "The energy efficiency steps that USC has taken in partnership with LADWP are an outstanding model of how a coordinated and planned energy efficiency program can result in real cost-effective and tangible energy savings that are both good for the environment and the pocketbook."

Wiggs added that both organizations are committed to continuing their joint efforts to reduce energy usage, utilize environmentally-friendly measures and adding renewable energy resources where applicable.

Explaining the planning and construction process, Dick Snouffer, director of energy services for USC's facilities management department said, "We got a jump on it before the energy crisis hit." Among the first improvements, he explained, at both campuses were new lighting systems that require less power. "We started the lighting retrofits and reduced our consumption before the calls for reduction in consumption began last summer."

A new state-of-the-art energy control center provides the capability to monitor and fine-tune energy supply and usage across the campus.

Another major investment was the construction of a roughly 1,500 square foot air conditioning chiller plant in the basement of USC's Physical Education Building, with pipes running underground to supply chilled water to 30 buildings across campus. The system replaced the individual chillers that cooled each building.

"It's more efficient to use one central chiller than to use separate chillers in each of these buildings," Snouffer said.

At the Health Sciences campus, a new chiller plant has been installed at the Center for Health Professions. The plant is scheduled to begin operations next month and will supply chilled water to the new Neurogenetics Institute now under construction and the Harlynne Norris Research Tower, which is in the design phase.

By building the chiller in the Center for Health Professions, said Snouffer, the upfront costs for the neurogenetics building and the Harlynne Norris Tower will be lower and the energy efficiency greater. A future phase will extend the chilled water piping distribution network to serve buildings in the upper campus quad.

In the midst of a building boom entailing four new facilities at the University Park campus and four new buildings at the Health Sciences campus, USC's Facilities Management Services has placed energy efficiency as a top priority in the design and planning process, Snouffer said.

"We're planning for future buildings in the next three to five years, so when they come on line they will be energy efficient," Snouffer added.

About Green LA and LADWP

The Energy Efficiency Program of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is part of the award-winning and internationally recognized Green LA program that also include Green Power, Solar Power, Trees for a Green LA, Cool Schools for a Green LA, Electric Transportation and Recycling programs. Further information about Energy Efficiency Programs can be received by logging on to www.GreenLA.com, www.ladwp.com or 1-800-Green LA.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest city-owned utility, is celebrating its 100th year of service to the residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations in the city.

About the University of Southern California

USC is the largest private employer in the city of Los Angeles and is also LADWP's largest single private institutional customer. The University Park campus, adjacent to downtown covers 155 acres and the Health Sciences campus in East Los Angeles comprises 31 acres. The two USC campuses serve nearly 30,000 students and provide jobs for more than 18,000 full time and part time employees.