Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Tuesday released a performance audit of Kutztown University, Berks County, showing that recently implemented campus energy conservation measures have saved more than $1.4 million over a two-year period through the use of a guaranteed energy savings contract.

“Kutztown University has done a great job of cutting operational costs by reducing energy use, enabling those savings to be put to use serving the educational needs of the students,” DePasquale said.  “We all know that it’s getting harder for middle-class families to send their children to college, so I am encouraged to see that Kutztown University is doing what it can to hold down operating costs.”

The Guaranteed Energy Savings Act allows government entities, including state-owned universities such as Kutztown, to enter into contracts for evaluating, recommending, designing, implementing and installing energy conservation measures.

In 2008, Kutztown contracted with Noresco Inc. of Westborough, MA, for 15 guaranteed energy savings campus projects.  The projects included lighting upgrades, window and weather stripping replacement, installation of energy management systems, new kitchen hood exhaust controls, a solar pool heater, heat pump improvements, a new roof on the field house as well as the establishment of a campus-wide awareness, communications and sustainability program. Under the contract, Noresco guaranteed that the university would realize net energy cost savings of $5.5 million over 15 years. 

“In 2011 and 2012, Kutztown University exceeded the expectations of savings guaranteed in the contract, clearly demonstrating that guaranteed energy savings agreements are useful tools in energy conservation and related cost reductions,” DePasquale said, noting that other state-owned institutions, including Mansfield University, are benefiting from similar contracts.

In addition to the energy savings contract, the university also initiated several other projects on its own that are designed to reduce energy costs, including installing utility meters in all housing units, retrofitting water fountains with water bottle filling stations and using LED lighting.

A copy of the full audit and other findings and recommendations is available online.

9/23/2013