Energy Picture Brighter, but Has Pluses, Minuses

The campus energy picture is a mix of positive and negative elements, reports Jim Dewey, UCSB energy manager.

With conservation continuing to lower consumption, Dewey calculated that for September through January natural gas usage on the Main Campus dropped 6.3 percent compared to the same months a year ago. Electricity also dropped 10 percent for that period.

However, UCSB faces a 97 percent electrical rate increase on April 1 when new contract terms kick in. One thing that Dewey hopes will happen before then is that people with electrical space heaters will take them home.

Each heater eats up $500 to $1,400 worth of power a year at the new rates, he figures. That is because "each uses enough electricity to power an average home," he says.

If there are about 200 of these electric strip heaters in use on campus, a conservative number, the total cost would average about $200,000 a year.

On top of that, they can be a fire danger. "We have already encountered several overloaded circuits and melted receptacles due to use of these heaters," he said.

Helping the campus hold the line on electrical costs will be a new cogeneration system that is expected to start up next month. The Capstone microturbine unit will add 180 kW of electricity to UCSB's power grid while heating the Old Gym's pool. Other power generators, including one at the new Bren Hall, or conservation projects are also due in the coming months, Dewey said.