Caltech buildings in Pasadena power
zones C-1 and C-7 (residential zones)
may be subject to rolling blackouts,
while those in the 17-kV (commercial)
zone should not be affected.

Gas also rises in power crunch

While California’s electricity crisis continues to dominate media headlines, the related issue of rising natural gas prices has been lurking in the shadows. According to Caltech Physical Plant director Bill Irwin, it appears likely that these problems will continue through the summer—and possibly for several years—and the Institute is taking steps to ease the situation as much as possible.

Although relatively unaffected by the electricity shortage so far, Caltech has begun to feel the repercussions. Some campus offices along Hill Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard suffered power outages in March, when the city of Pasadena—from which the Institute receives most of its power—implemented rolling blackouts to help relieve the pressure on the beleaguered state grid. (Research and other essential buildings are all linked to a commercial-strength 17-kV feeder and should not be affected by any such blackouts.)

The other aspect of the crisis, Irwin explains, is the rising cost of gas, which for Caltech is “married to the electricity shortage, because much of our power is produced using gas.” Most of the gas used on campus powers a turbine that generates electricity, and boilers that produce steam for heating and air conditioning. Irwin has been eyeing gas futures online daily, anticipating the potential cost. Gas prices averaged about 40 cents per therm last summer, but in December and January shot up as high as $1.63 per therm. The purchase price for gas in March was $1.40 per therm.

Still, that figure is more than triple the amount that Caltech had budgeted for. The Institute’s gas bill was about $2.6 million in fiscal year 2000, but Irwin estimates it could reach up to $8 million this year. Thus, he emphasizes, it’s imperative for all members of the campus community to develop a conservation mind-set and to cut down on unnecessary power usage. “The bottom line is that we all have to conserve,” he says.

A number of actions have been taken, including replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, which use fewer watts; replacing old fluorescent lights with newer, more efficient ones; and installing more than 1,500 “phantom” fluorescent bulbs, in which only two of four tubes actually work, but give off nearly as much light as four. Physical Plant is also investigating using timers or photocells to keep lights off in surface parking lots and under covered walkways during the day, and soon will be installing motion sensors in targeted building spaces.

In addition, a new chiller and cooling tower are planned for Physical Plant’s satellite location, next to the Holliston parking structure. The chiller incorporates a variable frequency drive on the chilled water distribution pump, and Irwin estimates the new facility, which will be in operation this summer, will allow Caltech to cut its current electricity consumption by about 10 percent. And by October, he plans to complete a campuswide installation of electric meters that will identify inefficient buildings by allowing real-time energy-usage monitoring.

In the meantime, Irwin urges everyone in the campus community to do their part by observing the following guidelines:

• Turn off lights that aren’t in use or aren’t essential, such as corridor lights and desk lamps.
• In the summer, set thermostats at 78 degrees, the optimum recommended setting. Irwin requests people not to supplement air conditioning with fans. “If we can all accept a slight bit of discomfort, it will make a difference in helping the situation.”
• Minimize the use of screen savers and set computers to “sleep” when not in use during the day, and shut them down completely at night.
• When purchasing new equipment, look for Energy Star models, certified by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency as
energy-efficient.

Some conservation-minded Caltech folk have queried Irwin about campus features, such as ponds and fountains, nighttime tree lighting, and outside lighting. He says that he appreciates their concerns and Physical Plant is looking into these suggestions, yet he notes that there must be a balancing of priorities. The Institute’s landscaping and water features add to its attraction for potential students and community members. In addition, exterior and parking structure lighting are important for security and safety.

“The trick,” Irwin says, “is to balance energy conservation with the appeal of the campus and especially with safety. We want to be as energy-efficient as possible, but community safety is our highest priority.”
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