The University of Kansas Libraries

Anschutz Library receives plaque recognizing outstanding efforts in energy conservation and sustainability

On Friday, August 14, Chevron Energy Solutions (CES) will present a plaque to Anschutz Library to recognize outstanding efforts in energy conservation and sustainability.

Building operations manager Robert Szabo and Libraries sustainability ambassador Amalia Monroe will accept on behalf of KU Libraries. The presentation will take place at 10 am in Watson Library, conferences rooms 502A and B.

CES is presenting the plaque to "support, recognize and encourage another step the University of Kansas is taking to help us manage the energy crisis the world faces and contain costs at KU."

Anschutz Library is included in the KU/CES partnership for conserving energy on campus. Anschutz will receive the plaque to recognize the library staff's ongoing efforts to use energy efficiently, and because this year, Anschutz will be powered exclusively by wind energy.

The Student Environmental Advisory Board, a KU student organization, spearheaded a Student Senate initiative to reduce dependence on unsustainable energy in 2007. The initiative uses student fees to purchase wind power credits from one of Westar Energy's Kansas wind farms to offset fossil fuel power to the building. Anschutz Library was chosen for the project because of its central campus location and its familiarity to the university community.

The wind energy purchased is equivalent to eliminating the burning of more than 3 million pounds of coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 6 million pounds over the course of the year.

For more details on the project, see the related University Relations release.

Contact: Rebecca Smith, KU LIbraries, (785) 864-1761.