How much money will Vanderbilt save through energy conservation?
While there is no guarantee that Vanderbilt’s expenditures will decrease due to energy conservation, we can help “cushion the blow” of future price increases by consuming less energy. Example: in 2005, Harvard’s energy conservation program saved the university $1.5 million. However, Harvard’s overall energy bill still went up by $7 million due to the instability of the energy market (partially caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina)7. Price fluctuations can severely impact the energy budget of any university, including Vanderbilt.
