Physical Plant

Green Initiatives

Recycling

IU Southeast has a recycling program. Bins are located in each building where white office paper, computer paper, cardboard (boxes should be broken down) and aluminum cans should be put for recycling. If an in-office recycling box is needed, contact the Physical Plant. Confidential papers are picked up by Physical Plant and destroyed per department request.

Energy Management

Physical Plant manages the consumption of electricity, natural gas and water on both a short and long term basis in order to conserve the resources without compromising the quality of the work and school environment.

Energy Management Tips:

• Thermostats should be set at 68 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer.
• Close drapes or blinds to reduce loss of heat or air conditioning.
• Use natural light whenever possible.
• Turn on energy consuming equipment only when needed.
• Purchase energy efficient equipment whenever possible.
• Limit use of facilities during "off hours."

Campus Beautification

Campus Beautification Day is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to work together to “Green” up the campus in preparation for Commencement activities. The volunteers help beautify the campus by spreading mulch, planting flowers and trees around the campus. This event is held annually the last week of spring classes with every volunteer receiving a free shirt from the Physical Plant for their support in this event. Please contact the Physical Plant at 941-2330 if you would like to sign-up for next years event! 

Energy Conservation Initiatives

The Physical Plant Office has initiated several energy conservation measures and programs in an effort to reduce utility costs across campus. These programs include a wide variety of initiatives from replacing exterior lighting to redeploying of the cleaning staff. Everyone has a role in energy conservation and can help to achieve campus-wide goals. We ask for your understanding, support, and assistance in achieving these important goals.

Physical Plant Initiatives:

• Deploy building services cleaning staff as teams which allows us to shutdown buildings and turn off all interior lighting.
• Conserve HVAC through consistent temperature control throughout the campus.
• Replaced exterior parking lot lights with more efficient lighting.
• Implementation of a computerized energy management system to more precisely control building systems across campus.
• Completed a $2 million Energy Savings initiative across campus that addressed energy efficient equipment and systems across campus. 

How can Faculty and Staff help the campus to reduce energy costs?   

• Turn off all lights when leaving an office or classroom. 
• Minimize the use of space heaters (these heaters use a significant amount of electricity and defeat the purpose of HVAC conservation efforts).

Indiana University Southeast Energy Savings Project

Four companies were selected to evaluate the campus and make proposals for energy savings projects on our campus. The four companies were: Cinergy, Seimans, Johnson Controls and Energy Savings Group.

Twenty-six projects were submitted for consideration and the following is a list of the projects that were selected:

Campus

• Interior lighting
• Variable frequency drives on air handling units, cooling tower pumps and chillers
• Vending machine misers
• Natural gas pipeline to University Center
• Controls upgrade for the energy management system
• Demand control for water heaters
• Booster pump replacement
• Electric kilns
• Hot water heater replacement
• Roadway and parking lot lighting
• Walkway lighting

UC Renovation

• High efficiency boilers
• Reheat air bypass
• Make-up air ventilation in kitchen
• CO₂ monitors
• Roof insulation