BGE and Towson University Team Up for Significant Energy Efficiency Savings of more than 8.2 million kWh and $1 Million in Annual Energy Costs Savings with BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company’s (BGE) Smart Energy Savers Program® recently teamed up with Towson University (TU) to help the school implement a variety of energy efficiency upgrades throughout its campus, ultimately saving the university more than $1 million annually in energy costs. At an event today, TU, BGE and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) joined together to announce and commend TU’s commitment to three sustainability milestones, solidifying the campus’s reputation as a leader in environmental innovation. The university became the first higher education institution in Maryland to join the DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge, and showcased its investments throughout the campus, including its LEED Gold-certified buildings and the launch of 18 electric vehicle charging stations on campus.

Collectively, the energy efficiency upgrades will significantly help the university to reduce energy use by more than 8.2 million kWh and more than $1 million in energy costs annually. Over the life of newly installed energy efficient equipment, Towson will see an energy savings of more than 70 million kilowatt hours. That’s enough to power nearly 6,000 homes, or 15 percent of the homes in Towson, for an entire year.

“BGE is proud to team up with Towson University in their efforts to become a leader among educational institutions in environmental and energy efficient innovation,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., chief executive officer, BGE. “Through the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program, we are able to help customers, such as Towson University, attain the energy efficiency milestones that will help them reduce energy use, save money and make a positive impact on the environment, while also improving the quality of life for their students and teachers now and for many years to come. We applaud Towson University for leading the class in sustainability and their commitment to the environment.”

The BGE Smart Energy Savers Program presented TU with $1.7 million in energy incentives to help fund the energy efficient upgrades and improvement projects in nearly every campus building. A campus-wide lighting upgrade partially funded through the program replaced or updated nearly 35,000 light fixtures and installed 10,000 occupancy sensors in 38 buildings. The project reduced the university’s lighting energy consumption by more than 25 percent, resulting in energy cost savings of more than $1 million annually. TU is one of the largest educational recipients of BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program.

The LEED Gold-certified West Village Commons building will serve as a showcase project within the DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge, standing as an example of energy performance and design for other schools across the country. Features including a state-of-the-art magnetic bearing chiller, enhanced thermal envelope, green roof and high-efficiency refrigeration systems make the building 25 percent more energy efficient than a comparable code-compliant facility. The Commons also has web-based automation systems and eco-screens that enable students to compare the building’s energy consumption against other campus buildings in real time.

“It’s not just the energy savings that are important,” continued Butler. “These efforts will create improved learning environments with better air quality, temperature control and lighting quality, for students and teachers. It also sets an example for students to think about ways they can be more energy efficient. This puts Towson into a category of its own when it comes to sustainability, and their commitment to the environment.”

“We are proud to be at the forefront of initiatives that will positively impact our environment for years to come,” said TU President Maravene Loeschke. “Our participation in the Better Buildings Challenge and BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program are already helping to improve energy efficiency on campus.”

“We are pleased to welcome Towson University to the Better Buildings Challenge,” said Dr. Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency for the U.S. Department of Energy. “Towson has set a goal to reduce energy use by 20 percent across its campus building portfolio and is committed to showcasing their best strategies to other organizations. We look forward to highlighting Towson's leadership and accomplishments in the years to come."

In response to the growing use of electric vehicles, the university officially launched 18 electric vehicle charging stations in five locations across campus. The stations were given to the university by the City of Baltimore and can accommodate 110- and 120-volt charges. They are located in all four of the campus parking garages as well as lot 23 outside the university’s Administration Building. All locations are free for use by the campus community.

Towson University is a regional leader in sustainability, consistently listed in Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges and committed to the use of renewable resources as well as the application of green building standards. The university is a signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and has pledged to achieve LEED Silver certification on all new campus buildings.

President Obama launched the Better Buildings Challenge in 2011 to foster change in energy consumption and create energy cost savings. Participating organizations partner with the Department of Energy to achieve energy savings and share successful strategies that maximize efficiency. TU’s commitment to the program includes 3.4 million square feet in nearly 50 campus buildings.

The BGE Smart Energy Savers program offers financial incentives and technical assistance to BGE customers in an effort to promote energy efficiency throughout Maryland. The program supports the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act and offers energy-saving solutions for renters, homeowners, large and small business customers, nonprofits and institutional customers. Since the program's inception in 2007, BGE customers have saved more than 1.8 billion kilowatt hours a year, proving that they are committed to working with BGE in keeping Maryland clean, green and reliable. TU has received incentives for the installation of lighting, occupancy controls and other energy efficient features in campus buildings and parking garages.

About BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program

The BGE Smart Energy Savers Program offers financial incentives and technical assistance to BGE customers in an effort to promote energy efficiency throughout Maryland. The program offers energy-saving solutions for renters, homeowners, large and small business customers, non-profits and institutional customers. Customers participating in the program are able to save money, reduce energy usage and improve power quality. Collectively, BGE Smart Energy Savers Program offerings help contain the cost of energy, improve power reliability, reduce peak demand and slow the growth in energy consumption to lessen the need for more power plants.

BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTubeand Flickr.