Through a ten-year partnership to create more efficient facilities, Abilene Christian University is seeing dividends paid off and earning industry recognition for its work.

ACU received the Best-In-Class Award from Cenergistic, the pioneer and leading provider of technology-enabled conservation services, for cutting expected energy use by 21%, saving $8.89 million in total energy costs and eliminating greenhouse gasses emitted by 58,214 tons of waste recycled since the partnership was formed in 2013.

The Best-In-Class Award was presented to ACU at Saturday’s home football game vs Utah Tech. The award lauds the organization’s success with the Cenergistic energy management program — a comprehensive science-based, technology-driven approach to energy conservation at all levels of the organization.

“ACU has created a stellar program,” said Dr. William S. Spears, CEO and founder of Cenergistic. “Rising to the top in all the metrics — healthier, more efficient buildings; savings; and comfort – ACU is truly Best-in-Class. Leadership, faculty and staff members are to be commended for their efforts.”

The program delivers financial savings as well as environmental benefits from a reduced carbon footprint. Energy not used prevents the emission of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ACU has reduced CO2 emissions equal to 417,596,205 miles not driven by the average vehicle or 2,781,797 tree seedlings grown for ten years.

“In the ten years since beginning the program, ACU has benefitted from the savings, but even more importantly, today we have healthier, more efficient buildings — the best learning environment we can provide for our community, and that’s always our goal,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU president.

ACU’s comprehensive energy conservation program addresses energy use throughout the organization. James Parker, energy specialist, tracks energy consumption through state-of-the-art technology to identify and correct areas where energy is overused.

ACU also works closely with organization personnel as well as Cenergistic engineers and experts to continually optimize systems and schedules. Together they monitor energy use with advanced technology and shape energy-using practices through education — affecting how each person in the organization understands, uses and saves energy for years to come. The outcome is healthier, more efficient buildings using less energy — and lower related costs.

As a result of the award, the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences received $2,500 to use as a one-time scholarship toward one of its students. Dr. Jim Carpenter (M.S. ’87), chair and associate professor in the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, said Parker recommended the department for the award and Cenergistic then made the donation.

“For us, it is great that ACU is recognized for this energy conservation achievement,” Carpenter said. “And that the department is recognized, since we are regular energy conservation advocates.”

Learn more about the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

— Connor Mullins

Nov. 10, 2023