Huston Tillotson University – Andy Ferris – 2014

Andy Ferris has been instrumental in furthering Huston-Tillotson University’s commitment to addressing global climate change. In 2011, President Larry Earvin signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment demonstrating HT’s dedication to address global climate change. HT is targeting a 50 percent reduction in campus carbon emissions by 2030 and hopes to become one of the most sustainable HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the country.

With these sustainability goals in mind, Ferris’s fellowship focused on identifying energy and resource efficiency opportunities across campus by looking at individual buildings as well as campus wide systems. The analysis showed that PC power management software, vacancy sensors, improved recycling policies, campus energy-use monitoring and large-scale rooftop solar installations could help HT achieve its sustainability goals while offering significant financial benefits.

Installing PC power management and vacancy sensors in large facilities could reduce energy costs and improve efficiency in buildings with high energy demands. Restructuring the waste practices on campus would allow the university to achieve significant savings from increased recycling and decreased trash outputs. Implementing a campus energy-use software system could aid HT in monitoring energy consumption and identifying future efficiency opportunities. Finally, the installation of a high capacity rooftop solar array would represent the single biggest step forward in the university’s sustainability goals while offering substantial long-term financial gains.

The specific energy upgrades outlined through Ferris’s fellowship could reduce HT’s total annual emissions by more than 250 metric tons of carbon dioxide.