Energy manager presents UM production and consumption Joan Kowal energized students about universitys electricity UMs energy

manager explains energy usage at Sustainable Tuesday

By Catherine McGrath Electricity buzzes through underground power lines on campus while students trek to class in the unpredictable Maryland weather, but few Terps realize that this process is not effortless. Buying energy for the university is much more than the orderly transfer of electrons. Joan Kowal, the universitys energy manager, knows the details of buying energy for a large consumer. Kowal presented her complex position as the universitys primary energy buyer to engineering and architecture students Tuesday, March 5 in the architecture building. The energy use per day at the university constantly varies, Kowal said. Kowal, however, has become an expert on buying as close to the actual value as possible. You dont want too much and sell at a loss, or buy too little at a premium, Kowal said. You want to cover your risk as much as possible. Accuracy is key to Kowals position as energy manager. She emphasized that as energy prices rise, her job becomes even more important. We are contractually obligated to sell back to [the energy company], Kowal said. This benefits the distributors because they can resell electricity; it harms the university because the electricity is sold back for less than it was originally bought. (more)

You want to cover your risk as much as possible. Joan Kowal, university energy manager

McGrath, Energy, p. 2 Super-charged knowledge If worrying about buying the correct amount of electricity seems easy, imagine juggling the diversification of energy sources. Kowal, who was named the Clean Energy Champion of 2012, encouraged the use of both renewable and nonrenewable resources. We used to use coal, then oil. Now we have natural gas, but we still have oil as a backup, Kowal said. She also pointed out the importance of solar panels on the Severn building and the upcoming Maryland offshore wind bill. Kowal not only has a sensible attitude about energy sources; her most noteworthy skill is her attention to the seemingly small details of campus energy. She addressed student concerns on everything from the percent of electricity spent on campus security monitoring devices to the unpredictable nature of the air conditioning. Kowal matches the states 20 percent renewable energy goals for her campus energy policy.
Source: www.governor.maryland.gov/wind

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McGrath, Energy, p. 3 The air conditioning is mostly affected by the humidity, Kowal said. Maryland is humid in warmer months, so air conditioning frequently functions more effectively than necessary, she said. Most students and staff ignore this detail, but quickly curse the cold and shrug a sweater onto their shoulders. Kowals strength, however, is her in-depth understanding of the entire energy process. The university produces more than 60 percent of its energy on site, so Kowal must monitor production to consumption to resale; she understands the entire energy process from start to finish. Kowals position may be an ideal career, but she uses a fair amount of personal energy just to regulate the campus energy. After her lecture, attendees recognize that the universitys energy process is not as simple as the flow of electrons taught in PHYS 121. ###

Students hope to empower renewable energy Excitement sparks over diversification of energy sources
By Catherine McGrath Most students know about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources from their basic science classes. Few students, however, realize that the university strives to incorporate renewables into its energy policy. The university uses solar panels on the Severn building and participates in optional power brownouts in the summer to reduce electricity consumption. In the near future, the universitys energy manager, Joan Kowal, hopes to access wind energy for the campus. Kowal gave a lecture Tuesday, March 5 explaining her plans to implement the governors Sustainable Portfolio goal to integrate several forms of renewable energy by 2022. Renewable energy is sometimes cheaper than traditional energy sources, Kowal said. The university can also make money by producing electricity from renewable energy on campus and selling back to energy companies. While some students do not support renewable energy and prefer the use of traditional fossil fuels, many are energized about the possibility of more renewable energy. Sophomore civil engineering student Bridget Weiler is in favor of diversifying campus energy. Its important for everything to be sustainable nowadays, she said. I think our campus should work towards becoming sustainable, too. ###

Sustainable Tuesday lecture on Big Energy

By Catherine McGrath Joan Kowal, the universitys energy manager, will present her free and open-topublic lecture Buying Energy and Natural Gas for a Big User at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 in room 0204 of the Architecture building. Kowal will discuss her role in the production, consumption and distribution of campus energy. For more information, contact Christine Hinojosa at 301-405-6286 or at hinojosa@umd.edu. ###