Honeywell, Western Michigan University Celebrate Campus Sustainability Day 2013

Event Highlights University's Efficiency Achievements and Launch of Landmark Energy Research Project

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Oct 23, 2013, 11:30 ET

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Western Michigan University today celebrated Campus Sustainability Day to showcase the school's efforts in reducing its energy use and carbon footprint. The organizations also announced the launch of a pioneering, two-year research project led by WMU's Office of Sustainability to determine best practices for engaging students, faculty and staff in trimming energy consumption in buildings.

The research project, supported by Honeywell and managed by WMU doctoral student
Kate Binder, will explore whether dashboards and other tools that share information on energy use lead to lasting and quantifiable change among occupants.

Campus Sustainability Day also provided an opportunity to highlight energy-efficiency improvements Honeywell is currently making in more than 50 WMU facilities. The upgrades are expected to trim annual energy consumption by 14,800 million British thermal units (MMBtu) and carbon emissions by 4.4 million pounds — equivalent to removing almost 390 vehicles from the road. The school will also save nearly $250,000 in projected energy and operating costs each year, savings guaranteed by Honeywell under an energy savings performance contract.

These efforts are part of the WMU's commitment to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment and goal of reducing energy use 25 percent by 2020.

"Our commitment to sustainability has always revolved around what we can accomplish technically as well as what we can do by harnessing the power of a community made up of thoughtful individuals," said WMU President John M. Dunn. "The new research Honeywell is supporting will allow us to find the best way to engage members of the University community and encourage them to take full advantage of the technology so that we can further reduce our environmental footprint."

WMU has been working to address its energy consumption for decades. And in 2011, the university enlisted Honeywell to perform a campus-wide audit to identify changes that could further boost efficiency. The audit uncovered opportunities to enhance lighting, heating and cooling, and automation controls in buildings, and WMU tapped Honeywell to implement the improvements.

"Western Michigan University has long stood as one of the leading higher-education institutions in promoting sustainable practices, and has made impressive inroads in reducing its overall energy consumption by using technology and engaging its campus community," said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. "We are proud to join WMU in celebrating this year's Campus Sustainability Day."

WMU has a long heritage of sustainability and energy innovation. Since 1996, the school has decreased its overall energy use by 15 percent while the building square footage has increased 19 percent. Additionally, the university is home to seven Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings, including the nation's first higher-education facility to achieve a LEED for Existing Buildings Gold rating. Ten additional buildings are in the certification process.

Campus Sustainability Day is an annual event started in 2003 to celebrate sustainability in higher education. Each October, colleges and universities organize events on campus and in nearby communities to encourage students, faculty and staff from across departments to share ideas and knowledge on sustainability strategies.

For more information on Honeywell's energy and facilities expertise, follow HoneywellBuild on Twitter or link to Honeywell Building Solutions.

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University is a learner-centered, discovery driven and globally engaged research institution with an enrollment of nearly 25,000. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a university with high research activity, WMU offers more than 240 degree programs, including 30 at the doctoral level. The University attracts students from every state in the union and 105 other nations. Its more than 900 faculty members have been trained at some of the world's leading universities, and classes are taught on the main campus in Kalamazoo as well as at seven regional locations around Michigan.

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