Midland College Completes Energy Efficient IT Upgrade as Part of Larger Program, Set to Save $4.4 Million

MIDLAND, Texas, June 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 30^th, Midland College, in Midland, Texas, completed construction of its multi-phased energy program with OpTerra Energy Services. The campus-wide sustainability improvements, including innovative efficiency solutions to enhance IT performance, will help Midland College capture $4.4MM in energy and operational savings over the next 15 years.

A Comprehensive Approach to Energy Savings
Midland College's partnership with OpTerra began in 2012, and has been a key platform for improving the learning environment for nearly 8,000 students. Working closely with College leadership, a team of Texas-based OpTerra engineers designed and delivered an energy savings plan based on current infrastructure needs and long-term projected growth. Through OpTerra's comprehensive implementation approach, Midland College was able to improve interior and exterior lighting with Light Emitting Diode (LED) retrofits and address building envelope and temperature control issues for the classrooms and residence halls.

The college was also able to implement a unique cloud computing solution to reduce costs while enhancing IT service.  Implementing the various energy upgrades and the cloud computing solution across many servers and desktops with minimal disruption to students and campus services was important to Midland College.

This Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Cloud computing is transforming how colleges stay ahead of the curve. Responding to a growing need to effectively manage university data integrity and access, Midland College and OpTerra partnered to develop a cloud solution that also reduces the overhead costs for its IT department.

After a thorough planning phase, OpTerra virtualized 32 existing physical servers and migrated all existing data to these new cloud-based servers. All server and hardware software, in addition to 24/7 monitoring capabilities, was configured and tested on site at the Midland College Data Center. Coupled with training for all desktop users as part of the network connectivity upgrade, the college's new cloud-based system reduces IT costs and improves efficiency.

Dennis Sever, Vice President of Information Technology and Facilities, said the IT and LED lighting solutions are more than just about saving energy too.  "If I have light fixtures that last three-to-five times longer than a fluorescent tube, I don't have somebody in your office or in a faculty member's office changing a light bulb as often," Sever said.

Prior to the sustainability program, the College had to replace about 50 to 120 bulbs a week. "This significant effort will make us more labor efficient as well as more energy efficient while providing improved lighting and visibility," he said.

Sustainable Success
With the completion of the construction phase of the college's comprehensive energy program, the College is on the fast track to translating their new fiscal savings into sustainable, positive impact for students.  Midland College continues to demonstrate leadership in achieving operational savings that make a difference across campus without raising student costs. As a result of the program, Midland College will reduce its CO₂ emissions by 562 tons – the equivalent to removing more than 100 passenger vehicles off the road every year. 

About Midland College:
For more information about Midland College, visit www.midland.edu.

About OpTerra Energy Services:
OpTerra Energy Services is a national energy company that partners with education, government, commercial and industrial customers to implement comprehensive conservation and sustainability solutions that save money, improve assets, enhance community engagement, and help achieve long-term climate action goals. For more than 40 years, OpTerra's operating divisions have successfully delivered over $1 billion in energy cost savings for partners in forty states across the U.S. Learn more at www.opterraenergy.com. Contact Lani Wild, Communications Manager, for more information at 415-735-9080.

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SOURCE OpTerra Energy Services

Related Links

http://www.opterraenergy.com