By By E.W. Blankenbaker
The rise in fuel prices have not stopped at the gas pump for students who may have to foot the bill for the University’s energy costs.
The University anticipates there will be a nearly 40.5 percent increase in budget spending on utilities alone next fiscal year, Melissa Connolly, vice president of University relations, said.
The percent increase, which does not include phone or cable service, is on top of the approximately 15 percent increases the University saw over the 2003-04 fiscal year.
According to an internal budgetary report, Connolly said over the last year alone natural gas has increased for the University about 95 percent in price, while heating oil has increased about 25 percent and electricity has gone up about 26 percent.
“Energy costs have gone up dramatically since this summer,” Richard V. Guardino, vice president for Business Development at the University said. “Increased energy costs lead to an increased cost of higher education.”
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that heating oil prices have fluctuated in a downward trend since the end of October, but look like they are on the rise again.
“The loss of oil production [from the hurricanes] has been made up by imports,” Paul Hesse, an Information Specialist at the EIA, said.
He said that the recent rise in energy prices, specifically natural gas, has been a result of colder temperatures and the fact that natural gas, unlike oil, is difficult to import because it relies on existing pipelines.
In New York, natural gas prices per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) jumped from approximately $13.73 on Dec. 1 to about $15.76 MMBtu by Dec. 7, according to the EIA’s Dec. 8 Natural Gas Weekly Update report.
But since about October, home heating oil dropped from approximately $2.7 per gallon to about $2.40 per gallon by Dec. 6. Since that time, however, heating oil has hovered at this $2.40 per gallon mark, according to a Dec. 12 EIA report on U.S. Heating Oil and Propane Prices.
The energy costs might mean a rise in tuition, but the University has the ability to rely on different types of power, which should help reduce these costs, Guardino said.
In 1968, when the Student Center was built, the central power plant, which powers parts of the South campus, all six towers and the Student Center, was put in the sub-basement, Guardino said.
Teresa A. Greis, the University’s energy, environmental health and safety manager, said the Student Center is a cogeneration plant, which can rely on either heating oil or natural gas.
KeySpan delivers the University’s natural gas, while heating oil is delivered by Island Transport.
“We have been utilizing oil since the first week of October,” Greis said. “But it all depends on which is cheaper based on volume and equipment.”
In the subsequent years, the University added two more plants to supply the Netherlands complex and Physical Fitness Center with energy.
While the South side of campus receives some energy from the Student Center, the older buildings rely mainly on natural gas, Greis said, adding that more than 50 separate gas accounts on the South campus do not run off the central plant.
On the North side of campus, the University also relies on electric heat such as heater units plugged into the walls in buildings like Colonial Square. The electricity to run the units comes from several places.
“Electricity can be a combination of the Student Center plant or purchasing from LIPA [Long Island Power Authority],” said Greis. “We do purchase from LIPA.”
LIPA announced a deal with KeySpan on Wednesday that will freeze electricity rates on Long Island and help reduce rates over the next few years.
“All consumers will benefit from the reduced rates, including Hofstra.” Bert Cunningham, the vice president of communications at LIPA, said.
The University has also installed Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning occupancy controls (HVAC) units in Nassau and Suffolk dorm rooms. The HVAC occupancy controls rely on sensors to tell if someone is in the room.
“As soon as the occupant opens the door the [heating] unit turns on,” Greis said. “The occupant then has total control.”
Greis said the air conditioning units operate in the same manner when a window is opened.
“The [air conditioning] unit shuts off. It’s trying not to be wasteful,” she said.
Guardino said that it is difficult to conserve energy, especially in older buildings on campus.
“When we’re building new buildings we try to keep them energy efficient,” he said. “Because of the cogeneration plant we have some flexibility in this.”
“It’s partly about conservation or being wise,” Guardino added. “But it’s also about managing the costs of fuels.”