Rice aims to increase efficiency

By Scott Norgaard     10/29/09 7:00pm

Rice has taken large strides to reduce its overall energy consumption in recent years, and several initiatives have both lessened the environmental impact of the university's appliances and lowered costs across campus.One efficiency measure is the gradual implementation of front-loading washing machines in the residential colleges. The machines were first introduced to Rice five years ago, starting with the masters' houses, Associate Vice President of Housing and Dining Mark Ditman said. The colleges began phasing in these energy-efficient machines at the colleges three years ago.

According to Director of Sustainability Richard Johnson, the new machines use about half the energy and a fraction of the water of conventional, top-loading washing machines.

In the fall of 2006, an independent study conducted by Mark Godard (Sid Richardson '07) concluded that Rice would save an estimated $17,000 in utility costs each year if the campus switched to front-loading machines. Johnson said the new machines save $200-$300 per unit, totaling 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of water saved annually per machine.

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The front-loading machines also increase efficiency by using less detergent and leaving the clothes less damp, which lessens the amount of electricity needed to dry them, Johnson said.

In the past, colleges have purchased appliances one by one, which led to large differences in brands of washers and dryers. This variety created logistical difficulties as it was more challenging to service each different brand. The new machines are more logistically efficient because they are all the same make, which Johnson said reduces repair and maintenance costs.

"It was really about choosing a better technology," Johnson said.

Johnson said when the time came for Martel College's units to be replaced, the front-loading washing machines were the obvious choice.

Although the cost to purchase them was greater than that of typical top-loading machines, the overall expenses are much lower. The front-loading machines paid for themselves in a matter of months, Johnson said, which was why Martel quickly adopted them.

"It was a no-brainer," Johnson said.

Martel sophomore Amber Makhani said she found the new machines more efficient.

"I like the new high-efficiency washing machines because not only do I feel like the machines work faster, but they work better with the new technology," Makhani said. "I feel like they have alleviated traffic in the laundry room."

Beyond changing the laundry room, H&D has also sought to economize energy in their selection of appliances in the kitchens.

One example is the university's usage of the Combi Oven. Unlike typical ovens, which simply generate hot air, Combi Ovens use a combination of steam injection and convection to increase efficiency and yields. Cooking a roast in a traditional oven would result in a 20-30 percent loss of food yields, while cooking with the Combi Oven would only result in a loss of 7-8 percent, Ditman said.

H&D also reduces costs with its dishwashing system, which is customized to best meet the volumetric needs of each servery. At Sid, for example, a power-soaking system is used because the volume of dishes there is less than at other colleges. This system reduces water consumption and the amount of chemicals used in dishwashing. However, such technology would not be appropriate for larger serveries, such as West Servery, Ditman said.

H&D also uses blast chillers - a culinary tool used to bring cooking-temperature food to cold temperatures in fewer than 90 minutes - in the serveries to reduce the time food spends between 41-145 degrees, the range at which where bacteria most commonly multiply. The chillers reduce cooling time by 75 percent, Ditman said, which increases the expediency of food preparation and leftover management.

Some U.S. college campuses have taken dramatic measures to restrict the kinds of appliances students can bring to school, up to limiting the wattage of light bulbs in lamps at University of Texas, Ditman said. Rice is currently not dictating these measures.

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