Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Campus is closed to students at this time, but there is a lot of work taking place at Emporia State University over the next few weeks.
Director of Facility Planning Peter Hauff says part of the current workload involves ongoing efforts to bring energy efficiency campus-wide, including a major investment with Trane to determine potential equipment failure risks and other maintenance concerns.
Hauff says this project also lets ESU’s maintenance workers pinpoint areas of concern before major issues arise.
It’s not as visible as other campus projects, but Hauff says the savings generated — and the preventive maintenance that has developed — are both big for ESU.
Back in September, then-president Ken Hush announced this project could lead to over $3 million in operations and maintenance savings, as well as eliminating around $10 million in deferred maintenance expenses. Over $20 million in other deferred maintenance cost savings were gained in other ways, including the sale of the former Earl Center to CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness, demolition of Butcher Hall, the eventual combination of demolishing Central Morse and South/Southeast Morse halls — the latter set to begin this upcoming summer — as well as the vacating of Newman Regional Health’s Cora Miller Hall as the Nursing + Student Wellness Center opens to students next month. ESU also started a One ESU infrastructure plan, moving all maintenance and custodial services under the Facilities Department umbrella with an estimated $100,000 annual cost savings expected.
Classes resume Jan. 20 at ESU.