In an effort to increase sustainability and lower costs, OU’s Physical Plant has partnered with Johnson Controls, Inc. to upgrade several academic buildings on campus to better conserve energy. These renovations include everything from motion sensors for office lighting and vending machines to photoluminescent exit signs and low-flow toilets.

Amanda Hearn, Physical Plant spokeswoman, said after all the renovations are complete, the annual energy savings for upgrades will be equivalent to having more than 1,800 fewer cars in Norman.

“Reductions in utility costs and energy use from this project will continue to benefit the university for years to come,” Hearn stated in an e-mail.

These changes can be found everywhere from Copeland Hall and Sarkeys Energy Center to Bizzell Memorial Library and Cross Center. Hearn said the reason some buildings have seen these upgrades before others is because the technology required to make a cost-effective upgrade has already been reached in some newer buildings.

The entire project, which started with the replacement of electric powered exit signs to photoluminescent ones, will be completed in phases during the next year and a half, Hearn said.

The current phase involves a variety of lighting upgrades. The wattage of some exterior lights around campus has been reduced by approximately 50 percent. Inside, upgrades include lower-wattage fluorescent bulbs and occupancy sensors to determine an area’s use. Hearn said if a room is no longer in use, the lights will automatically turn off.

Laura Knoll, membership director at KGOU, works on the third floor of Copeland Hall. She said her motion sensor light was installed about a month ago.

“Sometimes the light turns off on me when I’m working,” she said. “But it’s worth it if [OU] can save some energy. It’s definitely a good thing.”

To minimize inconvenience, most of the upgrades are being performed at night. Hearn also said Physical Plant is making a special effort to notify building occupants of any changes.

Chris Applegate, the president of the student-lead organization OUr Earth, said these changes are really important steps in making the university more green.

“While OU is behind on these initiatives we are really gearing up to really push these initiatives at a quicker rate,” he said. “I look forward to collaborating with OU to pursue these initiatives and creating awareness of these issues with the OU community.”