Veritas, Vol. 31, No. 07, December 1, 1990

              For the Faculty and Staff of the University of Miami
December 1, 1990 Volume 31 Number 7
Energy conservation is high priority throughout University community
Last fall Vic Atherton sent the University community a list of energy-savings tips they could use to minimize the effect of the oil crisis on the Coral Gables campus’s $9 million energy bill.
But behind the scenes,
Atherton, who is vice president for facilities administration, and Mike White, physical plant director, are planning and implementing costsaving energy systems that could cut the bill by almost ten percent.
Conserving energy is a top priority in other areas of the University as well.
Robert Rubin, who has come up with innovative methods of energy
saving at the medical center, reports a 5 percent reduction in costs from last year’s $3.5 million bill. And Michael Klausen, physical plant facilities manager at RSMAS, has been working with Florida Power & Light on a program most beneficial to that campus.
With the addition of higher efficiency air-conditioning systems, energy-saving light bulbs, and water conservation devices on the Coral Gables academic campus, the University used 1.7 million kilowatts less in 1989 than it had the year before. And, according to Atherton, this year’s savings is projected at 2.6 kilowatts.
“This is only the beginning,” says Atherton, a self-proclaimed energy nut. “Show me something that will save money, and I’ll buy it—for the University or for my own home.”
Much of the savings from 1988-89 are the result of one major project—redesigning the Richter Library’s air handling system with high-efficiency chillers. And a savings of 870,000 killowats for the first four months of this academic year reflects the retrofitting of the Cox Science Building’s air handling system, as well as energysaving measures used on the
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Vice president named for development
RoyJ. Nirschel, Jr., former assistant vice president for development at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named vice president for development and alumni relations at the University of Miami. In that position he will direct fund-raising activities and alumni relations programs for all 14 schools and colleges.
“We are pleased to have Mr. Nirschel join the University of Miami community,” says President Edward T. Foote II. “His breadth of experience will be an important asset to the University as we face the challenges of the 1990s. He is a talented, widely respected professional. ”
Nirschel has over 16 years of experience in development, public relations, and alumni relations. He joined the University of Pittsburgh in 1986 as director of development. His responsibilities there included the five-year, $225 million campaign launched in 1987.
Nirschel served as development director at the University of Hartford from 1982 to 1986 and prior to that was director of public relations for the Senate Republicans for two years.
“I am delighted to be joining a winning team at the University of Miami,” says Nirschel. “While an outstanding foundation has been established by the recently concluded capital campaign, I am confident that the best years for the University’s development and alumni relations program remain ahead.”
Nirschel replaces Rita J. Bomstein, who recently was appointed president of Rollins College.