The University saved more than $14,000 last week in energy costs, a full $4,000 higher than their goal, due to the efforts of students, faculty and staff.

After Georgia Power, energy provider for the University, notified University Physical Plant staff that prices were likely to increase dramatically, an e-mail was sent to members of the University asking them to conserve power on campus by unplugging unused electronics and turning off lights.

“We want to do as much as we can, but we don’t want to make people miserable,” said Ken Crowe, director of Physical Plant Energy Services.

“We don’t want to create a sense that we’re in a crisis mode, but we know there’s enough people out there who are concerned about saving energy and saving money,” he said. “People can think, ‘OK, I sat in my office with the lights off today, but I did my part.’”

Crowe said students and Athens residents probably do not need to worry about any increase in their energy bills.

Unlike average residents, who pay for energy at a flat rate, usually about 12 cents for each unit of energy used, 40 percent of the University’s energy pricing fluctuates from hour to hour, Crowe said.

“Every day we get a forecast that says, ‘Here’s what we expect,’” he said. “[June 18 and 19], the prices were projected to go over 50 cents.”

The increase equates to a rise of between 200 and 500 percent, which could have cost the University an additional $25,000 per day, according to the e-mail.

Carol Boatright, spokeswoman for Georgia Power, said pricing fluctuations are caused by changes in weather, fuel costs and anything else related to energy generation and transmission.

“What it boils down to is, as the temperatures have started to come up, that’s causing the resulting usage to come up,” Boatright said.

When prices are projected to be high, Crowe said steps are automatically taken to reduce energy consumption. Among other things, Physical Plant workers ensure air conditioning units are running properly and the University produces its own energy by burning coal, an option that is usually more expensive and has a negative impact on the environment.

“It’s an older coal fire plant, and of coal and gas it’s the worst for the environment. It’s also the cheapest because we have an abundance of coal,” said Andrew Durso, a recent University alumnus and representative of the Ecology Club.

Crowe said plans are in the works to improve the plant to allow for more sustainable energy production.

According to Durso, the University does well overall being environmentally conscious.

“It’s unfortunate that there isn’t support for these things in the highest levels of the administration, but hopefully that will change in the next few years,” he said. “We have a really good Physical Plant in the sense that they are very efficient in everything they do.”

He said the University does a particularly good job when it comes to energy efficiency, recycling and public transit.

Durso said he hoped students would continue to be energy conscious as things return to normal, even if it’s just by keeping the air conditioner off.

“In the summertime it can be a little bit uncomfortable, but even if you set the thermostat one degree higher it can really help,” he said. “I don’t wear a lot of clothes, and as long as your roommates don’t mind that, it should be fine.