Brit Kirwin file photo - Casey Prather/ The Towerlight

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents met Friday to vote on an energy-performance contract proposed by Towson University.

Bowie State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County were also seeking approval.

In the preliminary stage of approval, the institutions requested from the Board of Regents to enter into an energy performance contract to improve energy efficiencies in building systems and to try and reduce energy consumption, save operating budget funds and replace some aging mechanical systems.

During Friday’s meeting, USM spokesman Mike Lurie said there wasn’t an actual vote on the proposed contract, but more so a discussion about what the universities would have to do to get approved.

Lurie said it is common for these several USM institutions to strive for clean energy performance.

“It’s certaintly a goal for all the universities to reduce their carbon footprint,” Lurie said.

Since signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, Towson has strived to improve campus sustainability over the years. Go green programs like RecycAll, Trayless Tuesdays, the Reusable Mug Program and the TU Veggie Garden have promoted awareness of green initiatives on campus.

Friday’s meeting also discussed reports on closing the achievement gap between lower income and under-represented students.

“Towson is doing very well in this area,” Lurie said.

A meeting on Oct. 7, 2010 requested approval from the Board of Regents to begin an Energy Performance Contract which would reduce energy consumption, save operating budget funds, and replace some aging mechanical systems.

“These important vehicles for reducing energy consumption allow improvements to be financed by the savings they produce,” according the Board of Regents’ meeting summary.

So far the board has approved EPC’s  for multiple buildings at The University of Maryland College Park, The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and University of Baltimore.

Three new EPC plans are ready to be implemented with Towson being one of them.

Towson is using Constellation as its energy saving company. The estimated cost for the contract is $32 million and is projected to save about $2.5 million per year.

“Each institution listed has accepted the ESCOs’ Phase II proposal and seeks Board approval to engage the ESCO in its implementation,” according to the meeting summary.

Pam Gorsuch, communications specialist for Towson’s Administration and Finance Division was not available for comment.

– Jordan Russell contributed to this article