By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier roommates Ryan Schutte, 18 (left) and T.J. Skiba, 19, share an 11-by-19-foot room with a large-screen TV, computer, refrigerator and plenty of other gadgets. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

EVANSTON - Two Xavier University freshmen have crammed enough electronic equipment into their Husman Hall dorm room to rival a Circuit City display.

An impressive feat, considering the room measures just 11 by 19 feet.

"We have a . . . computer with a DVD burner, CD burner and a DVD player built in," says T.J. Skiba, a 19-year-old business major from Fort Wayne, Ind.

"And my roommate is bringing a 900-watt microwave, which is basically like an oven."

That's just for starters. Don't forget the 300-watt surround sound stereo system, a 24-inch television, a combination laser printer-copier-fax machine, a cordless phone with digital answering machine, a 4.2 cubic-foot refrigerator, a PlayStation 2 and a Nintendo 64, an alarm clock, a desk light and a pink and purple lava lamp.

Two weeks after the worst blackout in U.S. history, college students haven't missed a beat. The collection that Skiba and his roommate, Ryan Schutte, 18, of Colerain Township, brought in serves as an example of the types of appliances students are lugging to campus this fall.

But it's also one of a growing list of reasons why facilities managers across the country are implementing electrical upgrades and aggressive conservation measures.

"Go to any college campus and watch them move in," says Gary Thompson of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International.

WHAT STUDENTS BRING

A study conducted by Miami University shows students bring an average of 18 electrical appliances to campus. Below are the types of items they listed: Television Stereo DVD player VHS player Computer Printer Cell phone charger Palm Pilot charger Refrigerator High intensity floor lamp Clock/alarm DVD Walkman charger Microwave Blow dryer Popcorn popper Curling iron Answering machine Mug heater Electric heater Set of decorative lighting Pager charger Toaster

"They bring a U-Haul or two or three vans full of stuff to plug in. If it can be plugged in - and it's a personal convenience or an academic enhancement - they'll bring it.

"Electricity be danged."

Residence halls built in the 1960s have been retrofitted with air conditioning.

The combination of aging systems and changing student expectations has prompted what one national expert calls a "revolution of renovation'' to keep up with electrical demand.

Skiba calls it convenience.

"I don't consider (energy use) at all," he said. "I probably should, but I don't. We're not going to run out of energy in my lifetime."

That's exactly the kind of thinking that Lori Lambert, director of residence life at Xavier, wants to combat. It's one reason she included an energy conservation campaign as one of her department's five goals this year.

Over the past 10 years, Xavier has seen small increases in energy costs linked to students bringing appliances, but that could change as dorms expand. Xavier Commons, for example, which opened two years ago, offers four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment-style living areas complete with a full kitchen, dishwasher and icemaker.

"We find that some students have an, 'I've paid for it, I'm going to use it' mindset when it comes to energy consumption," Lambert said. "We are going to focus on getting students to turn off lights, TVs, stereos, etc., when they leave the room as well as encouraging shorter showers. I think if each student does a little bit we can make a big difference.''

At Miami University, a June survey revealed the average freshman brings 18 appliances to campus. Multiply that by 7,100 students in 36 residence halls and that puts tremendous stress on the university electrical system.

"We see it as a teeter-totter," said Adolph Haislar, senior associate vice president for auxiliary services at Miami. "When they bring the energy level up, we're trying to bring it back down. The system is being taxed, but we have to meet that so we don't have brownouts."

While brownouts are not an issue yet, the university is involved in two major electrical upgrades as a result of the increased need for electricity campuswide.

In April, trustees approved $670,000 for the design phase of a co-generation facility. The cost estimate for the entire project is $9.5 million.

Miami officials are also planning to upgrade the Oxford campus for a major increase in power, at an estimated $9 million to $12 million.

On the conservation end, the school has installed more energy-efficient light bulbs and posted reminders across campus to turn off the lights.

University of Cincinnati pays about $1 million a month in electricity bills. UC's housing utility bills have increased 38 cents per student per month since 1995. That's more than $17,000 a year.

Without the aggressive conservation measures the university has implemented, it could have been hundreds of thousands more, said Jim Tucker, UC's vice president for administrative and business services.

In 1996, UC installed 180,000 energy-efficient light bulbs, which saved about $1 million the first year. The pavilion, which opened last fall, is equipped with motion sensors. After a set period of time, a computer turns off the lights and air conditioning if no one's in the room.

"The cost will continue to creep up as students bring in more stuff, Tucker said. "(But) if we're doing a smart job, they can live like they do at home. As they use more electricity or utilities, we're trying to get smarter in finding ways to be more efficient."

E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com