Mechanical Engineer Geng Liu worked other jobs before joining the Capital Planning and Facilities Management (CPFM) team at Stanislaus State, but never a job he loved so much.
“This is the best office I have ever worked in. There is excellent teamwork here,” said Liu, who came to Stan State in 2007. “We all work together, and we all support each other.”
It’s teamwork and good management, he says, that makes the overall work atmosphere in CPFM pleasant and mostly stress free.
“When you work here, you go home happy,” he said. “You don’t go home frustrated or angry. You are productive at work, and you go home feeling good.”
Born and raised in China, Liu worked as a school lecturer there before coming to the United States. He enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Nevada, Reno and earned a bachelor’s degree. After passing the fundamentals of engineering exam and working as an engineer in training for several years, he passed the professional engineer (PE) exam and earned his PE license.
His first assignment at Stan State focused on managing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on campus. In 2013, his assignment shifted to campus wide implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Often referred to as SB32 in his department, the act requires the University to reduce its carbon footprint by 40 percent compared to 1990.
While good progress has been made toward meeting the SB32 goal, Liu says there is still plenty of work to do.
“It is a challenge,” Liu said. “The bar is pretty high, and the whole department is working hard on it.”
Liu focuses on identifying and implementing energy-saving measures in the areas of electricity, natural gas and water. Over the past few years, he has overseen a handful of solar-energy projects on campus, including the installation of solar panels on the cafeteria roof and the covered parking project with solar panels in Lot 8 on the west side of campus.
Upcoming solar projects include the soon-to-begin installation of covered parking with solar panels in Lots 3, 4 and 5 on the south side of campus and installation of solar panels on the roof of the University Student Center.
When asked what he enjoys most about his job, Liu is quick to answer, “saving money and lowering costs.” He says saving money for Stan State makes him feel good because the funds stay on campus to pay for other needs that ultimately benefit students.
Showing his appreciation for fellow CPFM team members is also important to Liu. Every year, the managers in the department chip in to pay for a department picnic to show their appreciation for the employees they supervise. While Liu is not currently supervising anyone directly, he still chips in as a way of thanking the entire team.
“I work with everyone, so I pitch in because I want to do it,” he said. “I appreciate the support I get from the team, and I want to show my appreciation.”
In his free time, Liu is an avid domestic and international traveler. He enjoys seeing new landscapes and learning about the people, culture and history of each destination he visits.
He particularly enjoys traveling on cruise ships. Past trips have included a Baltic Sea cruise with stops in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia and Russia. Other international trips have taken him to Spain, Greece and Austria.
Liu has also driven across the United States a few times, taking time to sightsee as he crosses the country. When it comes to travel, he says he thinks big: “I want to see the whole world.”
