Michigan State University
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

The baseline of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 was used consistently as that is the baseline data used in the developing the energy transition report of January 2012.

MSU is a 2020 Goal Achiever of the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge. MSU established a goal to reduce 20% of its energy use across 20 million square feet of buildings by 2020, and was able to meet this goal two years early. MSU focused on buildings of highest energy use as an opportunity to save energy and improve efficiency across the campus’s 20 million square feet. University staff carefully assessed the buildings and worked to improve their insulation, add LED lighting, install more efficient building environmental systems and improve steam distribution, which provides heating and cooling. MSU also benefited by switching its power plant fuel source away from coal to natural gas and by installing solar arrays on 40 acres of its parking lots. https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2020/msu-recognized-on-earth-day-for-making-buildings-greener. More details about this retrocommissioning work that contributed to reaching the Better Buildings Goal are described below. Building on the momentum of this achievement, the Office of Sustainability has incorporated energy saving behaviors into its MSU Sustainability Pledge (https://bit.ly/MSUSustainabilityPledge) and Green Office Certification Program (https://bit.ly/MSUGreenOffice). In addition, the new Spartan Green Living Certification (https://bit.ly/SpartanGreenLiving) created by MSU Eco Rep students also encourages energy saving behaviors. A collaborative team across multiple units continues to meet quarterly to improve building performance by conducting site visits, identifying energy conservation measures, and implementing repairs and adjustments.

Building occupant energy engagement events were conducted. These spartan treasure hunts were modelled after GE Treasure Hunts whereby a team of engineers from GE worked with stakeholders from MSU to develop an approach to engaging building occupants in identifying opportunities for improved energy efficiency, behavior changes with respect to sustainability and develop better working relationships between operations staff and departments across campus. Additionally through collaborations with our Environmental Health and Safety Division, a monthly Safe Sustainable Labs meeting was established bringing together building lab facilities staff, departmental representatives, EHS and operations professionals from our Infrastructure Planning and Facilities team. The discussions focused on how to balance safety with sustainability and energy efficiency. Last, over the past few years, various IPF team members from Sustainability and Building Performance Services have sponsored student Capstone Design projects with the Department of Applied engineering. These projects have focused on energy savings and efficiency topics such as a mobile steam insulation calculator, HVAC filer optimization, ideas for changes to campus district energy production and distribution (in conjunction with Johnson Controls, Inc) and the development of an enforceable campus temperature control guideline.

Campus temperature control guidelines have been in place since 2002. MSU also uses a comprehensive building automation and control system (BAS) that dates back to the early 1980s. Our system covers approximately 17 million square feet of campus and allows for the scheduling and monitoring of HVAC systems across campus. However, only approximately 50 % of campus buildings are controlled down to the room level via Direct Digital Controls (DDC) and it is our construction standards to always deploy integrated occupancy sensors for lighting and HVAC renovations at new builds. Every year as energy conservation measures (projects) are funded and implemented this technology, along with other advanced control sequence strategies, such as CO2 control, static pressure reset and others, are included in the project execution.

MSU has incorporated LED fixtures in our design standards and invested in LED upgrades and lighting control systems as part of renovation projects, through investments in energy conservation measures, and in new buildings. Recent improvements are described below.

The Kellogg and Conference Center initiated a plan in Spring of 2021 for upgrades from high pressure sodium lights to LEDs in its parking ramp; 307 fixtures were replaced with LEDs. The McLane Stadium and Secchia Stadium have LED lights that were installed in the spring of 2019, which are indential to the lighting system at the Spartan Stadium. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/2019/01/03/michigan-state-baseball-softball-lights/2474928002/. In addition, LEDs were installed at the MSU Breslin Student Events Center, with projected energy use reductions of 74%. https://www.musco.com/breslin/. IPF installed roughly 50,000 new LED tubes in existing flourescent-light fixtures in nine campus buildings. https://ipf.msu.edu/about/news/ipf-partnership-consumers-energy-powers-big-savings-msu

MSU powers campus through the T.B. Simon Power Plant. https://ipf.msu.edu/environment/energy/energy-generation. It is a co-generation plant that provides steam, heat and electricity for the university. It utilizes steam to generate electricity. The power plant capacity is 1.3 million pounds of steam and 100 megawatts. The historical peak demand of the campus is 63 megawatts.

Since the plant is co-generation, about 50 percent of the stored energy in fuel is converted to direct energy. For most conventional electric power plants, that number is only 40. The high efficiency is significant in keeping utility costs low.

MSU is deploying Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (R.I.C.E.) technology at the T.B. Simon Power Plant which operates at higher efficiency than the traditional generation units currently in use. The enhancements will help further reduce the university's carbon footprint by enabling additional solar energy production from the planned south campus solar farm, as well as positioning the power plant to be able to retire existing generation units that have reached the end of their lifespan. The R.I.C.E. units produce electricity directly from the combustion of natural gas without requiring the co-production of steam and will allow the plant to respond more flexibly to campus demands for steam and electricity. In the spring and fall when steam demand for heating/cooling is lower but electrical demand is high, the plant will be able to use the R.I.C.E. units to produce the additional electricity needed by campus so that extra steam production can be avoided. https://ipf.msu.edu/about/news/rice-helping-reduce-msus-carbon-footprint

A number of updates occurred at the Spartan Linen Services, cutting energy use by roughly 50%. The facility features state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology, including water reclamation systems, advanced wastewater systems and finishing equipment. Ongoing improvements are also being made at the Food Stores building.