| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.02 |
| Liaison | Megan Litke |
| Submission Date | Sept. 17, 2024 |
American University
OP-5: Energy Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.04 / 10.00 |
Megan
Litke Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability |
5.1 Energy consumption per square meter
Convert site energy figures to megawatt-hours (MWh) using the STARS energy calculator or an equivalent resource.
Peer group:
Gross floor area of building space:
Electricity
Description of the on-site renewable systems:
AU uses both solar power purchase agreements (PPA) and directly owned solar photovoltaics (PV) for on campus renewable energy.
In 2012, solar panels were installed on SIS and six other roofs on campus. This resulted in more than 2,150 solar photovoltaic panels producing energy on campus, the largest solar power system in the District of Columbia at the time.
The SIS panels were part of the construction process and AU retains the environmental attributes and the panels that were added to existing buildings were installed through a power purchase agreement (PPA).
Buildings with solar photovoltaics include:
- Mary Graydon
- Bender Library
- Katzen Art
- Spring Valley Building
- 4200 Wisconsin Ave
- 3201 New Mexico Avenue
- School of International Service
On-site renewable electricity exported:
Electricity from off-site sources:
Stationary fuels
Include all liquid, solid, and gaseous fuel products sourced during the performance year for the purpose of producing electricity and/or thermal energy, irrespective of whether they were used or not. Transportation fuels are excluded.
Propane/LPG:
Heating oil:
Coal/coke:
Bioenergy products:
Other stationary fuels:
Heating and cooling from off-site sources
Include all district heating and cooling products sourced during the performance year from a utility or municipal facility.
Hot water from off-site sources:
Chilled water from off-site sources:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following six figures:
Total stationary fuel consumption:
Total heating and cooling from off-site sources:
Total annual energy consumption:
Annual energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.1:
5.2 Energy consumption per person
Full-time equivalent of employees:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:
Annual energy consumption per person:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.2:
5.3 Percentage of energy from renewable sources
Each MWh may only be counted once, i.e., in no more than one of the documentation fields provided. Note that electricity generated by on-site renewable systems is reported above for indicator 5.1. Energy attribute certificates (EACs) include RECs, GOs, and I-RECs.
Contractual instruments for renewable electricity
Electricity from certified off-site renewable sources:
Description of the certified off-site renewable sources of electricity:
Electricity from uncertified off-site renewable sources:
Description of the uncertified off-site renewable sources of electricity:
In FY2016, AU partnered with George Washington University and George Washington University Hospital to build solar farms in North Carolina that produce enough electricity to meet about half of each partners’ electricity demand. AU retains the rights to its share of the green power attributes from the project.
Additional information about AU's renewables can be found here.
Certified unbundled EACs:
Description of the certified unbundled EACs:
Renewable stationary fuels
Convert all units to MWh using the STARS energy calculator or an equivalent resource. Include products sourced during the performance year for the purpose of producing electricity and/or thermal energy, irrespective of whether they were used or not.
Description of the certified bioenergy products:
Uncertified biomethane from organic waste or landfill gas:
Description of the uncertified biomethane products:
Heating and cooling from off-site renewable sources
For example, district steam or hot water supplied by a municipal geothermal system. Convert all units to MWh using the STARS energy calculator or an equivalent resource.
Description of the certified off-site renewable sources of heating and cooling:
Heating and cooling from uncertified off-site renewable sources:
Description of the uncertified off-site renewable sources of heating and cooling:
Demand reduction
In the 2020 fiscal year, a cogeneration plant which captures wasted heat and uses that along with natural gas to efficiently make electricity and energy for heating and cooling came online. As a result, total natural gas use has increased but purchased electricity use has decreased. Efficiency across campus buildings has improved substantially.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following seven figures:
Electricity from renewable sources:
Renewable stationary fuels:
Heating and cooling from off-site renewable sources:
Annual renewable energy consumption:
Percentage of energy from renewable sources:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.3:
5.4 Percentage of electricity from on-site or certified renewable sources
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:
Percentage of electricity from on-site and/or third party certified renewable sources:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.4:
Optional documentation
Note that the FTE snapshot was taken on 6/30/2024.
Electricity data is from the 2023 fiscal year.
Additional documentation for this credit:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.