Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.95
Liaison Kathleen McCaig
Submission Date June 14, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Berea College
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.66 / 6.00 Kishore Acharya
Project Engineer
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 19,815.90 MMBtu 21,279 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 301.24 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
District steam/hot water (sourced from offsite) 0 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
Energy from all other sources (e.g., natural gas, fuel oil, propane/LPG, district chilled water, coal/coke, biomass) 63,459.90 MMBtu 63,459.90 MMBtu
Total 83,577.04 MMBtu 84,738.90 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014

A brief description of when and why the building energy consumption baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
We are finding it confusing to enter different baseline and reporting years for those areas in STARS that require it; therefore, our rationale is to find the most reliable data across all data point in STARS in a given year for our baseline, and use that. For us, that is 2013-2014. Our hope is that future STARS reports will be more easily understood by any new staff charged with STARS reporting.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 1,630,000 Gross square feet 1,451,775 Gross square feet

Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
3.14

Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Site energy 0.05 MMBtu per square foot 0.06 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.08 MMBtu per square foot 0.09 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
13.87

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 3,250 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,765 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 25,000 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,680,000 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
9.92 Btu / GSF / Degree-Day (°F)

Documentation (e.g. spreadsheet or utility records) to support the performance year energy consumption figures reported above:
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices in regard to energy efficiency (e.g. outreach and education efforts):
Energy and water reduction strategies are included in our Green Office Certification efforts and points provided: Green Office Certification Checklist Energy 33 Points Possible, 3 Bonus ENERGY and WATER Lighting ___Our office has reminders to turn off lights when they are not in use (1) ___Energy-efficient lightbulbs (LEDs) are installed in all task lamps & applicable building lighting (2) ___We ask all staff to utilize natural daylight in offices with windows, turning off overhead lighting when possible (1) ___We do not have windows ___The lights in our vending machines are turned off (2) ___We do not have a vending machine in our building Equipment ___Our office has reminders to turn off computer monitors on nights and weekends (1) ___Our office is equipped with Energy Star/EPEAT-rated products (3) ___Our office has conducted an appliance audit and eliminated any unnecessary appliances (3) ___There are no refrigerators or other appliances older than 7 years in use by our office (3) ___Controls to our office’s thermostats are set at the recommended settings of 65-68°F in winter and 78°F in summer (2) (This is standard for buildings connected to the centralized thermostat control system, however some buildings can control their thermostats.) ___ Signage for office thermostat recommended settings is posted. (1) ___We have a system (timer, reminders, assigned person, and/or power strips with switches) for turning off applicable equipment at night including desk and kitchen appliances (i.e. printers and coffee makers) and other applicable office appliances (2) ____ Procedures for housekeeping staff include checking all lights are turned off, and thermostats are set to recommend settings. (3) ___BONUS: Our bathrooms are equipped with hand dryers (3) Water ___Office ensures only low flow faucets are installed (2) ___Office posts signage next to dishwasher for water and energy saving tips (1) ___ Office does not have a dishwasher ___Office staff are aware of the importance of reporting running toilets and leaking faucets (2) ___Office posts signage with water saving tips (1) ___Office does not purchase bottled water (3)

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
Berea College uses building automation systems such as JCI and ALC in a number of buildings to regulate temperatures based on occupancy schedules. For example Lincoln and Emery. In all LEED Certified Residence Halls, windows have a sensor when shut HVAC operates normally, open windows, HVAC shuts off.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Berea College has just competed a year long upgrade of nearly all of its exterior campus lighting to LED. This lighting retrofit is in addition to similar upgrades to LED made inside the campus buildings over the last few years. Together, these efforts have dramatically reduced the amount of electricity and cost associated with lighting for the college - estimated at a 65% reduction in both.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
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A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment and systems with high efficiency alternatives (e.g. building re-commissioning or retrofit programs):
After conducting an energy use study in all residence halls for individual dorm refrigerators, it was determined that the college would save money by furnishing all first year residence halls with one, Energy Star dorm refrigerator per room. Up until 2015, there was no policy in place to limit the number and types of refrigerators allowed. The majority were not Energy Star, and some rooms contained two. Additionally many fridges were abandoned at the end of the year, found in dumpsters. Now, we have reduced our energy consumption and, in addition, have stopped the need for incoming first year's to purchase a fridge each year.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data regarding natural gas consumption and #2 fuel oil for buildings on campus (entered in "Energy from all other sources") are placeholder numbers; the totals for both the baseline and performance year are based on natural gas consumption and fuel oil use during CY 2016. This was the only data regarding use of heating and cooking fuels in our buildings available at the time of submission, and it allows our total energy usage for both years to be reasonable approximations of reality.

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.