California State University, Channel Islands
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) employs several strategies to influence shifts in individual attitudes and practices in regard to energy efficiency. The university uses social media accounts, primarily on Instagram, to share useful tips and strategies to reduce energy consumption. These tips and other posts about the value of saving energy are shared across several profiles to reach a broad audience of students, employees, and other campus stakeholders. The university also has two greenscreens that are used to post energy efficiency tips. Additionally, the sustainability office hosts regular workshops, meetings, and other training opportunities where participants learn about energy efficiency and discuss strategies.

CSU Channel Islands uses virtual timers in the Building Automation System (BAS) to control hours of operation. A BAS is a computerized, intelligent network of electronic devices, designed to monitor and control mechanical and lighting systems in a building. The timer can schedule normally occupied time periods, temporary occupancy periods and also “off-schedule” time periods for holidays.
During the off-schedule periods, building heating and ventilation will not run unless the temperature for the spaces reaches lower and higher temperature limits. The net result uses less energy and is more effective in maintaining correct temperatures during the occupied time periods.

CSU Channel Islands has LED light fixtures that illuminate the exterior columns along Santa Cruz Village that face the South Quad, and light the signature Bell Tower. We have started to add LED in parking lot lights and have installed LED wall packs on most of campus proper. We are systematically retrofitting existing fluorescent lighting with LED lighting. The campus recently completed lighting retrofits in the Grand Salon (event space) and Arroyo Gym (recreation center). There is also LED lighting throughout the LEED Gold Certified Santa Rosa Village housing complex.

The CI Power Plant Facility is a combined cycle co-generation plant. The Facility consists of an aircraft derivative gas turbine generator (the General Electric LM-2500), an unfired heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), an extraction/condensing steam turbine generator, and auxiliary equipment.

The LM-2500 gas turbine is equipped with an evaporative cooler to reduce inlet air temperature and increase plant electrical output. It normally operates at maximum continuous rated power, burning 215.2 to 223.8 million Btu per hour (lower heating value (LHV)) of natural gas to drive a generator which produces 21,489 to 22,381 KW of electric power during the six Time Of Use periods established by Southern California Edison (SCE). Water injection is used to reduce NOx emissions to 42 parts per million dry volume-referenced at 15% 02 (ppmdv).

The gas turbine exhaust is directed to the HRSG to produce intermediate and high pressure steam. NOx emissions will be further reduced to 9 ppmdv through the use of a selective catalytic reduction, SCR, unit located in the HRSG. The high pressure steam (890 psig, 830°F) along with the intermediate pressure steam (250 psig, saturated) will be directed through the extraction steam turbine to generate additional electricity (approx. 6,500 to 7,000 KWe). As required, 150 psig saturated steam will be extracted from the steam turbine to supply 125 psig steam to the University Campus and 10-12 psig steam will be extracted to run the cogeneration facility's deaerator. The remainder of the steam will be routed completely through the steam turbine, exiting at sub-atmospheric conditions. This exhaust steam will be condensed using an air cooled condenser and routed to the deaerator along with makeup water and Campus condensate return to complete the steam cycle.
Based on the anticipated steam flow rates supplied to the CSH, the Facility will generate 27,162 to 27,921 KW net electric capacity. The system is currently dispatched under a Resource Adequacy Contract with SCE. Annual fired hours are anticipated to be less than 200 hours with an availability of 98%. The system is forecasted to be available for dispatch for 8520 hours per year with 120 hours of scheduled maintenance and 120 hours of unscheduled outages.

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) controls its use of energy in buildings with a web-based building management system. It is comprised of a network of communication devices and building controllers located throughout each building and mechanical space. The function of these controls is to schedule the occupied times, operational set points, and temperatures for the lighting and ventilation systems. The campus is able to coordinate the time of use (schedule) of the buildings with our customers for the general class times and periods of use. This way the lights and HVAC systems will be off when nobody is home!

This system uses some of the latest technology using a centralized web-based server. This server is the central access to all of the buildings from anywhere there is internet access. This allows adjustment to the system from home without relying on someone driving out to the campus. This creates better customer support and uses no fuel. This system automatically collects data in the form of trend logs for system diagnostics and analysis of energy usage. This system also has built in programmable logic that responds to the ambient outside air condition to allow the use of “free cooling” when possible. This creates opportunities for the larger cooling/heating equipment to remain idle when certain conditions are met. We have currently been able to quantify electrical savings created by the energy management system by comparing one year to the next, using the data from the trend logs.

CSUCI also takes care to prioritize energy efficient appliances and equipment when replacing units on campus.