Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.69
Liaison Stephanie MacPhee
Submission Date April 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Dalhousie University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.54 / 6.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

This credit is based on energy inputs from offsite sources and electricity produced by onsite renewables. When the institution purchases one fuel and uses it to produce heat and/or power, you should enter only what is purchased. For example, if the institution purchases natural gas to fuel a CHP system and produce steam and electricity, only the purchased natural gas should be reported.

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 272,249 MMBtu 273,867 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 169 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) 605,925 MMBtu 648,465 MMBtu
Total 878,343 MMBtu 922,332 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year April 1, 2016 March 31, 2017
Baseline Year April 1, 2009 March 31, 2010

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):
The 2009-2010 Baseline year is used to compare for the University Sustainability Report and the annual GHG Inventory.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 519,261 Gross square meters 468,905 Gross square meters

Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
2.05

Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Site energy 0.16 MMBtu per square meter 0.18 MMBtu per square meter
Source energy 0.21 MMBtu per square meter 0.24 MMBtu per square meter

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
13.11

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 3,650 Degree-Days (°C)
Cooling degree days 48 Degree-Days (°C)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 174,030 Square meters
Healthcare space 0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
11,588,662.76 Gross square meters

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

Optional Fields 

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):
The Sustainability Office runs campaigns and programs that support energy and water reduction such as Ecolympics, Brightest Idea competition, and lunch and learns, green building tours and education. In addition the office meets regularly with University departments such as Facilities and Ancillary services to embed energy efficiency clauses, requirements and standards in ongoing work.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
The University has a temperature standard and employs a number of controls products in systems such as lighting and HVAC systems (opitnet, occupancy, C02, VFDs ...). A set back program is in place and ongoing to make adjustments and to rectify issues such as over-rides.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Dalhousie has completed a Halifax and Agricultural campus wide lighting upgrade that employs LED technology in all parking areas, outdoor lighting, wall packs, most track lighting, chandelier and pot light, and LED tubes in some locations. Assessment of T8 to LEDs projects are ongoing.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
New buildings are being designed to consider the site location for maximizing solar gain, geoexchange is considered in each new building project. A 60 well geo-exchange system is currently being installed. The University has a number of solar installations. Solar wall is added where it makes sense at the site. We are focusing more on solar pv for the integration ease.

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
The University in 2017-2018 has upgraded the steam system in our DE system at the Agricultural campus to hot water. A ORC(hot oil) biomass co-generation system is being installed and will be operational in June 2018. For the Halifax campuses - we are actively planning a major upgrade to the Halifax Central Heating Plant system and co-generation is a strategy we are investigating.

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):
Dalhousie is upgrading existing building systems including lighting; heating, ventilation, and cooling systems; lab equipment; water fixtures, water fed and cooled units; fuel switching and additions such as renewable energy. Recommissioning has started on existing building stock. http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/Built_Environment/Existing_Building_Upgrades.html

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.