Elon University
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

In previous versions of STARS, 2005 was the required baseline year.
In Elon's 2015 Sustainability Master Plan, 2005 was identified as the baseline year for energy consumption.

The Office of Sustainability held focus groups on energy use in spring 2023 to gather information from Elon students, faculty and staff about energy reduction attitudes and behaviors on campus. The results were used to inform the Office’s educational programming and were shared with Facilities Management. Two specific fall 2023 programs that came from the focus group results are a pilot program in one residential area focused on the benefits of washing clothing in cold water and a ‘Creating a More Sustainable Workplace’ session as part of the Sustainability Employee Resource Group. Both programs may be expanded and/or continued based on feedback.

Other than residential spaces, all administrative, academic, athletic and dining facilities are scheduled for time of use or occupancy through building automation with set points based on the campus Energy Conservation Policy. During the heating season, non-residential space temperatures are targeted at 69°F and 74°F during the cooling season during occupied hours. Hot Water (HW) & Chilled Water (CHW) system components (valves, pumps and fans) are proportionally controlled based on building occupancy schedules where Energy Management Sensors read: 1. Room return air temperature, humidity, mixed air temperature, supply air temperature; 2. Fan start/stop, fan status, cfm; 3. VFD status (inlet vane damper position); 4. Static pressure; 5. HW & CHW valve position; 6. Damper positions. Additionally, boilers and chillers reset operating temperatures based on outside air temperatures (outside air resets).
Many buildings on campus have motion sensors to control lighting.
Where feasible, the BAS controls for space conditioning are integrated with a space scheduling system to allow spaces to be conditioned (heated/cooled) based on usage (reservations) of the space. This system ensures spaces are comfortable when in use and set to conserve energy when not in use. The university's web-based control system enables remote access for HVAC and Control technicians to monitor, manipulate, trouble shoot and correct climate control systems to run more energy efficiently as well as improve the comfort of building occupants. At a minimum, energy consumption is monitored on a monthly basis, compared against the previous years, to monitor conservation goals. Using the web-based monitoring/control system and billing, energy consumption trend data is captured and utilized to investigate high-energy consumption (electric & natural gas – primarily) against an established baseline. This trend data can indicate run times of key systems such as pumps, chillers, boilers and other HVAC systems and when coupled with energy consumption analysis, provides useful intelligence that enables the university to manage energy and systems more efficiently.

LED lighting is the design standard for all interior, exterior and pole lighting for all new, renovation and retrofit construction. Projects for whole building and partial building re-lamping are being implemented. More projects are under review for feasibility for re-lamping programs.

Four residential buildings, a dining hall and one academic building have solar thermal panels for water heating.
There is a geothermal heat pump system for heating and cooling in the Colonnades Neighborhood.

Efficiency evaluations are done for repairs and replacements, such as the boilers, chillers, heat pumps and water heaters.

At this time other energy intensive spaces have not been identified.