Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 39.47
Liaison Kirk Hemphill
Submission Date March 1, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Florida Institute of Technology
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.21 / 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 104,913.25 MMBtu 118,702.19 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 0 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) 20,903 MMBtu 21,771.48 MMBtu
Total 125,816.25 MMBtu 140,473.67 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year May 1, 2015 April 30, 2016
Baseline Year May 1, 2012 April 30, 2013

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):
This baseline was adopted as it represented the first year that the university had complete data for all metered systems throughout the university. Any data taken before May 1, 2012 would have yielded incomplete data and misrepresented the consumption numbers. This also was chosen as the baseline as the university's energy performance contract with Siemens hadn't been fully implemented and this represented the best example of current campus operations.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 2,108,823.22 Gross square feet 1,382,379.57 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 0.06 MMBtu per square foot 0.10 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.17 MMBtu per square foot 0.29 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
41.79

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 341 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 4,042 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 114,980 Square feet
Healthcare space 1,936.32 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
2,347,497.86 Gross square feet

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

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):
One of the main drivers to improve individual attitudes and practices in regard to energy efficiency is spreading awareness. At the start of the 2016-2017 academic year, the university distributed the first Sustainability Guide. This guide provided different tips that everyone could utilize and implement to reduce their energy footprint. Florida Tech also started a pilot competition program between three residence halls called the "Live Green" challenged. Through this effort, Facilities Operations provided monthly updates on electrical consumption to the residence halls and also provided different tips on how to reduce consumption. Through this pilot initiative, the university was able to recognize an electrical consumption decrease of 8.67% between the three buildings compared to the previous year, while increasing the resident population by 67 students.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
The university uses a variety of occupancy / vacancy sensors to control lighting and bathroom fan controls. Building temperatures are maintained via the university's Automated Building Systems Engineers (ABSE) to specific standards to optimize the campus chiller network. Residence Halls on campus that have the ability to control in-room temperatures are restricted by facilities for an ability to fluctuate the temperature by 5 degrees. The ABSE's fluctuate temperature controls to optimize the air conditioning system during occupied and non-occupied hours of operation.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
LED lighting is being phased in on an as needed basis. Within the past few years, lighting retrofits consisted of T-8 replacements for lighting within a majority of campus buildings. This was part of a campus wide energy performance initiative through our commercial partner, Siemens. Moving forward, the university is committed to pursuing LED lighting replacements where applicable.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
The university utilizes geothermal heating for the LEED Silver certified Panther Aquatic Center. Ground wells serve the needs of aiding and maintaining pool temperatures without the need for mechanical heating and cooling systems.

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
N/A

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):
Although not a formalized policy, the university is actively seeking to replace existing appliances with an Energy Star rated substitution. There is also a push within the IT Department to start sourcing more energy efficient computer systems.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The data was sourced and reviewed by the university's Facilities Operations Department, accounting for all campus buildings in different regions. This data does not include FIT Aviation LLC. as that is its own business entity and their operations remain separate from the university's.

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.