Florida State University
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

The FY 2007-08 baseline year reflects the first year of reliable consumption data.

As of 2017, FSU has hired a dedicated staff member to implement a ‘Green Labs’ Laboratory Air Change Reduction program in research laboratories targeted at reducing energy waste due to HVAC service. FSU’s research buildings consume about 38% of energy on campus, with an estimated 70% being attributable to special exhaust and HVAC systems. Additionally, laboratory spaces are, on average, unoccupied for 75% of each day. FSU’s Laboratory Air Change Reduction Program aims to reduce this wasted HVAC energy and has been implemented in 2 out of about 35 research buildings. The program will continue to expand, with an estimated completion date in 2020.
Through the Green Office program, staff at FSU learn about energy usage in their offices and strategies to mitigate usage such as: turning off lights, shutting down computers, printing less, getting rid of personal printers, etc. The Green Office program is voluntary, and several individuals from each office take the leadership role with support from the Sustainable Campus Green Office Coordinator, educating colleagues about new office strategies to reduce energy waste.
In 2019 the University’s Facilities, with its expertise and knowledge embarked on a monumental energy optimization program to target 800+ campus HVAC units to improve efficiency and reduce energy and demand. This project has to date reduced energy by 4,000,000 KWH.
We at FSU using in house expertise are continually controlling and optimizing the operation of our four large district plants totaling 25,900 tons. This process has yielded efficiency improvement as well as energy reduction to the tune of 6,000,000 KWH.
Gradual optimization for several non-district campus chillers are occurring using in house expertise is generating significant cumulative M&V savings.
FSU has also upgraded several E&G buildings and Parking Garages with approximately 57,200+ LED fixtures to replace older fluorescent lamps. This has generated documented energy savings.
The district steam usage at FSU’s main campus has been optimized in 40+ buildings with a remarkable reduction in steam production at the Central Heating Plant. This project was implemented in 2020.
The waste blowdown heat available from the Central Boiler Plant was captured through a heat exchanger which so far has resulted in a metered savings of 248 MMBTU.

Vacancy sensors are used extensively throughout the campus, both in lighting and HVAC systems in many buildings. FSU utilizes a scheduling process that incorporates student class schedules and events into a database. Buildings systems are then scheduled based on occupancy. Buildings employ either an ON/OFF or temperature set back process depending upon the type of building and the specific requirements of each occupant. After hours, where possible, HVAC systems are shut down or perform at a greatly reduced capacity. In addition, most room temperatures are controlled within a standard range based on the type of systems and specific environmental requirements.

FSU’s exterior lighting standard for all new construction is LED. Most offices and classroom spaces have been converted to LED lighting.

The swimming pool at the Leach Recreation Center uses 166 solar thermal panels for pool heating. The system is capable of providing all pool heat during warmer months as well as a fraction of the heat during cooler months.

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The University upgrades energy consuming appliances and systems with high efficiency alternatives when the savings demonstrate a payback of 7 years or less.
The University has reduced its energy consumption through a variety of retro-commissioning projects, event scheduling, equipment upgrades, and automated control system improvements.
FSU continually recommissions buildings to extract additional energy savings while maintaining the appropriate environmental conditions for the spaces.