| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 81.82 |
| Liaison | Ryan Ihrke |
| Submission Date | Feb. 23, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Green Mountain College
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.01 / 6.00 |
Ryan
Ihrke Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Grid-purchased electricity | 4,547.26 MMBtu | 7,806.06 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site renewables | 33.15 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) | 40,773.02 MMBtu | 43,793.14 MMBtu |
| Total | 45,353.43 MMBtu | 51,599.20 MMBtu |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2006 | June 30, 2007 |
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):
FY 2007 was chosen because it is the earliest date for which we have energy consumption data and it is the baseline year we are using for all applicable credits provided data are available.
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area of building space | 493,298 Gross square feet | 478,745 Gross square feet |
Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Site energy | 0.09 MMBtu per square foot | 0.11 MMBtu per square foot |
| Source energy | 0.11 MMBtu per square foot | 0.14 MMBtu per square foot |
Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
| Degree days (see help icon above) | |
| Heating degree days | 6,558 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 632 Degree-Days (°F) |
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 4,735 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 0 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
Documentation (e.g. spreadsheet or utility records) to support the performance year energy consumption figures reported above:
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):
Each fall the college hosts a energy conservation challenge named Do it in the Dark. Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to reduce their use of electricity throughout the week and the residence halls compete to achieve the greatest reduction of electricity use.
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
The program is set to 65-70 degrees F.
A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
During the spring of 2016, LED lighting was installed in the parking lot lighting systems that could accommodate the LEDs. During the fall of 2016, LED lighting was installed in the hallways of North Residence Hall. This project was funded by the green revolving loan fund. Additional LED upgrades took place in the Waldron Athletic Complex during this same semester. In the fall of 2012, all 80 outdoor lampposts around campus were replaced with LEDs using funding from the green revolving loan fund. This project added to the existing LED installments in the main campus parking lot and the 16 LED wall pack units on building exteriors that were completed in the 2011-2012 academic year.
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
In the fall of 2012, the REED (Renewable Energy and Ecological Design) block course built the Olwen Solar Garage on the campus farm. This garage uses passive solar heating as its only heat source. It has a large south-facing wall of glass, which lets in sun to heat a concreted heat slab that comprises the floor. This heat slab re-radiates heat throughout the day and night.
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
From FY 2010 to FY 2013, the biomass plant operated as a co-generation central heat plant run by woodchips. When heat demand was high, the high steam pressure of 275 psi was run through a turbine to create electricity before being piped through campus to be used for heat. In FY 2013, this plant produced 95,383 kWhs of electricity in addition to 28,904 MMBTUs of heat.
In FY 2014 the turbine use was been suspended to maximize efficiency of heat production while transferring the production of our electricity needs to other renewable sources. Researchers have been working with the College to determine how the turbine could be brought back on-line while continuing to maximize heat production.
During the Fall 2016, engineers from the state of Vermont and researchers from South Carolina visited the biomass plant to collect data and discuss the necessary steps to bring the turbine back on line. As of February 2016, they are working with the turbine manufacturer and preparing a report for the college.
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):
In the summer of 2014, a thermal audit done by a class resulted in a renovation of the Two Editor's Inn on campus to be a model residence for energy efficiency for older buildings. The class audit was funded by the Student Campus Greening Fund. The result was a list of improvements that were then voted on by the Campus Sustainability Council as a candidate for funding from the Green Revolving Loan Fund. The Council passed the project, which also received funding from Efficiency Vermont in the form of rebates. The renovation was completed in June of 2014 by Weatherization Works and encompassed insulation in the basement, insulation in the attic, sealing of duct work, and installation of a cold climate heat pump (The first of its kind on campus). A team of two students incorporated media creation of the project into their internships. They made a video and an interpretive sign to hang inside the building.
Also in the summer of 2014, the Killington Lodge was renovated to be more energy efficient. New, high efficiency windows were installed, and the heating system was upgraded to a more efficient model.
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:
Performance year is FY 2017. Heating and cooling degree days were based on a base temperature of 65 degrees F. HDD and CDD were estimated based on an average of two nearby weather stations and two sources of weather data.
Performance year is FY 2017. Heating and cooling degree days were based on a base temperature of 65 degrees F. HDD and CDD were estimated based on an average of two nearby weather stations and two sources of weather data.
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.