Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.46
Liaison Audrey McSain
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Lehigh University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.30 / 6.00 Douglas Spengel
Associate Director Utilities and Engineering
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 238,666 MMBtu 191,310 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 18.20 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) 371,549 MMBtu 599,974 MMBtu
Total 610,233.20 MMBtu 791,284 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 Jan. 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 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):

First year of complete available data


Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 4,572,331 Gross square feet 4,171,377 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 0.13 MMBtu per square foot 0.19 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.25 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:
14.83

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 5,070.50 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,385.30 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 184,255 Square feet
Healthcare space 3,101 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
5,259,442 Gross square feet

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

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 Residence Hall Council (RHC) Eco-Rep program was established in 2011. Eco-reps are the voice for sustainability within their hall council and educate their peers living in their residential hall to be more aware of their behaviors. They help support campus sustainability efforts by embodying and promoting sustainable living within their residential halls. The RHC Eco-Reps foster sustainable behavior among their peers through fun and educational programs focused on waste and recycling, water and energy conservation, transportation, sustainable food systems, and social equity. They make sure all hall council programs are sustainable and they are the recycling expert in their halls. The RHC Eco-Reps are also the driving force during annual competitions including Energy Conservation Month (fall) and RecycleMania (spring) helping to bring glory (and sometimes prizes) to their hall!

Most of Lehigh's buildings are individually submetered for electric, and these measurements are available to the entire Lehigh community through a dashboard system developed in-house and through Lehigh's partnership with OSISoft and the on-campus deployment of the OSISoft Pi System. At the end of 2017, building automation system data for LEED-silver certified Williams Hall was also added to the OSISoft Pi System for the community to see.


A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):

The general space temperature settings are 74 for cooling and 68 for heating. Space temperatures in many buildings are monitored and adjusted remotely with the campus-wide building automation system (BAS). In general the BAS does not control lighting but most public areas like classrooms include occupancy or vacancy sensors that locally turn off lighting when the spaces are vacant.


A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:

Building lighting on all three campuses are being changed from a variety of existing lighting types to light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This is also occurring for street lighting throughout the three campuses, both for street lights maintained by the University and those maintained by the local power company. The local power company offers rebates to encourage such projects to be completed, and the University has been taking advantage of the rebate program.


A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:

Lehigh's architecture teams are designing some of these features into new buildings that are being planned for the campus. Construction of several new buildings will begin in summer 2018.


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

The University does not use a cogeneration system on site at this time.


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):

All new construction and major renovations are commissioned, and all of them will be certified to a minimum LEED silver level. Building automation controls in Zoellner Arts Center (ZAC) are being upgraded, and variable speed drives are being added to fan motors at ZAC and in other campus buildings. Besides lighting retrofit projects, future HVAC system upgrade projects are planned for the STEPS laboratory and Stabler Athletic and Convocation Center.


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