Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.84
Liaison Natalie Sobrinski
Submission Date June 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Muhlenberg College
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.38 / 6.00 Tim Korn
Maintenance Supervisor
Plant Operations
"---" 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 67,876 MMBtu 70,470.10 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 13.63 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) 89,190.58 MMBtu 111,025.29 MMBtu
Total 157,080.21 MMBtu 181,495.39 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 June 30, 2008

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):
Building baseline chosen because it represented a high energy use period.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 1,488,494 Gross square feet 1,394,893 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 0.11 MMBtu per square foot 0.13 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.20 MMBtu per square foot 0.24 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
14.74

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 4,836 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,219.70 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 45,756 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,580,006 Gross square feet

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

Optional Fields 

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):
---

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
The campus New Science, Trumbower, Shankweiler, Seegers, Trexler Pavilion and Moyer buildings all work under the Niagara/Tridium Building Automation System. Set back temperatures are scheduled through the Tridium BAS based on building occupancy.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Muhlenberg College uses Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology in the following locations: • * Stairways in Moyer and additional recessed lights in hallway • * President's House • * East Hall through renovation • * Exterior lighting through attrition/new installs • * new office space construction/renovation in Seegers Union, Moyer and New Science • * Art Gallery & Galleria of C/A • * Pavilion main area lighting & accent lighting on top level • * Shankweiler bird display cases • * Ettinger recessed lights in tiered classrooms • * Cobra head lights on Back Drive • * General's Quarters seating area renovation • * Exit signs through renovation/attrition • * Indicator lights above fire extinguishers • * Seegers' Dining restaurant of Generals' Quarters

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
Solar Passive is used in the following locations: The Solar corridor, Robertson, South Hall Robertson and South Hall were designed with full glass southern exposure. During the winter months the full range of solar gain is introduced into a three story section of both buildings. During the summer moths the tree lined exterior shades the area and reduces the solar impact. Life Sports center was designed with a solar corridor which consists of a 115’ X 36’ angled curtain wall with full southern exposure.

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

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):
Muhlenberg College benchmarks all building utility usage to define buildings that are operating outside what would be considered an acceptable range. When buildings are identified as being outside of an acceptable operating range, further analysis of building envelope, systems and operations are completed to understand current performance. The analysis consists at a minimum a full internal investigation of equipment, utilities and building automation programming. If sufficient information regarding building performance is not identified then an ASRAE level II audit is performed. Findings from these investigations have led to retro commissioning and re-commissioning of the following buildings on campus. Baker Center for the Arts Moyer Hall East Hall Trexler Library Seegers Union

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/campuslife/sustainability/operations.html

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.