| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.20 |
| Liaison | Jessica Thompson |
| Submission Date | June 20, 2024 |
Northern Michigan University
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.54 / 6.00 |
Jessica
Thompson AVP Sustainability People Culture & Wellbeing |
Electricity use, performance year (report kilowatt-hours):
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity | 25,135,642 Kilowatt-hours | 85,762.81 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) | 17,633,510 Kilowatt-hours | 60,165.54 MMBtu |
Stationary fuels and thermal energy, performance year (report MMBtu):
| MMBtu | |
| Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy | 311,235 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water | 0 MMBtu |
Total site energy consumption, performance year:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 25,270 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 7,038 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 69,300 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Degree days, performance year:
| Degree days | |
| Heating degree days | 7,846 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 448 Degree-Days (°F) |
Total degree days, performance year:
Start and end dates of the performance year (or 3-year period):
| Start date | End date | |
| Performance period | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
Total site energy consumption per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
Electricity use, baseline year (report kWh):
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity | 36,738,876 Kilowatt-hours | 125,353.04 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) | 17,633.51 Kilowatt-hours | 60.17 MMBtu |
Stationary fuels and thermal energy, baseline year (report MMBtu):
| MMBtu | |
| Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy | 363,467 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water | 0 MMBtu |
Total site energy consumption, baseline year:
Gross floor area of building space, baseline year:
Start and end dates of the baseline year (or 3-year period):
| Start date | End date | |
| Baseline period | July 1, 2010 | June 30, 2011 |
A brief description of when and why the energy consumption baseline was adopted:
Data for these entries came from the Annual Report_FY22-23_Consumption Data file.
Solar data from Invent demonstration array for 2023 (Jan-Dec): 17,633 KwH
The Performance year for OP5 showcases consumption at the completion of a phased-in performance contract period that began in FY10/11.
Source-site ratio for imported electricity:
Total energy consumption per unit of floor area:
| Site energy | Source energy | |
| Performance year | 0.13 MMBtu per square foot | 0.18 MMBtu per square foot |
| Baseline year | 0.14 MMBtu per square foot | 0.21 MMBtu per square foot |
Percentage reduction in total source energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline:
Documentation 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:
EcoReps conduct "Sustainability Week" on campus with several workshops scheduled each day. Green Fund project in Fall 2023 included a "PowerStrip Giveaway" and educated students about "vampire power" at Fall Fest. Facilities will send email blasts to campus on energy saving ideas or initiatives.
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution:
NMU utilizes Johnson Control Metasys for the majority of building automation functions. The building automation system is utilized to control both lighting and HVAC infrastructure. NMUs in house energy management program adjusts HVAC and Lighting schedules for all applicable buildings to ensure all systems are running at the most efficient setting based upon occupancy and need. Schedules are reviewed on a daily basis to ensure accuracy and effectiveness. In addition to effective scheduling, all systems have seasonally relevant set points (summer 74 ± 2 °F, winter 70 ± 2 °F). Occupancy sensors have been installed in initial construction for areas which have high occupant capacity. In addition to JCI Metasys, NMU has also begun to utilize KGS Clockworks fault detection software on a number of buildings. This software monitors all data points within Metasys to determine any potential system issues that are or will cause excess energy usage. NMUs energy management staff monitor this software on a daily basis and report issues to the Trades department to correct both software and hardware issues.
A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
NMU has eliminated installation of all fluorescent, incandescent lamps, HPS, and MH where applicable. In event of lamp failure, LED retrofits are being installed where available or the entire fixture is replaced as needed. Renovation and new construction specifies only LED fixtures. To date the NMU campus is approximately 15% LED converted and is anticipated to retrofit approximately 10% per year.
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
In 2022 the University installed a demonstration bifacial solar array.
Bifacial solar panels capture light from both sides, increasing year-round efficiency by up to 20%. This is a 15,000 watt (30 panels) solar array that provides more than 16 kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy. This project was a Green Fund proposal. Alumni-owned solar company, Peninsula Solar, completed the installation. The panels were installed in November 2022. In the first 6 months, we saved $850 on the electric bill for the SHINE building (a 40% reduction). The panels generate anywhere from 20-100% of the electricity needed for the building.
In 2023 the array produced 17,633 KwH of electricy.
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution:
The university co-generated electricity at the Ripley Steam Plant. In FY2022-2023 the plant co-generated 1,365,429 kWh of electricity on-site).
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment, and systems with high efficiency alternatives:
NMU utilized Johnson Controls in 2010 to perform retro-commissioning on all HVAC systems. All systems are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure there has been no drift in performance for these systems. Steam Trap Surveys, Boiler and Chiller Tuneup/Testing are all completed on an annual basis as well to ensure optimization of these system and the most efficient output. Any systems that are scheduled for repair or replacement (whether by age or in new construction) are reviewed for the potential of increased efficiency. NMU strives for LEED certification of all new construction as part of the push towards a more sustainable campus.
Website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency program is available:
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.