| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.71 |
| Liaison | Julie Cahillane |
| Submission Date | March 6, 2020 |
Northwestern University
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.60 / 6.00 |
Greg
Kozak Director of Sustainability Facilities |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Site energy use per unit of floor area
Performance year energy consumption
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity | 260,221,232 Kilowatt-hours | 887,874.84 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) | 142,264 Kilowatt-hours | 485.40 MMBtu |
Stationary fuels and thermal energy, performance year (report MMBtu):
| MMBtu | |
| Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy | 1,958,108 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water | 0 MMBtu |
Total site energy consumption, performance year:
2,846,468.25
MMBtu
Performance year building space
15,049,308
Gross square feet
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 1,317,108 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 37,681.71 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 330,465 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
18,089,352.42
Gross square feet
Performance year heating and cooling degree days
| Degree days | |
| Heating degree days | 6,638 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 1,062 Degree-Days (°F) |
Total degree days, performance year:
7,700
Degree-Days (°F)
Performance period
| Start date | End date | |
| Performance period | Sept. 1, 2018 | Aug. 31, 2019 |
Metric used in scoring for Part 1
20.44
Btu / GSF / Degree-Day (°F)
Part 2. Reduction in source energy use per unit of floor area
Baseline year energy consumption
STARS 2.2 requires electricity data in kilowatt-hours (kWh). If a baseline has already been established in a previous version of STARS and the institution wishes to continue using it, the electricity data must be re-entered in kWh. To convert existing electricity figures from MMBtu to kWh, simply multiply by 293.07107 MMBtu/kWh.
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity | 259,161,593 Kilowatt-hours | 884,259.36 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) | 5,502 Kilowatt-hours | 18.77 MMBtu |
Stationary fuels and thermal energy, baseline year (report MMBtu):
| MMBtu | |
| Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy | 1,777,563 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water | 0 MMBtu |
Total site energy consumption, baseline year:
2,661,841.13
MMBtu
Baseline year building space
11,261,764
Gross square feet
Baseline period
| Start date | End date | |
| Baseline period | Sept. 1, 2011 | Aug. 31, 2012 |
A brief description of when and why the energy consumption baseline was adopted:
The FY2012 baseline was established because of our access to reliable data and anticipation of future energy efficiency projects.
Source energy
3
Total energy consumption per unit of floor area:
| Site energy | Source energy | |
| Performance year | 0.19 MMBtu per square foot | 0.31 MMBtu per square foot |
| Baseline year | 0.24 MMBtu per square foot | 0.39 MMBtu per square foot |
Metric used in scoring for Part 2
21.93
Optional Fields
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices in regard to energy efficiency:
Engagement of our students, faculty and staff is an essential component in achieving Northwestern’s energy conservation goals. Our communication strategy focuses on inspiring lasting behavioral changes through education, awareness, and motivation. Further, the value of ENERGY STAR appliances is shared through multiple communication channels.
Energy efficiency education and best practices are published in our newsletter, which reaches nearly 5,000 readers, as well as on sustainNU’s website and social media platforms.
Other engagement strategies to internal and external audiences to educate and shift behaviors around energy efficiency include:
• Earth Day Fair - Over 220 students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the fair.
• Off-Campus Living Sustainably Fair – a new event for 2019 intended to equip those living off campus with knowledge regarding energy conservation, waste reduction, and alternative transportation. The goal of the event was to connect the Northwestern community to local organizations that support sustainable living practices.
• Wildcat Welcome – Energy efficiency messaging incorporated into Wildcat Welcome, Northwestern’s new student orientation.
• Energy Conservation Basketball Game –sustainNU partnered with Northwestern Athletics and Constellation Energy to highlight energy conservation practices at a home basketball game in February.
• Green Office Certification Program – The Green Office Certification program, modeled after ENERGY STAR’s Bring Your Green to Work, has enlisted 27 new offices in the certification process this year (15 offices were previously certified).
Energy efficiency education and best practices are published in our newsletter, which reaches nearly 5,000 readers, as well as on sustainNU’s website and social media platforms.
Other engagement strategies to internal and external audiences to educate and shift behaviors around energy efficiency include:
• Earth Day Fair - Over 220 students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the fair.
• Off-Campus Living Sustainably Fair – a new event for 2019 intended to equip those living off campus with knowledge regarding energy conservation, waste reduction, and alternative transportation. The goal of the event was to connect the Northwestern community to local organizations that support sustainable living practices.
• Wildcat Welcome – Energy efficiency messaging incorporated into Wildcat Welcome, Northwestern’s new student orientation.
• Energy Conservation Basketball Game –sustainNU partnered with Northwestern Athletics and Constellation Energy to highlight energy conservation practices at a home basketball game in February.
• Green Office Certification Program – The Green Office Certification program, modeled after ENERGY STAR’s Bring Your Green to Work, has enlisted 27 new offices in the certification process this year (15 offices were previously certified).
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution:
Northwestern has a dedicated HVAC direct digital control (DDC) system and team
A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Northwestern University has undertaken an ambitious lighting upgrade program, replacing incandescent and T12 fluorescents with efficient T5 and LED fixtures across the University. When fixtures are being replaced, our operations team selects the most efficient options whenever possible. Preferred LED and T5 fixtures are specified in NU’s Design and Construction Standards, along with
occupancy sensors and, when applicable, light sensing and dimming technologies. All exit and emergency signage has been upgraded to LED technology.
occupancy sensors and, when applicable, light sensing and dimming technologies. All exit and emergency signage has been upgraded to LED technology.
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
NU has geothermal facilities at the New Kellogg School of Management Building, and Segal Visitor's Center on campus.
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution:
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment, and systems with high efficiency alternatives:
We have been replacing constant airflow fume hoods with variable airflow fume hoods to reduce energy consumption in our lab spaces.
The university also regularly takes advantage of utility company rebates to improve efficiency in our campus energy systems.
In several of our labs, Facilities Management has installed Aircuity, a system that monitors air quality in lab spaces and adjusts ventilation levels as needed. The Aircuity system saves energy by ensuring that ventilation systems run only as much as needed to maintain healthy air quality.
In support of Northwestern’s energy efficiency values, Northwestern’s campus-wide dining and catering vendor (Compass) prioritized ENERGY STAR certified equipment in their rehab of the Chicago campus catering kitchen and two dining halls on the Evanston campus this year. All new equipment is ENERGY STAR certified where available. This includes 39 total pieces of equipment ranging from refrigeration to ovens to food holding cabinets.
The university also regularly takes advantage of utility company rebates to improve efficiency in our campus energy systems.
In several of our labs, Facilities Management has installed Aircuity, a system that monitors air quality in lab spaces and adjusts ventilation levels as needed. The Aircuity system saves energy by ensuring that ventilation systems run only as much as needed to maintain healthy air quality.
In support of Northwestern’s energy efficiency values, Northwestern’s campus-wide dining and catering vendor (Compass) prioritized ENERGY STAR certified equipment in their rehab of the Chicago campus catering kitchen and two dining halls on the Evanston campus this year. All new equipment is ENERGY STAR certified where available. This includes 39 total pieces of equipment ranging from refrigeration to ovens to food holding cabinets.
Website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency program is available:
https://www.northwestern.edu/sustainability/program-areas/built-environment/energy-conservation.html
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.