Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.71
Liaison Greg Kozak
Submission Date March 6, 2020

STARS v2.2

Northwestern University
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.60 / 6.00 Greg Kozak
Director of Sustainability
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Electricity use, performance year (report kilowatt-hours):
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

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
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

Degree days, performance year:
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)

Start and end dates of the performance year (or 3-year period):
Start date End date
Performance period Sept. 1, 2018 Aug. 31, 2019

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

Electricity use, baseline year (report 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

Gross floor area of building space, baseline year:
11,261,764 Gross square feet

Start and end dates of the baseline year (or 3-year 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-site ratio for imported electricity:
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

Percentage reduction in total source energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline:
21.93

Documentation 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:

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).


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.


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.


Website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency program is available:
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.