Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.47
Liaison Daryl Pierson
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Portland State University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.45 / 6.00 Amanda Wolf
Program + Assessment Coordinator
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 164,767.60 MMBtu 164,451 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 133.10 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) 131,532.80 MMBtu 133,130 MMBtu
Total 296,433.50 MMBtu 297,581 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 July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

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 we have data for.


Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 5,161,397 Gross square feet 4,666,918 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 0.06 MMBtu per square foot 0.06 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.13 MMBtu per square foot 0.14 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
9.65

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 4,800.70 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 600.60 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 309,019 Square feet
Healthcare space 6,032 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
6,108,782 Gross square feet

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

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):

The Campus Sustainability Office does a New Employee presentation for all new PSU staff and faculty. This presentation goes over the University goals and what staff/faculty can do to reduce their own energy consumption.

The Campus Sustainability Office and/or Student Sustainablity Center does tabling at orientations and other events throughout the year on campus, providing students, staff, and faculty with information about how to help us reach our sustainability goals

The Campus Sustainability Office provides training for all Resident Advisors so they are have information and tips to share with their residents on how to conserve engery while living in residential facilities.

The Student Sustainability Center's EcoReps program, provides peer-to-peer educational programs for residents living in housing

The PSU Climate Champions Program is designed to promote and recognize resource conservation and stewardship within PSU departments, as well as to support the goals of our Climate Action Plan.

The Campus Sustainability Office presents to classes and at departmental meetings across campus providing education and resources to students, staff, and faculty.


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

Energy Conservation Guidelines (Heating and Ventilation):

-Conditioned spaces will be heated to a temperature range of 67-70 in the winter
and cooled, where applicable, to a temperature range of 72-76. Plan for the
season and dress appropriately.

-Personal or University owned space heaters will not be allowed, unless approval
from FPM has been granted for cases where spaces cannot otherwise be heated
to the appropriate range. Once approval has been granted, space heaters must
comply with fire code, be turned off when a space is not being occupied and be
selected with energy efficiency and safety as top priorities. FPM will then work to
identify a long range solution to heating the space to an appropriate level.

-Building ventilation will be based on actual use of the space, as determined by
Academic Schedules, Posted Building Occupancy, and Special Events.

-Windows in conditioned spaces are to remain closed when building conditioning
systems are operating.

-All supply and return air vents in offices, classrooms, and laboratories must be
unobstructed at all times.

-Utility Manager and Facilities staff will work with events scheduling team to
consolidate activities into energy efficient buildings on campus


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

Energy Conservation Guidelines (Lighting):
-All spaces will be lit to an appropriate lighting level for the tasks being performed. Extra
effort will be made to ensure that unoccupied spaces are left at minimum acceptable
levels.
-Building occupants are encouraged to take advantage of natural light, whenever
possible.
-New construction and renovation will incorporate daylight sensing technology, allowing
overhead fixtures to dim when outside lighting is sufficient.
-Utilize energy efficient bulbs in task lighting (i.e. compact fluorescent or LED)

Parking Garages have been converted to LED lighting, Lighting Retrofit Project for converting Hoffman Hall to LED lighting was approved by the Green Revolving Fund in FY 14, as was an exterior LED lighting and daylight control project for Science Building 1. All street lighting along the park blocks running through campus are also LED. PSU is currently working on several other lighting upgrades that will include LEDs.


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

-EB Heating and Cooling provided by heat pumps using geothermal wells.
-CH chillers use well water for condenser water
-A portion of our newly renovated Karl Miller Center includes passive design.


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

Last year a Heat Recovery Chiller was placed in our computer server room in Fourth Avenue Building. Last year the entire Fourth Avenue Building was heating using this method and the gas boiler was never turned on.


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):

The Green Revolving Fund (GRF) is a revolving fund that provides funding for efficiency projects across campus that support energy reduction and climate action goals. The initial fund was set up in 2013 with $500,000 from the State of Oregon for capital improvements and since has added additional funding through savings from the University’s utility budget, energy incentive rebates from the Energy Trust of Oregon, and the University’s voluntary travel offset program for a total fund of over $1.5 million.

Since inception, the GRF has supported over 15 projects and resulted in an anticipated energy savings of over $250,000 annually.

Example Projects:
-Millar Library and University Center Building retrocommissioning
-Science Research & Teaching Center stand alone chiller for energy intensive labs
-Science Research & Teaching Center installation of Zenn Valve to reduce water usage
-Millar Library LED upgrades
-Science Building One installiton of heat revoery chiller and electric hot water heater to reduce laod on campus loop boilers in the summer months

Other projects not included in the GRF: Fourth Avenue Chiller replacement and heat-recovery chiller, West Heating Plant new boilers, SRTC Heat Recovery for summer and winter operations, MCB natural gas boiler replaced electric resistance heat. CH domestic hot water now via Heat Recovery from Telecom room cooling system


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.