Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 61.51
Liaison Karen Eckert, Ph.D.
Submission Date March 5, 2021
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Principia College
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.21 / 6.00 Paul Lehr
Director
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 37,048 MMBtu 37,773 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 0 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) 44,935 MMBtu 51,718 MMBtu
Total 81,983 MMBtu 89,491 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2019 Dec. 31, 2019
Baseline Year Jan. 30, 2008 Dec. 31, 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):
---

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 1,084,017 Gross square feet 1,077,376 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 0.08 MMBtu per square foot 0.08 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.15 MMBtu per square foot 0.16 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
5.90

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 6,428 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 832 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 49,003 Square feet
Healthcare space 11,092 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,204,207 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
9.38 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):

Based on lessons learned from our first RCx, we are prioritizing building-level energy meters, which will allow us to launch internal performance competitions, populate dashboards, and engage in real-time conversation about energy use. Meters have been included as base requirements in recent major renovations, and are scheduled to be installed in student residence halls.


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

The institution's building temperature standards are maintained by the Department of Facilities at 68-72'F (heating) and 74-78'F (cooling). Lighting controls with occupancy sensors have been included as base requirements in recent major renovations.


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

Taking advantage of utility incentives, the College has recently completed a campus-wide replacement of fluorescent lamps with LEDs.


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

(none)


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

(none)


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):

A comprehensive retrocommissioning study (RCx) was completed in 2020 of our largest campus building (Crafton Athletic Center @ 95,739 ft2). The study provided a building/systems description, conducted a utility analysis, assessed energy efficiency measures, and made recommendations going forward. The study "found a number of significant opportunities to reduce energy consumption with minimal investment"; every recommendation with less than a one-year payback has been implemented.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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