Saint John's University
OP-8: Building Energy Consumption

The baseline chosen is fiscal year 2008. This is the first full fiscal year after SJU signed the ACUPCC agreement in 2007.

Academic and staff buildings have thermostats which are controlled by the KMC building management system software. During non-work hours (i.e. overnight and over weekends) the set points for those thermostats is lowered during the heating season and raised during the cooling season.

LED lighting has been installed in the SBH Auditorium, the Quad/Refectory, and the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library. LED installation is being considered for other locations on campus. Additionally, fluorescent lighting on campus has been upgraded from T-8 to T-12. New induction lighting is used in the swimming pool. The three sophomore dormitories (Patrick, Boniface, and Bernard) have all received upgraded, energy efficient lighting in the lounges and corridors.

Motion sensors are used in several areas on campus. They are used to control the lights between the stacks in the library. They are also used in some stairwells, offices, and classrooms.

The SJU solar winter greenhouse employs passive solar heating as its primary heat source.

As the on-campus Power Plant heats and cools our buildings, it also creates approximately one-fourth (25%) of the electricity consumed on campus. The primary role of steam production is to heat and cool our buildings; the electricity is a side benefit. Our boilers produce high pressure steam, which spins turbines to generate electricity. The turbines drop the steam from high pressure steam down to the low pressure steam that is used by campus buildings and steam chillers.

The Physical Plant and facilities staff are constantly looking into retrofit projects for older buildings. Many of the principles and standards established through the LEED certification program are considered when renovated pre-existing buildings.

Heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting (indoor and outdoor) on campus is controlled by a system provided by KMC Controls. The building and facilities manager and maintenance staff have access to this system to diagnose and solve problems with campus mechanical and lighting systems and to make their operation as efficient as possible. On-campus electrical use and generation, steam and chilled water production, and domestic water use is metered with the ION+ metering system from Schneider Electric. Electricity use is metered for each building, and steam and chilled water production is metered for each boiler and chiller. Additionally, the natural gas consumption of the boilers is metered through the same system. The real-time and historical ION+ metering data is available through a web browser to anyone on campus.

All appliances purchased through SJU Custodial Services are ENERGY STAR certified. This includes washers and driers in residence halls along with many other appliances.

There are currently plans for a stormwater treatment project. This would involve controlling runoff, rain gardens, etc. Construction on this project is explected to begin in 2015.

Saint John's has looked into and is considering installing Vending Miser systems around campus in order to reduce electrity usage by vending machines.

Many other energy efficiency projects have take place throughout the recent years. Some of them include: - An evaluation of all steam traps in mechanical rooms and tunnels began in 2012. All traps have been inventoried, and any leaking or defective valves have been repaired or replaced. This has been a major undertaking, and while the savings cannot easily be quantified, the resulting steam savings are expected to be significant. The inventory will continue over the next year to include traps within buildings. - In 2011, fluorescent lighting fixtures across the entire campus were upgraded from T-8 to new, more efficient T-12 models. - In 2009, electric meters were installed on all campus buildings to aid in tracking our energy consumption and conservation efforts. In subsequent years, steam and condensate meters have also been installed. Learn more about this project and see real time and historic data on energy usage for campus buildings. - The lights in the Warner Palaestra pool were replaced in 2010 with highly efficient induction lights. This upgrade was funded through the Sustainable Revolving Loan Fund and will result in signficant energy and maintenance savings. - In spring of 2010, Physical Plant crews installed steam by-pass valves for buildings with older pneumatic controls for heating and cooling systems. These valves will result in energy savings by allowing for modulation and control of the heat supply during the transitional spring and fall months. - As part of the 2009 Refectory Renovations, a new make-up air unit and new hoods were installed. Electrical savings as compared to code minimum are estimated to be be over 270,000 KWH annually and over eight million lbs of steam will be saved annually.