Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.15
Liaison Sara McIntyre
Submission Date Dec. 20, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Sewanee - The University of the South
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.96 / 6.00 Rachel Petropoulos
Energy Specialist
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

This credit is based on energy inputs from offsite sources and electricity produced by onsite renewables. When the institution purchases one fuel and uses it to produce heat and/or power, you should enter only what is purchased. For example, if the institution purchases natural gas to fuel a CHP system and produce steam and electricity, only the purchased natural gas should be reported.

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 44,806 MMBtu 48,144 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) 50,295 MMBtu 74,082 MMBtu
Total 95,101 MMBtu 122,226 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2017 Dec. 31, 2017
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2013 Dec. 31, 2013

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):
Sewanee has joined the Department of Energy's Better Building Challenge in 2016 and 2013 was the base year that is being used for that challenge. Utilization of the EPA Portfolio Manager tool is required for this participation and is the data source for the above submission.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 1,494,517 Gross square feet 1,377,194 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 0.09 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.13 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:
21.87

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 3,337 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,110 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 28,341 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,602,400 Gross square feet

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

Optional Fields 

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):
Beginning in 2015, the University created the position of Energy Specialist in the Facilities Management division working on energy management issues exclusively. One vital task the Energy Specialist addresses is HVAC scheduling to match space occupancy, and nighttime, weekend and holiday setback schedules. Other objectives of this position are data analysis and monitoring of utility consumption, measuring and verifying of energy conservation measures completed, occupant education on thermal comfort features and expectations and championing energy conservation efforts on all scales; assessing cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, impact and acceptance.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
Sewanee has had a thermal comfort policy in place since 2013. A unique schedule is determined for each building which defines occupied and unoccupied times with the intent to minimize the occupied periods. The goals of thermal comfort policy are to be in the range of 68-71 degrees for winter occupied temperatures and 74-77 degrees for summer occupied temperatures. For all buildings on the Building Automation System, the unoccupied set points are 85º F for cooling and 55º F for heating.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Sewanee, while not having completed a wholesale conversion to LED lighting, approaches projects as they become feasible and logical in the remodeling of space and in new construction. Late in 2017 an upgrade of 1965 lighting controls in the duPont Library was completed employing digital controls with a WattStopper product.

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

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

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):
With the Campus Infrastrucure Renewal Program, deferred maintenance projects were addressed, many which had an energy-consuming focus and an energy savings outcome. These included roof repairs, building envelope upgrades, HVAC upgrades including the addition of several efficient condensing boilers. In 2016, a complete overhaul of the HVAC system for duPont library was completed. These mechanical and technical upgrades, along with utilization of the central chilled water plant, have resulted in significant energy savings at the library.

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:
Buildings that came on-line during the respective 12 month period were not included in the data. A complete 12-month period of consumption was needed in order to be recorded.

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.