Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.64
Liaison Rachael Wein
Submission Date March 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Smith College
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.39 / 6.00 Matthew Pfannenstiel
Energy Manager
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 31,079.89 MMBtu 82,125.13 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 2,108.17 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
District steam/hot water (sourced from offsite) 122,019 MMBtu 229,246 MMBtu
Energy from all other sources (e.g., natural gas, fuel oil, propane/LPG, district chilled water, coal/coke, biomass) 205,478 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
Total 360,685.06 MMBtu 311,371.13 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2005 June 30, 2006

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):
Oldest complete data available for building energy consumption. Additionally, FY 2006 is a date we have been trying to use in all areas of STARS for consistency.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 264,527.08 Gross square meters 257,898.45 Gross square meters

Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
3.14

Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Site energy 1.36 MMBtu per square meter 1.21 MMBtu per square meter
Source energy 1.71 MMBtu per square meter 2.07 MMBtu per square meter

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
17.39

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 5,665 Degree-Days (°C)
Cooling degree days 602 Degree-Days (°C)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 2,990.45 Square meters
Healthcare space 1,114.84 Square meters
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
277,269.56 Gross square meters

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

Optional Fields 

Documentation (e.g. spreadsheet or utility records) 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 (e.g. outreach and education efforts):
We started the “Shut the Sash” campaign to inform and encourage lab users about lab energy use and best practices to prevent wasted energy from keeping sashes open.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
We have no standards for space temperatures but generally heat buildings to 69F and cool to 74F. New construction includes the use of occupancy and vacancy controls per code.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Over 1600 screw in (medium base) lamps deployed in the last 3 years. Several hundred recessed LED fixtures install since 2010. Approx. 900 T-10 LED tube lamps installed FY13/14. LED exit signs were installed in John M. Green Hall. They had to be custom ordered because these signs were built into the existing millwork in an architecturally-sensitive location. Smith College Museum of Art has transitioned almost 100% of its lighting to LED, finding that it better illuminates the art without any damage. Over the past 12 months we have replaced approximately 1400 T8 Fluorescent tubes with new Philips TLED tubes that use half the power and provide equal or greater light levels. Major lighting renovations took place at our indoor track and tennis center, basketball courts, climbing gym, and pool. The new lights are new or rebuilt LED fixtures replacing T5HO and T8 Fluorescent fixtures. New fixtures in the gyms are equipped with integral occupancy sensors.

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

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
3.5 MegaWatt Solar Centaur 40 gas combustion turbine that supplies about 50% of Smith's heat and a about 65% of its electricity usage.

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):
Most recently retro commissioning approx. 1,300,000 gsf in 12 buildings FY 13/14

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.