Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.58
Liaison Derek Nichols
Submission Date Dec. 14, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University at Buffalo
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.04 / 6.00 Derek Nichols
Sustainability Engagement Coordinator
UB Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 741,908 MMBtu 735,772 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 2,417 MMBtu 3,146 MMBtu
District steam/hot water (sourced from offsite) 0 MMBtu 71,861 MMBtu
Energy from all other sources (e.g., natural gas, fuel oil, propane/LPG, district chilled water, coal/coke, biomass) 620,381 MMBtu 639,429 MMBtu
Total 1,364,706 MMBtu 1,450,208 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, 2013 June 30, 2014

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):

2013-2014 was used as the baseline year because that was the performance year for the last STARS submission.


Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 11,811,055 Gross square feet 11,186,689 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 0.12 MMBtu per square foot 0.13 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.25 MMBtu per square foot 0.27 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
7.99

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 5,723 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 872 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 830,105 Square feet
Healthcare space 93,866 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
13,658,997 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
15.15 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):
---

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

UB has substantial control over building occupancy hours and temperature set points throughout all of its buildings on all three campuses.


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

UB implemented the use of LED street lights in demonstration applications on campus with plans of a roll out of this technology in walkway lighting. Numerous interior LED lighting applications have been implemented and additional LED utilization will occur as suitable locations are identified. An LED task force continues to move this initiative forward.


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

The University does employ passive solar technology when the site and building design allow. Greiner Hall is an excellent example where the building's solar attitude allows winter lighting from the sun to partially heat the building at the south side of wing c and b.


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):
---

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:
---

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.