Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 27.06
Liaison Claire Jackson
Submission Date March 8, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Alabama in Huntsville
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.80 / 6.00 Tony Davis
Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Facilities and Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 182,194 MMBtu 182,194 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) 54,712 MMBtu 54,712 MMBtu
Total 236,906 MMBtu 236,906 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Oct. 1, 2017 Sept. 30, 2018
Baseline Year Oct. 1, 2017 Sept. 30, 2018

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):
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Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 3,555,731 Gross square feet 3,555,731 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 0.07 MMBtu per square foot 0.07 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.18 MMBtu per square foot 0.18 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
0

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 2,896 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 2,492 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 314,670 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
4,258,784 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
10.32 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):
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A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):

Occupied Space -- Summer 74-76 degrees F; Winter 69-71 F
Unoccupied Space -- Summer 85 degrees F; Winter 55 degrees F

We incorporate both vacancy and occupancy sensors in our buildings. An occupancy sensor turn lights ON automatically upon the detection of motion then turns the lights OFF automatically soon after an area is vacated. Occupancy sensors may offer an option selection to switch the occupancy sensor from automatically turning the lighting on to A vacancy sensor requires manual activation of the lighting by the occupant then turns the lights OFF automatically soon after an area is vacated.
A vacancy sensor does not offer an option of automatically turning lighting on requiring a manual button press from the occupant (manual/vacancy mode).


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

We have done some recent lighting improvements projects to the campus, although small, but well needed. We have installed all new LED lights in all the hallways at Optics (1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th). Upgraded all the lights in our Central Plant Building to LED. Upgraded a lot of the exterior lights around MSB to LEDs. We have also upgraded all the lighting in Chan Auditorium and McDonald Douglas Center to LEDs.


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

We are constantly looking at upgrading old fluorescent lights to LED, older boilers to new higher efficiency non-condensing boilers (when funding is available), & installing higher efficiency AC units. In addition to this, we have a Building Automation System that is smart enough to calculate the cooling/heating need of the building so it optimizes run time. For example, instead of starting a building 2 hours early every day, the building automation system calculates how long it takes the building to reach comfort levels and makes the necessary adjustments. If it sees it reaches the comfort level in one hour then the next day the system will start one hour early. Unfortunately, at this time, we don’t do any re-commissioning of buildings. Did you want to mention hydration stations?


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

We do have three heat machines on campus that are super-efficient. Please see this article for details. https://www.achrnews.com/articles/137379-high-performance-projects-provide-comfort-sustainability-and-roi


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):

We are constantly looking at upgrading old fluorescent lights to LED, older boilers to new higher efficiency non-condensing boilers (when funding is available), & installing higher efficiency AC units. In addition to this, we have a Building Automation System that is smart enough to calculate the cooling/heating need of the building so it optimizes run time. For example, instead of starting a building 2 hours early every day, the building automation system calculates how long it takes the building to reach comfort levels and makes the necessary adjustments. If it sees it reaches the comfort level in one hour then the next day the system will start one hour early. Unfortunately, at this time, we don’t do any re-commissioning of buildings.


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:

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.