Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.82
Liaison Konrad Schlarbaum
Submission Date Feb. 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-8: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.78 / 6.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total building energy consumption, all sources (transportation fuels excluded):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total building energy consumption 147,632 MMBtu 117,203 MMBtu

Purchased electricity and steam:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 74,668 MMBtu 63,760 MMBtu
District steam/hot water 0 MMBtu 0 MMBtu

Gross floor area of building space::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 1,832,183 Gross square feet 1,392,472 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year::
Floor Area
Laboratory space 156,000 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F)::
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 6,119
Cooling degree days 781

Source-site ratios::
Source-Site Ratio (see help icon above)
Grid-purchased electricity 3.14
District steam/hot water 1

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods)::
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2012 June 30, 2013
Baseline Year July 1, 2006 June 30, 2007

A brief description of when and why the building energy consumption baseline was adopted:

2006 is the first year for which we have complete, accurate utility data, including electricity and natural gas.


A brief description of any building temperature standards employed by the institution:

Our campus has a BAS system in place to turn off air handlers during the night in most campus buildings according to class schedule. In our new Science and Engineering building, we have occupancy sensors that disable air and lighting in unused rooms during the day.

We do turn off air handlers at night in areas that are empty or mostly empty, office areas in SENG, COB, Dwire, U-hall, Main Hall, Cragmor Hall,Engineering, Centennial Hall and the library.In SENG we also use occupancy sensors in the rooms to turn off the air and lights to those areas, or turn down to a minimum when no one is in the area.

For our climate, we have established 71 degrees F for our wintertime temperature setpoint and 77 degrees F for our summertime temperature setpoint.


A brief description of any light emitting diode (LED) lighting employed by the institution:

We use LEDs in our many of our parking lots and we are beginning to install LEDs in our new buildings. We have tested and evaluated LEDs in the classroom and we install them where appropriate.


A brief description of any occupancy and/or vacancy sensors employed by the institution:

Motion/vacancy/daylight sensors are used for the lighting in the common areas (bathrooms, hallways) of most of the buildings on campus. In newly-constructed buildings, we are installing these sensors in all areas of the buildings where appropriate including all offices.


A brief description of any passive solar heating employed by the institution:

N/A


A brief description of any ground-source heat pumps employed by the institution:

N/A


A brief description of any cogeneration technologies employed by the institution:

N/A


A brief description of any building recommissioning or retrofit program employed by the institution:

The university has an energy performance fund to apply toward retrofit projects. Thus far this has been used for lighting retrofits, HVAC equipment, toilets, occupancy and daylight sensors, and enhanced BAS systems. There is a plan this year to conduct retro-commissioning for several buildings.


A brief description of any energy metering and management systems employed by the institution:

The campus uses Setpoint Building Automation Systems to monitor and manage building mechanical and energy systems. Remote, web-based access is provided by Delta software. With this software, we can monitor electricity and natural usage at 15-minute intervals. Data includes peak and rate use and running totals. The system also supports alarms and automated actions.
UCCS has also started installing LUCID systems to display utility use in the residence halls.


A brief description of the institution's program to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment and systems with high efficiency alternatives:

Whenever feasible, we replace appliances, equipment and building systems with high-efficiency, Energy Star (when available) equipment. When available, we have participated in the Governor's Energy Office program to switch out old refrigerators.
When Centennial Hall was renovated, all appliances that could be were switched to Energy Star.


A brief description of any energy-efficient landscape design initiatives employed by the institution:

Where feasible, we have installed solar lighting, such as for our campus signs, flagpoles and other installations where outside lighting is required.


A brief description of any vending machine sensors, lightless machines, or LED-lit machines employed by the institution:

N/A


A brief description of other energy conservation and efficiency initiatives employed by the institution:

We have an energy conservation program, Greening of the Office (GOTO), where we educate faculty and staff about saving energy, water, and other resources.We participate in Campus Conservation Nationals each year to help reduce energy use in housing.


The website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
http://www.uccs.edu/sustain/operations/energy-and-greenhouse-gases.html

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.