Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.81
Liaison Christa Rieck
Submission Date Jan. 4, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Houston
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.88 / 6.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 1,189,131.03 MMBtu 749,001 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 94.14 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
District steam/hot water (sourced from offsite) 471,903 MMBtu 375,935 MMBtu
Energy from all other sources (e.g., natural gas, fuel oil, propane/LPG, district chilled water, coal/coke, biomass) 432,843.19 MMBtu 443,584.81 MMBtu
Total 2,093,971.36 MMBtu 1,568,520.81 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, 2011 Dec. 31, 2011

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):

That year is when the Energy manager for the university was hired and began capturing accurate energy information for the campus.


Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 14,407,080 Gross square feet 6,701,000 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 0.15 MMBtu per square foot 0.23 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.33 MMBtu per square foot 0.48 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
32.19

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 908.50 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 3,710.40 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,108,238 Square feet
Healthcare space 46,253 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
16,785,806 Gross square feet

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

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

The University of Houston has an active LED transition program. Projects are evaluated on their potential for savings within two years of installing new LEDs. All outdoor lighting has transitioned to LED, the underground tunnel system, and major lecture halls.


A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
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A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
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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):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The campus has seen energy savings (when accounting for square foot increases) over the last three years through active programs in Facilities Management. Although the quantitative data is included in this report, much of the qualitative data was not captured due to shifting leadership and priorities in that department during the STARS reporting process.


The campus has seen energy savings (when accounting for square foot increases) over the last three years through active programs in Facilities Management. Although the quantitative data is included in this report, much of the qualitative data was not captured due to shifting leadership and priorities in that department during the STARS reporting process.

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.