| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.13 |
| Liaison | Olivia Wiebe |
| Submission Date | Dec. 28, 2023 |
University of Idaho
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.61 / 6.00 |
Madison
Dougherty Sustainability Graduate Research Assistant College of Natural Resources |
Electricity use, performance year (report kilowatt-hours):
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity | 48,966,555 Kilowatt-hours | 167,073.89 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) | 293,161 Kilowatt-hours | 1,000.27 MMBtu |
Stationary fuels and thermal energy, performance year (report MMBtu):
| MMBtu | |
| Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy | 365,338.20 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water | 0 MMBtu |
Total site energy consumption, performance year:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 180,657 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 3,853 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 156,555 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Degree days, performance year:
| Degree days | |
| Heating degree days | 6,805 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 844 Degree-Days (°F) |
Total degree days, performance year:
Start and end dates of the performance year (or 3-year period):
| Start date | End date | |
| Performance period | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
Total site energy consumption per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
Electricity use, baseline year (report kWh):
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity | 64,514,063 Kilowatt-hours | 220,121.98 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) | 0 Kilowatt-hours | 0 MMBtu |
Stationary fuels and thermal energy, baseline year (report MMBtu):
| MMBtu | |
| Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy | 80,698 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water | 0 MMBtu |
Total site energy consumption, baseline year:
Gross floor area of building space, baseline year:
Start and end dates of the baseline year (or 3-year period):
| Start date | End date | |
| Baseline period | Jan. 1, 2005 | Dec. 31, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the energy consumption baseline was adopted:
The building energy consumption baseline, 2005, was adopted in the 2008 UI Greenhouse Gas Inventory because it is the first year for which comprehensive data are available.
Source-site ratio for imported electricity:
Total energy consumption per unit of floor area:
| Site energy | Source energy | |
| Performance year | 0.12 MMBtu per square foot | 0.20 MMBtu per square foot |
| Baseline year | 0.07 MMBtu per square foot | 0.18 MMBtu per square foot |
Percentage reduction in total source energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline:
Documentation 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:
Institutional initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices regarding energy efficiency through outreach and education efforts are supported by a broad array of partners on campus, with much of this work flowing through the Office of Sustainability and Facilities. A student-led and student-funded organization, the Office of Sustainability supports efforts to create an active culture of sustainability and we are committed to developing and maintaining healthful, educational living environments while fully integrating sustainable practices at the University of Idaho.
The Student Sustainability Cooperative hosted Earth Hour, an event where students are encouraged to turn off all electronic devices and lights from 4:00pm-5:00pm and provided educational content about where our energy comes from and how we can help reduce usage. The SSC also published a Green Living Guide with information about how to reduce electricity usage in dorms, apartments and other living groups on campus.
Social and behavior change communications, such as the Lights Out sticker campaign, support sustainable changes in knowledge, attitudes, norms, and cultural practices. We are seeking new partners interested in installing lights out stickers on light switch cover plates, and in common-use spaces such as classrooms. Partners: Facilities—Utilities & Engineering Services, College of Natural Resources, and Eco-Ambassadors.
McKinstry hosts steam plant tours for elementary, high school, and university students to showcase the use of biomass to produce heating/cooling energy and electricity as an alternative to more traditional methods.
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution:
The University of Idaho follows the most recent versions of the Building Energy Code, and frequently goes above and beyond the code to achieve LEED certifications and to receive potential energy rebates from upgrades to existing systems such as VFDs or LED retrofits. Many of these energy standards and controls are documented in the university’s Construction Standards or Administrative Procedure Manual (APM). The following are examples of these standards and controls:
On January 23, 2008, the University of Idaho set sustainable building standards by stating that “all new construction and major remodels shall be certified as meeting or exceeding a Silver LEED rating” (APM 40.03). The College of Education, remodeled in 2016 is awaiting LEED Gold certification, and the Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC), a 2017 new build is the University of Idaho’s first LEED Gold Certified building.
In addition, UI has implemented HVAC scheduling in most buildings on campus to perform night setbacks by turning off HVAC systems during unoccupied hours. Also, all new buildings have a centralized lighting system that utilizes occupancy sensors and photo sensors to reduce the overall energy consumption from lighting.
UI also enforces the Idaho Governor’s Executive Order 2005-12 Energy Conservation in State Buildings which mandates that temperature set-points in all state buildings be held to between 68-70 degrees in the winter and 74-78 degrees in the summer (APM 40.26). Other energy management recommendations included in this APM are the minimization of personal heaters, reduced hot water temperatures, vending machine lighting requirements, and assistance from occupants to turn off equipment that is not being used.
Other energy controls: temperature setpoints, nighttime setbacks, occupancy sensors, lighting control systems, and VFDs are all common on campus. Campus uses a thermal energy storage tank to chase peak cooling loads on campus, allowing chillers and cooling towers to be operated at their most efficient setpoints. Absorption chillers are used to produce campus chilled water utilizing steam derived from biomass instead of electricity.
A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
To curb energy use, UI is re-lamping much of the campus with 66,000 LED lights. Installation occurred from fall 2016 to spring 2017. In addition, an exterior LED parking lot re-lamping project is underway. Newly adopted construction standards require LED lighting, lighting controls, and light sensors. The change allows U of I to save approximately $355,000 annually in avoided energy and operational costs
https://www.uidaho.edu/news/news-articles/faculty-staff-news/2017-november/110617-campuslighting
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
Solar water heating exists on Gibb Hall, Manis Laboratory, and the 6th Street Greenhouse.
External shading on south-facing windows is used on the new Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC).
Trees and other foliage are used to provide natural shading for older buildings' facades which are susceptible to excess solar heat gain.
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution:
Excess steam from the district steam heating system is used to produce district cooling via steam absorption chillers.
UI has used biomass sourced from local lumber industry waste streams and urban waste grindings since 1986 to meet 90% of the campus steam load. In 2022 steam turbines were installed at the steam plant to offset UI’s electric bill using the steam derived from biomass energy.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment, and systems with high efficiency alternatives:
UI works with Avista Utilities to identify areas of improvement in equipment energy usage. Facilities implements rebates supplied by Avista to assist in funding for projects which lower energy consumption.
The Office of Sustainability created Green Office certifications that promote and require the purchase of energy star appliances when replacing office appliances.
Website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Marc Compton, Project Engineer, Moscow ID ECO District 1
Sources: Avista electricity and natural gas bills; Steam Plant data
Marc Compton, Project Engineer, Moscow ID ECO District 1
Sources: Avista electricity and natural gas bills; Steam Plant data
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.