Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.52
Liaison Ruairi O'Mahony
Submission Date Aug. 10, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Lowell
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.95 / 6.00 Paul Piraino
Energy and Sustainability Manager
Facilities Operations & Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

This credit is based on energy inputs from offsite sources and electricity produced by onsite renewables. When the institution purchases one fuel and uses it to produce heat and/or power, you should enter only what is purchased. For example, if the institution purchases natural gas to fuel a CHP system and produce steam and electricity, only the purchased natural gas should be reported.

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 163,064 MMBtu 103,519 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 774.50 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) 288,489.22 MMBtu 272,889.85 MMBtu
Total 452,327.72 MMBtu 376,408.85 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014
Baseline Year July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

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):
NA

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 4,254,334 Gross square feet 2,510,857 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 0.11 MMBtu per square foot 0.15 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.19 MMBtu per square foot 0.24 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
20.91

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 6,495 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 691 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 386,031 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
5,026,396 Gross square feet

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

Optional Fields 

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):
Per UMass Lowell's Guideline to Energy Conservation, the temperature guideline for offices, classrooms, residences, and teaching labs is as follows: occupied temperature of 77 ºF for cooling and 70 ºF and unoccupied temperature of 85 ºF for cooling and 55 ºF for heading +/- 2 ºF. These guidelines are prescribed by the Governor's Executive Oder #484 and limit heating to a maximum of 70 ºF and cooling to no lower than 77 ºF.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Per UMass Lowell's Electrical Standards (Section 26 00 00), interior lighting must incorporate best available energy efficient technology for lamps, luminaries and control equipment. Use of LED lighting is recommended for maintenance and energy efficiency. All task lighting should be LED.

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

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

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):
Extensive retrofit programs are ongoing to replace lighting and HVAC equipment and control systems with newest technology high efficiency systems, e.g. Multi-Stack Turbo-Cor magnetic levitation bearing chillers; North Campus Steam Plant upgrade with new boilers, economizers, etc.

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:
UMass Lowell does not have district steam/ hot water.

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.