Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.40
Liaison Morgan Hartman
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
IN-1: Innovation 1

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Kirk Conger
Energy Engineer
Utility & Energy Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Central Renewable Energy Systems

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :

In a partnership between the City of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), starting Fall 2014, the new Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC) facilities are heated and cooled through reclaimed, non-drinkable water from the city's wastewater treatment plant. The project, known as the Central Renewable Energy System (CRES), takes reclaimed water from the adjacent municipal wastewater treatment plant and pipes it to a heat exchange facility on NIC. The reclaimed water is then returned to Salt Creek, making this a closed-loop system. Depending on the season, heat content will be absorbed or rejected to provide heating and cooling energy to the buildings on NIC. The system has a capacity to heat and cool an estimated 1.8 million square feet of space. The system is designed for expansion to meet the needs as more building open.


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

CRES is expected to reduce heating costs by about 30% and cooling costs by about 25%.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of 5):
Yes or No
Curriculum ---
Research ---
Campus Engagement ---
Public Engagement ---
Air & Climate ---
Buildings Yes
Dining Services ---
Energy Yes
Grounds ---
Purchasing ---
Transportation ---
Waste ---
Water ---
Coordination, Planning & Governance ---
Diversity & Affordability ---
Health, Wellbeing & Work ---
Investment ---

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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