Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 60.21
Liaison Feletia Lee
Submission Date June 28, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of North Carolina, Wilmington
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.15 / 6.00 Feletia Lee
Chief Sustainability Officer
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Site energy use per unit of floor area

Performance year energy consumption

Electricity use, performance year (report kilowatt-hours):
kWh MMBtu
Imported electricity 76,596,317 Kilowatt-hours 261,346.63 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) 0 Kilowatt-hours 0 MMBtu

Stationary fuels and thermal energy, performance year (report MMBtu):
MMBtu
Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy 1,672,059 MMBtu
Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water 0 MMBtu

Total site energy consumption, performance year:
1,933,405.63 MMBtu

Performance year building space

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
5,085,579 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 339,033 Square feet
Healthcare space 20,476 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 112,534 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
5,917,131 Gross square feet

Performance year heating and cooling degree days 

Degree days, performance year:
Degree days
Heating degree days 2,138.60 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 2,494.90 Degree-Days (°F)

Total degree days, performance year:
4,633.50 Degree-Days (°F)

Performance period

Start and end dates of the performance year (or 3-year period):
Start date End date
Performance period July 1, 2021 June 30, 2022

Metric used in scoring for Part 1

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

Part 2. Reduction in source energy use per unit of floor area

Baseline year energy consumption

STARS 2.2 requires electricity data in kilowatt-hours (kWh). If a baseline has already been established in a previous version of STARS and the institution wishes to continue using it, the electricity data must be re-entered in kWh. To convert existing electricity figures from MMBtu to kWh, simply multiply by 293.07107 MMBtu/kWh.

Electricity use, baseline year (report kWh):
kWh MMBtu
Imported electricity 69,838,915 Kilowatt-hours 238,290.38 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 1,668,503 MMBtu
Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water 0 MMBtu

Total site energy consumption, baseline year:
1,906,793.38 MMBtu

Baseline year building space

Gross floor area of building space, baseline year:
3,987,923 Gross square feet

Baseline period

Start and end dates of the baseline year (or 3-year period):
Start date End date
Baseline period July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018

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

Source-site ratio for imported electricity:
3

Total energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Site energy Source energy
Performance year 0.38 MMBtu per square foot 0.48 MMBtu per square foot
Baseline year 0.48 MMBtu per square foot 0.60 MMBtu per square foot

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Percentage reduction in total source energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline:
19.19

Optional Fields 

Documentation 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:

UNCW works with the UNC System yearly at the Appalachian State Energy Summit to create a culture of energy efficiency throughout the state. Each light switch has a "conserve energy, turn off the lights" sticker and each fume hood is also getting a energy-savings sticker. Other programs such as Gold Talon events reinforce these ideas with education, information, and recognition, as well as our Gold Talon Office recognition program that promotes the use of practices, such as turning off lights and using more natural light to encourage energy efficiency. 


A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution:

UNCW abides by Section 302 of the North Carolina Energy Conservation Code, which addresses interior design conditions. The policy requires temperatures used for load calculation to be a maximum of 72 degrees Fahrenheit for heating and a minimum of 75 degrees for cooling. Additionally, buildings are reset when unoccupied to a minimum of 77 degrees for cooling and a maximum of 60 degrees for heating.


UNCW also observes summer hours. From mid-May to mid-August, the entire campus works an alternate schedule that allows them to have a half-day on Fridays, with the campus essentially shutting down at 11:30 am. All buildings shift to unoccupied, and HVAC temperatures are adjusted for zero occupancy, allowing the campus to reap significant energy efficiencies across all buildings the entire summer.  


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

LEDs were installed in facilities that were part of an Energy Services Performance Contract (ESPC). These two contracts were recently implemented and involved upgrades to 27 campus facilities. Also, the expansion of the Student Recreation Center saw upgrading to LED lights in places like the basketball court's scoreboards. All outdoor lighting fixtures on Chancellor's Walk, Wagoner Dining Hall, and Trask Coliseum have been replaced with LED bulbs.


Funding for these retrofit projects is established with the state's 1292 fund, which allows for investment and payback for any energy use reduction retrofits. These monies roll year over year. 


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

The HUB is a Dining Facility that was built to utilize passive solar. Also, solar panels are used to ensure the Student Recreation Center's pool remains at a minimum temperature.


A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution:

UNCW does not have any cogeneration technologies installed on campus


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

Recent ESPCs have involved the replacement of large energy-intensive equipment, such as boilers and air handling units, with more efficient upgrades. The university also keeps a priority list of campus equipment that needs upgrading. After Hurricane Florence, Dobo Hall went through extensive renovations that included improving the energy efficiency of its A/C units, as well as other high-energy intensity systems. The HVAC systems in one of the larger residence halls, Seahawk Crossing, were replaced with more efficient units last summer. 


Website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.