| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.98 |
| Liaison | Jay Price |
| Submission Date | March 6, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.68 / 6.00 |
Jay
Price Sustainability Manager Facilities Services |
Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Grid-purchased electricity | 815,246 MMBtu | 841,387.60 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site renewables | 208.20 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) | 1,369,975 MMBtu | 950,484 MMBtu |
| Total | 2,185,429.20 MMBtu | 1,791,871.60 MMBtu |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
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):
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area of building space | 17,225,830 Gross square feet | 14,567,031 Gross square feet |
Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Site energy | 0.13 MMBtu per square foot | 0.12 MMBtu per square foot |
| Source energy | 0.23 MMBtu per square foot | 0.25 MMBtu per square foot |
Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
| Degree days (see help icon above) | |
| Heating degree days | 3,381 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 1,726 Degree-Days (°F) |
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 1,040,604 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 126,544 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
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):
The Power (Programs of Water Energy & Recycling) Challenge is an annual competition between residence halls on the UT campus to see which hall can reduce its energy and water usage and increase recycling the most over the course of a month. This event promotes a conservation ethic in campus residence halls through sustainability-themed programming throughout the month. At the end of the competition, the winning hall is awarded a trophy and a prize related to sustainability, such as a water bottle refill station.
Thousands of “Make Orange Green” switch plates have been distributed on campus to encourage building occupants to conserve energy by switching off overhead lights. Launched the ‘Switch Your Thinking’ campaign to reduce energy use on campus.
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
As part of an energy reduction campaign in 2008, the university adopted a policy that created new temperature set points for campus buildings. In accordance with this policy, buildings are be set to 68 degrees during warming seasons and to 76 degrees during cooling seasons. Additionally, Facilities Services adjusts temperature set points during holidays when students are gone for extended periods of time.
All new buildings have occupancy sensors installed and Facilities Services has also gradually been installing them in older, high traffic buildings.
A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
UT's Thompson-Boling Arena uses LED fixtures for lighting, saving up to 85% of energy compared to conventional arena metal halide lights (http://tntoday.utk.edu/2014/02/24/thompsonboling-arena-world-cuttingedge-lighting/). It is now common practice to replace any lights in buildings with LED lights when maintenance is required.
Approximately 40% of campus has transitioned to LED lighting. 100% of campus parking garages now have LED lighting.
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
The Landscape Site Standards planning document proposes that new buildings should be designed in order to benefit from a passive solar response, without compromising the passive solar response of existing spaces.
The campus is employing geothermal heating and cooling in the new Sorority Village.
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
The campus co-generates steam and electricity at our Steam Plant.
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):
The Green Office Program was developed to help offices personally contribute to the University of Tennessee’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2061. It is a 5-tiered ranking system designed to reward offices' with exemplary sustainable practices and provide support to those at the beginning of their path to sustainability.
Green Office partners receive an initial ranking (PARTICIPANT, BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM) based partially on self-reported information and partially on a brief assessment by the Office of Sustainability. Our office will then work with partners to develop a personalized roadmap for meeting sustainability objectives. The Office of Sustainability will provide both material and advisory support to Green Office partners throughout the year, working closely with an Office Liaison to identify potential avenues for improvement.
UT has undertaken several retrofitting and upgrading projects to increase energy efficiency, including lighting system upgrades, window replacements and replacing building transformers.
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:
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.