Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.66
Liaison Marianella Franklin
Submission Date Sept. 20, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.85 / 6.00 David Ortega
Asst Dir Cooling Plant
Facilities Management
"---" 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 331,950 MMBtu 199,157.73 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 0 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) 67,374 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
Total 399,324 MMBtu 199,157.73 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Sept. 1, 2015 Aug. 31, 2016
Baseline Year Sept. 1, 2013 Aug. 31, 2014

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):
The Energy Management Plan, used as a guide and a resource for achieving the targeted savings in the report, was originally due to the U. T. System Office of Finance by May 31, 2002, and is updated every two years. In May 2004, the EMP was amended to include the requirements of the Resource Efficiency Plan (REP). In November 2005, the EMP was further amended to include the requirements of the ECP.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 3,973,611 Gross square feet 2,384,411 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 0.10 MMBtu per square foot 0.08 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.28 MMBtu per square foot 0.26 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
0

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 318 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 5,737 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,310,073 Square feet
Healthcare space 56,972 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
6,938,489 Gross square feet

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

Optional Fields 

Documentation (e.g. spreadsheet or utility records) 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 (e.g. outreach and education efforts):
Historically, UTRGV has been to ask for individual cooperation when announcing holiday energy conservation schedules and utility shutdowns. The Sustainability Office sponsors lunch and learn seminars to educate individuals about best practices and is collaborating with the facilities department to begin energy outreach and education through the facilities planning and operations website. Additionally, the OFS website features guides and information about best practices regarding efficiency for students, faculty, and staff.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
Some examples of energy use standards and controls for energy-consuming processes and equipment are as follows: · Building temperature standards to increase temperatures in the Summer and decrease during the Winter. · Building temperature standards to set back temperatures during unoccupied periods. · Air conditioning schedules to match occupancy periods and take advantage of unoccupied periods. · Cooling plant & campus HVAC equipment monitored and controlled with building automation systems. · Lighting technology changes to LED with matching lighting levels. · Occupancy sensors automatically turn off lights when a room is not in use. · Use of the thermal storage tank for demand response.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
· LED lighting technology is the standard in new buildings and major renovations. · Several parking lots have been upgraded to LED lighting, and the plan is to continue. · Historically, building lighting control has been mostly stand-alone; however,networking technology is improving.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
The buildings on the North side of the Brownsville campus are provided district hot water for space heating by Texas Southmost College. This hot water service, however, is not metered.

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
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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):
Through the CIP and deferred maintenance programs, capital equipment such as chillers and air handling units are periodically retired and replaced with higher efficiency units.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
UTRGV’s energy consumption practices work towards the sustainable development goal of clean energy by ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy.

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.