Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.55
Liaison Amy Brunvand
Submission Date April 5, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Utah
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.64 / 6.00 Matt Abbott
Sustainability Manager for FM
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 1,011,251.72 MMBtu 885,925.72 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 3,365.40 MMBtu 81.50 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) 0 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
Total 1,014,617.12 MMBtu 886,007.22 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2014 Dec. 31, 2014
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2010 Dec. 31, 2010

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 2010 baseline year was selected to maintain a consistent emission-inventory history between the performance year and the year we had previously submitted a STARS report. Performance year = 2014, based on most recent ghg inventory data (the latest accounting of energy usage from space in the inventory) - MW

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 15,320,374 Gross square feet 11,983,628 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 0.07 MMBtu per square foot 0.07 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.21 MMBtu per square foot 0.23 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
10.62

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 4,586 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,244 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 3,986,988 Square feet
Healthcare space 2,759,360 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
29,277,753 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
5.94 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):
Working through Sustainability Office staff, FM Energy Management has information for Green Teams - information is also included in outreach materials associated with Green Office Certification programs.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
FM Energy Management works to ensure buildings are only conditioned when needed - in the absence of occupancy sensors, staff monitors building occupancy and adjusts temperature settings & setbacks as appropriate. Attempts to implement lower-intensity temperature standards (higher summer / lower winter) have been postponed, but are planned in the future.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
The University of Utah continues to improve its lighting standard for exterior structures and uses LEDs in all new construction and renovation projects where applicable. Buildings, parking structures, walkways, etc. are being switched over to LEDs and are required to adhere to the University’s dark-sky policies that minimize light-pollution, and our lighting specialist in Energy Management works extensively with project teams to identify opportunities for LED installation. Energy Focus Case Study • http://www.energyfocusinc.com/lighting-resources/case-studies/university-of-utah/

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

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
The UofU has a natural gas combined heat and power (CHP) plant that serves its lower campus area. FM Operations group has created operating guidelines to ensure the plant is operating at peak efficiency (based on demand for campus heat, pricing of NG and electricity, etc.)

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):
Energy Management and Sustainability Office implemented an Energy Star purchasing requirement for new appliances. In addition, the Energy Management office will help departments looking to replace old/inefficient refrigerators with newer & efficient models through a buyback program (if LCA supports the swap).

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:
GSF for campus, healthcare/clinical, laboratories, and "energy intensive space" is from 2014 - most recent performance year for energy data, gathered in the 2014 ghg inventory. - MW

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.