Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.90
Liaison Hannes Gerhardt
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of West Georgia
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.70 / 6.00 Hannes Gerhardt
Sustainability Director
Department of Geosciences
"---" 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 137,802 MMBtu 110,297 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) 50,970 MMBtu 57,028 MMBtu
Total 188,772 MMBtu 167,325 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2014 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 June 30, 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):
We are using the same baseline as we used in the Carbon Calculation.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 2,502,603 Gross square feet 2,045,821 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 0.08 MMBtu per square foot 0.08 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.19 MMBtu per square foot 0.20 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
1.98

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 2,709 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,829 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 144,958 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
2,841,847 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
14.64 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):
There is a section on energy saving practices in UWG's sustainability handbook, and in the sustainability brochure that targets incoming students. There is some passive programming related to energy saving on campus. UWG's energy program also sets out energy saving tips, targeted room temperatures, and disallows the use of personal heaters in offices.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
UWG's energy program sets given targeted temperatures for buildings and limits the ability to change temperatures in the more modern rooms. UWG's energy program gives preference to installing heating and cooling equipment with the highest possible efficiency rating (eg. SEER, % efficiency) when replacing existing equipment

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
UWG Facilities’ campus standard for lighting on all new construction projects is LED energy efficient fixtures. Facilities will continue replacing existing campus interior and exterior lighting with LED fixtures.

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

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
---

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):
All new energy consuming equipment purchased must meet or exceed the following guidelines: ● ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA Standard 90.1 and 189 ● Department of Energy’s, Energy Star Compliance Requirements ● Georgia Peach Energy Standards Program Compliant

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 space numbers given here vary from that offered in IC-2 because we are using a 3 year average in Op-5, whereas in IC-2 we are only using the current year. The total space numbers are also slightly different here as we are excluding a small housing area on campus (fraternities/sororities) where we do not have access to their electricity use as it is not paid for by the university and each unit has separate billing.

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.