Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.42
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Feb. 1, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Western University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.90 / 6.00 Connor Donald
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 516,620.50 MMBtu 518,476.10 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) 931,487.60 MMBtu 957,506.20 MMBtu
Total 1,448,108.10 MMBtu 1,475,982.30 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2016 Dec. 31, 2016
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):
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Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 830,066.83 Gross square meters 702,425.39 Gross square meters

Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
2.05

Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Site energy 0.16 MMBtu per square meter 0.20 MMBtu per square meter
Source energy 0.22 MMBtu per square meter 0.27 MMBtu per square meter

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
16.63

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 4,111.70 Degree-Days (°C)
Cooling degree days 487.60 Degree-Days (°C)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 545,353.85 Square meters
Healthcare space 0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
20,675,044.97 Gross square meters

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

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):
a) 181 fume hoods in two buildings have had their controls upgraded. As part of the upgrades, occupancy sensors and sache position sensors were installed. An audible alarm now alerts users when the sache is left open and there is no one using the fume hood, prompting people to close the sache. b) When recommissioning building, the occupants are trained via departmental contacts about the operation of the system (e.g., two offices share a common supply valve) and the capacities it has. Via the interaction with Western’s personnel, people develop better understanding of the buildings’ operation and identify strategies that can help them conserve energy and make their spaces more comfortable (e.g., closing blinds to avoid heat gains)

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
Some buildings have sensors (position, occupancy, etc.) that are used to control the spaces’ ventilation, temperature or lighting. The selection of the sensors or design approaches to use is dependent on the space use and building systems.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
New buildings and major renovations to existing buildings now use exclusively low-mercury LED lights.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
a) Passive solar heating: New constructions are designed to balance solar exposure and thermal energy performance. New buildings are also equipped with blinds, to limit the solar exposure during summer months, while still allowing light into the buildings. b) Our newest building was designed with photosensitive windows, which will automatically adjust their tint based on date and time, as well as weather.

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

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):
When replacing building systems or equipment, energy efficiency is always considered. In some instances, life cycle costing is the determining factor when selecting between two options (e.g., chillers). VFDs are systematically being installed throughout the campus’ older systems. When necessary pumps and fans are also replaced with new, more efficient units to accommodate for the VFDs In 2016, Western replaced an old steam boilers and related systems (at Elborn College) with high-efficiency hot water boilers and systems.

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:
Utility bills, project lists and records The information was provided by: Mary Quintana, MES, MSc, BESc, CEM®, LEED Green Associate Energy & Environment Specialist Western University e: mary.quintana@uwo.ca t: (519) 661-2111, ext 89300

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.