Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.83
Liaison C Jane Hagen
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Virginia Commonwealth University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.32 / 6.00 Joseph Costa
Sustainability Projects and Program Coordinator
Sustainability
"---" 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 582,576.60 MMBtu 450,695.75 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 1,980.62 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) 555,905 MMBtu 413,827 MMBtu
Total 1,140,462.22 MMBtu 864,522.75 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2016 June 30, 2017
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):
We are using a baseline for the fiscal year 7/1/07-6/30/08. This fiscal year is from before we started making ghg reduction goals.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 8,142,593 Gross square feet 6,703,532 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 0.14 MMBtu per square foot 0.13 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.29 MMBtu per square foot 0.27 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 3,175 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,832 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,598,004 Square feet
Healthcare space 11,379.58 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
11,552,987.16 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
19.72 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):
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A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
We encourage our buildings managers to keep thermostat settings between 68-72 F in the winter and 72-76 F in the summer months to reduce heaing and coolling loads to our HVAC systems.

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
LED's lighting is routinely being utilized as we replace old fixtures such as T12 and T8 fluorescent bulbs and ballasts in renovation project through the campus. We have upgraded most of the fixtures in the Parking Decks to LED's since this lighting is on 24/7.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
We utilize large glass windows to take in natural light and to heat spaces in many of our newer buildings. Ex. McGlothin Medical Education Center uses automatice shades to let in light and also shade interior spaces based temperature and the occupancy of the space.

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
We are not utilizing any cogeneration technologies at this time. We have conducted some feasibioty studies at our main Steam Plan for the use of a combined steam and electric generation.

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):
We currently do have a a formal building recommisioning program in place, we are looking into making this a priority item and have requested funding to support in our next fiscal year. 2016.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.