Florida Institute of Technology
IN-49: Innovation C

- This project developed an ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Level 1 Energy Audit for the Olin Engineering Complex (OEC), one of the largest and most energy-intensive buildings on the Florida Tech campus. The data collected included many physical variables, utility bills, and performance data from the building.
- Using this data and the ASHRAE Building Energy Quotient (Building EQ) portal, an overall energy efficiency score was developed for the building. The ASHRAE Building EQ portal is an online platform that analyzes data inputs, providing a building energy performance score relative to similar buildings in the same climate zone, and assists the Level 1 Audit process and documentation.
- Using the walkthrough and Building EQ findings, Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) were recommended for OEC. These EEMs are presented with specific solutions and payback periods to help inform Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be used by the building managers. By following these BMPs and including EEMs, the energy efficiency of OEC will increase, accompanied by a decrease in overall energy consumption and costs over time.
- EEMs for OEC include: perform a building envelope inspection at least once every three years, upgrade fluorescent luminaires to LED, lower heating and raise cooling temperature set-points to match the comfort range prescribed in Standard 55. These EEMs for OEC will decrease the yearly energy use and also spending on lighting and HVAC operations.

Information from Spring 2021 semester based on the sustainability senior research project of students Kyle Renz and Mile Medearis. The project was outstandingly mentored by John Constantinide, Patrick Space Force Base.