Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.78
Liaison Amber Saxton
Submission Date Sept. 1, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

George Mason University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.81 / 6.00 Mary Liang
Sustainability Analyst
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 450,862 MMBtu 260,146 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 0 MMBtu 0 MMBtu
District steam/hot water (sourced from offsite) 326,966 MMBtu 290,594 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 777,828 MMBtu 550,740 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2005 June 30, 2006

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):

Mason's fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th of the following year in conjunction with its academic year. Fiscal year 2006 was chosen as a baseline since Mason signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment in 2007.


Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 8,994,238 Gross square feet 4,578,534 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 0.09 MMBtu per square foot 0.12 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.20 MMBtu per square foot 0.25 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
21.03

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 4,457 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 1,036 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 108,082 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
9,261,479 Gross square feet

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

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):

Mason's Office of Energy Management holds an annual event to encourage all students, staff, and faculty on the Fairfax campus to power down their non-critical devices. The Lights out - Power down! event aims to reduce the university's power load by 2,000 kilowatt in one hour. In addition, Mason's Housing and Residence Life provides reminders to residents to turn off, set thermostats, and take shorter showers.


A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):

George Mason University has set temperatures for hot and cold weather and installed wall mounted and ceiling mounted occupancy and vacancy sensors throughout its campus, including seldom used areas such as restrooms, conference rooms, and stairways.


A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:

At George Mason University Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology has been installed in the majority of the outdoor lighting systems on the Fairfax and Prince William Campuses. The lighting systems include road ways, parking lots, walkways and parking garage lighting systems.


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

In Exploratory Hall on Mason's Fairfax campus, daylight harvesting systems were used in the labs and the building uses a screen to evenly distribute light into the interior space to reduce heating and cooling needs and loads. Passive solar heating was also incorporated into the design of the new Health and Human Services building.


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):

Mason has completed two energy savings performance contracts, which included replacing and retrofitting to energy-efficient lighting, and installing a more efficient chiller and boiler. In 2013, Mason outlined a recommissioning schedule for its buildings in its Design Information Manual.


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:

Building space and energy consumption data is for FY 2016.


Building space and energy consumption data is for FY 2016.

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.