Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.23
Liaison Maria Dahmus
Submission Date June 21, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of St. Thomas
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.90 / 6.00 David Clysdale
Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor
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 112,563.50 MMBtu 133,490.79 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 163.68 MMBtu 14.19 MMBtu
District steam/hot water (sourced from offsite) 19,816.80 MMBtu 28,183.05 MMBtu
Energy from all other sources (e.g., natural gas, fuel oil, propane/LPG, district chilled water, coal/coke, biomass) 149,548.20 MMBtu 194,048.80 MMBtu
Total 282,092.18 MMBtu 355,736.83 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, 2012 June 30, 2013

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 selected the baseline based on the earliest year for which data is available in the current tracking system.


Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 3,191,084 Gross square feet 3,170,000 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 0.11 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.17 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:
19.10

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 6,293 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 916 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 97,754 Square feet
Healthcare space 3,050 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
3,481,948 Gross square feet

Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
11.24 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):
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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):

The University has standard building space temperatures between 70 (heating) and 76 (cooling) during occupied times and between 60 and 80 during unoccupied times. The building automation system (BAS) is utilized in over 95% of all buildings controlling the HVAC schedules, temperature control and alarm functions. Occupancy sensors are used throughout the buildings to control lighting ventilation systems.


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

The University began retrofitting to LED light technology in 2012/2013. The university employs LED lighting in the following areas:
- Dormitories: common area, kitchens and stairways.
- Academic buildings: common areas and stairways
- Exterior wall lighting and parking ramps.


A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
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A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
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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):

The University instituted a program of re-commissioning and continuous commissioning in 2010. A study is conducted in two to three building per year and a list of Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) is developed and implemented. ECMs include temperature control retrofits and equipment upgrades.

In 2010 and 2015, the university received awards from Xcel Energy for achieving the largest amount of natural gas savings among its commercial customers.


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.