| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.66 |
| Liaison | Marianella Franklin |
| Submission Date | Sept. 20, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.85 / 6.00 |
David
Ortega Asst Dir Cooling Plant Facilities Management |
Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Grid-purchased electricity | 331,950 MMBtu | 199,157.73 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) | 67,374 MMBtu | 0 MMBtu |
| Total | 399,324 MMBtu | 199,157.73 MMBtu |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Sept. 1, 2015 | Aug. 31, 2016 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2014 |
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):
The Energy Management Plan, used as a guide and a resource for achieving the targeted savings in the report, was originally due to the U. T. System Office of Finance by May 31, 2002, and is updated every two years. In May 2004, the EMP was amended to include the requirements of the Resource Efficiency Plan (REP). In November 2005, the EMP was further amended to include the requirements of the ECP.
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area of building space | 3,973,611 Gross square feet | 2,384,411 Gross square feet |
Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Site energy | 0.10 MMBtu per square foot | 0.08 MMBtu per square foot |
| Source energy | 0.28 MMBtu per square foot | 0.26 MMBtu per square foot |
Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
| Degree days (see help icon above) | |
| Heating degree days | 318 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 5,737 Degree-Days (°F) |
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 1,310,073 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 56,972 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Building energy consumption (site energy) per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area per degree day, performance year:
Documentation (e.g. spreadsheet or utility records) to support the performance year energy consumption figures reported above:
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):
Historically, UTRGV has been to ask for individual cooperation when announcing holiday energy conservation schedules and utility shutdowns. The Sustainability Office sponsors lunch and learn seminars to educate individuals about best practices and is collaborating with the facilities department to begin energy outreach and education through the facilities planning and operations website. Additionally, the OFS website features guides and information about best practices regarding efficiency for students, faculty, and staff.
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
Some examples of energy use standards and controls for energy-consuming processes and equipment are as follows:
· Building temperature standards to increase temperatures in the Summer and decrease
during the Winter.
· Building temperature standards to set back temperatures during unoccupied periods.
· Air conditioning schedules to match occupancy periods and take advantage of unoccupied periods.
· Cooling plant & campus HVAC equipment monitored and controlled with building automation systems.
· Lighting technology changes to LED with matching lighting levels.
· Occupancy sensors automatically turn off lights when a room is not in use.
· Use of the thermal storage tank for demand response.
A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
· LED lighting technology is the standard in new buildings and major renovations.
· Several parking lots have been upgraded to LED lighting, and the plan is to continue.
· Historically, building lighting control has been mostly stand-alone; however,networking technology is improving.
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
The buildings on the North side of the Brownsville campus are provided district hot water for space heating by Texas Southmost College. This hot water service, however, is not metered.
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
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):
Through the CIP and deferred maintenance programs, capital equipment such as chillers and air handling units are periodically retired and replaced with higher efficiency units.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
UTRGV’s energy consumption practices work towards the sustainable development goal of clean energy by ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy.
UTRGV’s energy consumption practices work towards the sustainable development goal of clean energy by ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy.
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.