| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.83 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | Jan. 9, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
OP-8: Building Energy Consumption
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.96 / 6.00 |
Total building energy consumption, all sources (transportation fuels excluded):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total building energy consumption | 193,243.27 MMBtu | 230,438.42 MMBtu |
Purchased electricity and steam:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Grid-purchased electricity | 193,094.56 MMBtu | 230,438.42 MMBtu |
| District steam/hot water | 0 MMBtu | 0 MMBtu |
Gross floor area of building space::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 5,093,168 Gross square feet | 4,743,844 Gross square feet |
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year::
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 276,712 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 23,153 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space |
Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F)::
| Degree days (see help icon above) | |
| Heating degree days | 4,695 |
| Cooling degree days | 1,188 |
Source-site ratios::
| Source-Site Ratio (see help icon above) | |
| Grid-purchased electricity | 3.14 |
| District steam/hot water | 1.20 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods)::
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2013 | June 30, 2014 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
A brief description of when and why the building energy consumption baseline was adopted:
Energy consumption data has been collected and recorded for many years. Since 2008, and with the adoption of the WKU Energy Policy, adopted December 2009, individual building metering has been systematically installed for higher resolution data observation and collection.
A brief description of any building temperature standards employed by the institution:
University Temperature Guidelines
To maintain reasonable comfort and lower energy expenditures, the University has
adopted the following temperature standards.
a. Heating
Winter heating temperatures will be set at 68-70 degrees during the occupied periods.
Temperatures will set at 60 degrees during the nights, weekends, and holidays (unoccupied periods).Consideration will be made for sensitive research laboratories and other areas with environmentally or temperature sensitive equipment or objects such as computer labs.
b. Cooling
Summer thermostat settings (air conditioning) will be set at 74
76 degrees during the occupied periods. Indoor relative humidity should be maintained to 65% or less, or values calculated using ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 2004, section 5.2, Figure 5.2.1.1. The Department of Environment, Health and Safety can assist with evaluating indoor air quail ty conditions. Temperatures will be set at 80- 85 degrees during nights, weekends, and holidays (unoccupied periods). Any exceptions to these
guidelines must be approved. Students, Faculty, and Staff are strongly encouraged to dress appropriately for the season.
A brief description of any light emitting diode (LED) lighting employed by the institution:
All surface parking lots have been upgraded to LED technology in 2014. All athletic venue scoreboards and ornamental lighting (clock tower face and holiday lights) are LEDs. The University television studio, PBS affiliate, was upgraded to LED lighting in 2009, earning a regional technical Emmy and recognition of the first university television studio to use this technology.
A brief description of any occupancy and/or vacancy sensors employed by the institution:
As part of a 2010 Energy Savings Performance Contract, more than 1400 occupancy sensors were installed in academic and administrative buildings.
A brief description of any passive solar heating employed by the institution:
A solar thermal array heats the Preston Activities Center Natatorium 8 months per year.
A brief description of any ground-source heat pumps employed by the institution:
none
A brief description of any cogeneration technologies employed by the institution:
none
A brief description of any building recommissioning or retrofit program employed by the institution:
In 2009, WKU entered upon their second Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC). WKU’s ESPC included $9.7 million in energy reducing and facility improvements. Thirty-eight existing buildings have been impacted with water and lighting improvements, touching 3.5 million square feet. The overall project has a 15 year payback period, with a guaranteed cost avoidance of more than $1 million in utilities annually.
A brief description of any energy metering and management systems employed by the institution:
Panoptix analytical software interfaces with building automation systems, utility metering, and building sub-meters. This is currently installed in 40 buildings.
The continuous commissioning feature for HVAC has already allowed for identification and correction of inefficiencies with a cost offset of more than $200,000.
A brief description of the institution's program to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment and systems with high efficiency alternatives:
WKU's 2009 Energy Policy stipulates Energy Star purchasing of appliances and equipment.
A brief description of any energy-efficient landscape design initiatives employed by the institution:
An informed irrigation system allows the landscape staff to conserve water and, consequently energy use.
All outdoor lighting is high efficiency, reduced wattage lamps.
A brief description of any vending machine sensors, lightless machines, or LED-lit machines employed by the institution:
All vending machines are Energy Star.
Elevator Misers have been installed in all campus elevators.
A brief description of other energy conservation and efficiency initiatives employed by the institution:
Winter Conservation Vacation.
Smart/consolidated scheduling of summer courses.
The website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.