| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.15 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.57 / 6.00 |
Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Grid-purchased electricity | 185,909.78 MMBtu | 230,438.42 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) | 0 MMBtu | 0 MMBtu |
| Total | 185,909.78 MMBtu | 230,438.42 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, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
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):
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.
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area of building space | 5,187,930 Gross square feet | 4,743,844 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 | 0.04 MMBtu per square foot | 0.05 MMBtu per square foot |
| Source energy | 0.11 MMBtu per square foot | 0.15 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 | 3,424.70 Degree-Days (°F) |
| Cooling degree days | 1,788.50 Degree-Days (°F) |
Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 171,264 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 23,153 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):
Each year since 2008, WKU has practiced the Conservation Vacation to conserve energy during winter break, when the campus is largely unoccupied. This program includes communication to all faculty and staff regarding energy use and strategies for both university and individual conservation actions. The Conservation Vacation is observed in residence halls as well.
The WKU Energy Kiosk displays real-time energy use and associated metrics such as greenhouse gas emissions and expense. This is displayed on screens around campus and is available for public viewing from the Sustainability website.
Both guided Green Tours and Green Tour signage include education on campus energy efficiency and conservation efforts.
A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
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 Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies 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.
In 2015 and 2016, the Kentucky Museum and Diddle Arena were both upgraded to LED lighting.
A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
none
A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
none
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):
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.
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:
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.