Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.56
Liaison Georgeann Moss
Submission Date Dec. 22, 2021

STARS v2.2

Dallas College
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.79 / 6.00 Garrett Rosser
Energy Manager
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Site energy use per unit of floor area

Performance year energy consumption

Electricity use, performance year (report kilowatt-hours):
kWh MMBtu
Imported electricity 70,547,359 Kilowatt-hours 240,707.59 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) 46,863 Kilowatt-hours 159.90 MMBtu

Stationary fuels and thermal energy, performance year (report MMBtu):
MMBtu
Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy 107,475 MMBtu
Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water 0 MMBtu

Total site energy consumption, performance year:
348,342.49 MMBtu

Performance year building space

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
4,906,241 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 692,503 Square feet
Healthcare space 21,079 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 344,843 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
6,678,248 Gross square feet

Performance year heating and cooling degree days 

Degree days, performance year:
Degree days
Heating degree days 2,489 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 2,474 Degree-Days (°F)

Total degree days, performance year:
4,963 Degree-Days (°F)

Performance period

Start and end dates of the performance year (or 3-year period):
Start date End date
Performance period Sept. 1, 2018 Aug. 31, 2019

Metric used in scoring for Part 1

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

Part 2. Reduction in source energy use per unit of floor area

Baseline year energy consumption

STARS 2.2 requires electricity data in kilowatt-hours (kWh). If a baseline has already been established in a previous version of STARS and the institution wishes to continue using it, the electricity data must be re-entered in kWh. To convert existing electricity figures from MMBtu to kWh, simply multiply by 293.07107 MMBtu/kWh.

Electricity use, baseline year (report kWh):
kWh MMBtu
Imported electricity 70,547,359 Kilowatt-hours 240,707.59 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site, non-combustion facilities/devices (e.g., renewable energy systems) 46,863 Kilowatt-hours 159.90 MMBtu

Stationary fuels and thermal energy, baseline year (report MMBtu):
MMBtu
Stationary fuels used on-site to generate electricity and/or thermal energy 107,475 MMBtu
Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water 0 MMBtu

Total site energy consumption, baseline year:
348,342.49 MMBtu

Baseline year building space

Gross floor area of building space, baseline year:
4,906,241 Gross square feet

Baseline period

Start and end dates of the baseline year (or 3-year period):
Start date End date
Baseline period Sept. 1, 2018 Aug. 31, 2019

A brief description of when and why the energy consumption baseline was adopted:
Dallas College adopted the baseline year of 2018-19 as the most reliable year for utilities data available, following the State of Texas codes (4 Tex. Gov. Code 447.009) that require higher education institutions to begin reporting energy and water consumption to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) and set targets to reduce consumption by 5% for seven consecutive years.

Source energy

Source-site ratio for imported electricity:
3

Total energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Site energy Source energy
Performance year 0.07 MMBtu per square foot 0.17 MMBtu per square foot
Baseline year 0.07 MMBtu per square foot 0.17 MMBtu per square foot

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Percentage reduction in total source energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline:
0

Optional Fields 

Documentation 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:
Dallas College adopted a Site Management Policy in September 1, 2019 to meet codes outlined by the State of Texas in areas of Energy Consumption, Energy & Water Conservation, Performance Contracting, Financing, Cost Savings, Contract Procurement, Reporting, Light Bulbs, Recycling, Mold Remediation, and Natatoriums. The Site Management Policy sets a goal to reduce consumption by 5% annually for seven consecutive years by implementing energy efficiency projects and increasing student and employee awareness of energy and sustainability. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/358?filename=CH(LEGAL).pdf

Dallas College is a pilot participant with the new EPA Energy Star Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative, or HEBI. The Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative provides a new way for colleges and universities to understand how their campus building energy performance stacks up against that of participating peer institutions. ENERGY STAR is finalizing the analysis of submitted data representing 190 unique campuses from over 90 higher education institutions across the United States and Canada. Following the scorecard distribution, be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to engage with participants and spark dialogue and action on energy efficiency in higher education through upcoming ENERGY STAR webinars. Anonymized scorecards will be issued in late Spring 2021 demonstrating how each campus ranks in energy and, if applicable, water performance based on peer groups with key institutional characteristics. The peer groups are expected to be determined by characteristics such as Carnegie Classification, institutional control, and region.

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution:
Dallas College has adopted a sustainability best practices for buildings and operations checklist that includes energy efficiency. The energy efficiency best practices include five areas: Lighting, HVAC, Computers, Measurement and Management, and Policy. https://www.dallascollege.edu/about/sustainability/resources/pages/best-practices.aspx

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Dallas College has partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps Fellowship Program in 2014, 2019, and 2021. The first EDF project focus was on energy efficiency and established a baseline of energy best practices across all campuses and locations including LED lighting, daylighting, occupancy sensors, lighting footcandles, and lighting systems. The second EDF project focused on greenhouse gas emissions including energy consumption and the third EDF project focused on supply chain management and scope 3 emissions.

Dallas College adopted a Site Management Policy in September 1, 2019 to meet codes outlined by the State of Texas in areas of Energy Consumption, Energy & Water Conservation, Performance Contracting, Financing, Cost Savings, Contract Procurement, Reporting, Light Bulbs, Recycling, Mold Remediation, and Natatoriums. The Site Management Policy section for Lightbulbs focuses on three strategies: (1) Compatible with existing light fixture, (2) Uses the fewest watts for the necessary luminous flux or light output; and (3) Is the most cost-effective, considering the factors described.

The policy takes a technology-agnostic approach whereas the industry may make available in the future a better technology than an LED such as OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) that are currently available but at greater cost today. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/358?filename=CH(LEGAL).pdf

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
​​​In May 2019, Dallas County voters approved the issuance of $1.1 billion bonds and notes to construct, improve, renovate and equip buildings for Dallas College. The Bond Phase 1 Projects across the college campuses include exploration of best available market building designs and technologies that meet the voter approved fiscal scope. https://www.dallascollege.edu/bond/pages/2019-bond-phase-1.aspx

The Sustainability Strategies that focus on Energy Efficiency for the 2019 Bond Phase 1 include:
- Building orientation to be optimized based on local sun paths and shade
- Utilization of low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Selected products and colors for exterior hardscape to reduce heat gain and building contribution to heat island effect
- Passive and active daylighting strategies in occupied spaces
- LED lighting

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution:
N/A

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace energy-consuming appliances, equipment, and systems with high efficiency alternatives:
Dallas College Facilities Improvement Plan (FIP) is a high-impact, high-investment plan to enhance critical infrastructure needs to maintain health and safety, improve major building systems, and improve sidewalks, landscaping and other general improvements.

In FY2019-20, the College invested $11.1 million in energy efficiency projects that include: EPA Energy Star certified roof replacements on 11 buildings, building energy management software, building control system components, elevator system components, central power station electronic systems, refigeration units in campus cafeteria, laboratory fume hoods, chillers and chiller system components, boiler system componnents, HVAC system components, and LED lighting.

The FY2021-22 FIP includes a recommendation of $16.5 million investment in energy efficiency proejcts. In 2021, Dallas College purchased an automated energy and utilities management platform called Watchwire produced by EnergyWatch. It provides analytics and benchmarking for all utility and commodity consumption and provides for the generation of reports focused on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The insights from Watchwire will be used to drive conversations around energy and water savings opportunities at across Dallas College. The Energywatch dashboard can be leveraged to communicate both internal and external stakeholders and suppliers.

Dallas College aspires to achieve net zero energy use at all its facilities by 2050. Net zero energy buildings are powered by renewable energy that is generated onsite. According to the Department of Energy, “a zero-energy building produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, thereby reducing the use of nonrenewable energy in the building sector.”

The overarching goal is to reduce Energy Use Intensity (EUI) to 20 KBTU/SF/year. Dallas College's Facilities Dept. has adopted a "Ten Steps to Net Zero Energy" framework of 10 categories in Existing Building and 10 categories in New Buildings. The 10 Steps to Net Zero for Existing Buildings are: (1) Roofs, (2) Orientation Mitigation, (3) Lighting Retrofit, (4) Lighting Controls, (5) Energy Management Plan, (6) Baseline Iterative Modeling and Costing Evaluation Measures, (7) HVAC System Wide Upgrades, (8) Infiltration/Exfiltration, (9) Window & Glazing Replacement, and (10) Occupant Behavior. The 10 Steps to Net Zero for New Buildings are: (1) Integrated Design, (2) Orientation, (3) Baseline Iterative Modeling and Costing Evaluation Measures, (4) Roofs, (5) HVAC Systems, (6) Windows & Glazing Systems, (7) Lighting, (8) Lighting Controls, (9) Energy Management, and (10) Occupant Behavior. View the 10 Steps to Net Zero Energy for New and Existing Buildings at https://www.dallascollege.edu/about/sustainability/resources/pages/ten-steps-net-zero.aspx

Website URL where information about the institution’s energy conservation and efficiency program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Dallas College is a pilot participant with the new EPA Energy Star Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative, or HEBI. The Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative provides a new way for colleges and universities to understand how their campus building energy performance stacks up against that of participating peer institutions.

ENERGY STAR is finalizing the analysis of submitted data representing 190 unique campuses from over 90 higher education institutions across the United States and Canada. Following the scorecard distribution, be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to engage with participants and spark dialogue and action on energy efficiency in higher education through upcoming ENERGY STAR webinars. Anonymized scorecards will be issued in late Spring 2021 demonstrating how each campus ranks in energy and, if applicable, water performance based on peer groups with key institutional characteristics.

The peer groups are expected to be determined by characteristics such as Carnegie Classification, institutional control, and region.

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.