North Carolina State University
OP-8: Building Energy Consumption

NC Senate Bill 668 helped with the designation of the energy baseline.

The Sustainability Standard Operating Procedures detail temperature standards: 2.4.4 Heating and cooling set points • Set heating and cooling set points to minimize energy use while maintaining occupant comfort. • Set temperatures for occupied space to temperatures that range from 68°F to 71°F for heating and 72°F to 75°F for cooling. • Set unoccupied building setback features through the building automation system to range from 55°F to 60°F for heating and 80°F to 85°F for cooling. • Set Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) occupancy schedules through discussions with Facilities Operations and Facilities Liaisons. In general, the setback schedule takes effect when the majority of the building is unoccupied. During setback periods, utilize override push button applications where available. • Exceptions to HVAC occupancy schedules include special areas such as libraries, animal care units or research facilities that require constant or specific temperatures. • Facilities Operations evaluates requests for temperature set point and occupancy schedule exemptions on an individual basis. • Facilities Operations utilizes the most energy efficient means of supplying heating or cooling for approved off-hour/holiday requests. • Use window air conditioners only in areas that lack central cooling or proper air balance, and operate the units consistent with energy conservation. • Report areas that are too cold or too hot to the Facilities Customer Service Center.

NC State utilizes highly-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lighting where feasible. From parking decks and new construction to renovations and retrofits, the university is saving energy through this innovative technology. Featured projects include: At the time of installation, NC State’s Bragaw Residence Hall was the largest installation of LED lights (1,500) at a residence hall in the country. Wolf Ridge campus apartments feature 4,182 LED lights that save energy and maintenance costs. LED greenhouse lights use just 35 percent of the energy as traditional lights in a university greenhouse. Installation of LEDs in parking garages improves both energy efficiency and safety.

Light, motion, or infrared sensors are regularly used as the best practice approach across the university.

NC State has a long history of solar installations on campus from a 75.6 kW system that was the largest of its kind upon completion to a 112-panel solar thermal system that saves the university roughly $11,500 a year. Additionally, the university has been a leader in solar research since the earliest days of the technology. The Solar House was first opened to the public in 1981, and the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State has a focus on solar energy. The university has researched several potential solar energy sites on campus for organizations interested in partnering or donating toward a future solar installation. There are currently 14 solar-related installations on campus. For more information: https://sustainability.ncsu.edu/campus/energy-water/solar-energy/

The Chancellor's residence, The Point, utilizes a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Cates Utility Plant converts this waste heat to steam, which is used to heat nearby buildings. A 2012 renovation equipped the facility with cogeneration technology, which utilizes two natural gas-fired 5.5 megawatt combustion turbines and two 50,000 pound per hour heat recovery steam generators to help supply energy to 8 million square feet of campus buildings. An interactive online graphic shows how the new facility operates. In addition to energy savings and helping NC State become more sustainable, the facility is also a resource for teaching students about energy efficient technologies. Financed by a $61 million performance contract with Ameresco, Inc., which guarantees energy savings, the facility will pay for itself in energy savings over 17 years — without using any additional state funding.

NC State uses retro-commissioning (RCX) to identify operational and maintenance improvements in buildings and to ensure that every mechanical system achieves optimal performance and minimizes operational cost. A campus RCX team evaluates a building’s system and the building as whole to maximize operation through peak performance algorithms. System operation is improved and reduces energy waste by up to 15 percent. A properly implemented RCX project will yield a payback of less than three years.

Over 700 utility meters are read monthly. The following systems are utilized: Enterprise Level Control Systems (ELCS) is the Niagara Tridium System provided by Teng (http://www.tridium.com/) Enterprise Distributed Network Architecture (eDNA) provided by Instep (http://www.instepsoftware.com/edna_services.asp)

Ultra-low (-86°F) freezers used in research consume vast amounts of energy on campus. Energy Management launched the Ultra-Low (ULT) Freezer Rebate Program in November 2011 to upgrade the university’s climate-controlled laboratory storage by providing cost-share funding to researchers for replacement of old, inefficient freezers with new, energy-efficient equipment.

Green roofs incorporate a vegetative layer onto a rooftop, resulting in benefits such as reduced energy use, improved stormwater quality and decreased air pollution. NC State green roofs are located at Engineering Building III, JC Raulston Arboretum, James B. Hunt Jr. Library, Talley Student Union and Wolf Ridge Student Apartments.

The above technologies are employed when financially justified by vendors.

Performance contracts are a performance-based procurement method and financial mechanism for building renewal projects whereby the utility bill savings that result from the installation of new building systems pay for the project’s cost. With an established allowable payback period of 20 years and an aggregate principal amount of $100 million available, a “Guaranteed Energy Savings” performance contract (as defined in NC G.S. 143-64.17 legislation) obligates the contractor, a qualified energy services company, to pay the difference if at any time the savings fall short of the guarantee. NC State’s first performance contract was a 13-building, $17 million agreement with Schneider Electric. The project has an 11-year payback with an annual savings of roughly $1.7 million. Buildings include: Caldwell Hall, Carmichael Gym, College of Textiles, Cox Hall, Dabney Hall, McKimmon Center, Monteith Research Center, Monteith Parking Garage, Poe Hall, Research I, Structures Lab, Tompkins Hall and Winston Hall A $61 million contract with Ameresco allows NC State to generate its own power for the first time through the installation of a gas-fed combined heat and power (CHP) system, which should pay for itself in 20 years. This new system at Cates Utility Plant provides 11 megawatts of power to main campus, supplying one-third of main campus demand. The contract also upgrades Yarbrough Utility Plant on campus.