Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.24
Liaison Paul Scanlon
Submission Date Feb. 22, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Slippery Rock University
OP-5: Building Energy Consumption

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.54 / 6.00 Paul Scanlon
Special Assistant to the President
President's Office/Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

This credit is based on energy inputs from offsite sources and electricity produced by onsite renewables. When the institution purchases one fuel and uses it to produce heat and/or power, you should enter only what is purchased. For example, if the institution purchases natural gas to fuel a CHP system and produce steam and electricity, only the purchased natural gas should be reported.

Figures needed to determine total building energy consumption:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Grid-purchased electricity 94,861 MMBtu 86,967 MMBtu
Electricity from on-site renewables 8.66 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) 200,586 MMBtu 275,055 MMBtu
Total 295,455.66 MMBtu 362,022 MMBtu

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or 3-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

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):
FY 2004-2005 was selected as the baseline year for energy use because it is also used as the baseline for our GHG inventories and was the oldest year for which accurate information was available.

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area of building space 2,567,609 Gross square feet 1,916,095 Gross square feet

Source-site ratio for grid-purchased electricity:
3.14

Total building energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Site energy 0.12 MMBtu per square foot 0.19 MMBtu per square foot
Source energy 0.19 MMBtu per square foot 0.29 MMBtu per square foot

Percentage reduction in total building energy consumption (source energy) per unit of floor area from baseline:
32.14

Part 2 

Degree days, performance year (base 65 °F / 18 °C):
Degree days (see help icon above)
Heating degree days 6,221 Degree-Days (°F)
Cooling degree days 500 Degree-Days (°F)

Floor area of energy intensive space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 159,806 Square feet
Healthcare space 2,990 Square feet
Other energy intensive space

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
3,141,440 Gross square feet

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

Optional Fields 

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):
SRU provides outreach and education efforts to shape behavior change in the direction of more sustainable, energy efficient lifestyles through a number of efforts including (among others): - FYRST Seminars and tours of the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Research & Education (demonstrating energy efficient technologies); - Social media outreach; and - The "Small steps, Big payoff" SRU Energy Action Pledge. - Green Leaves Sustainable Department Certification program

A brief description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution (e.g. building temperature standards, occupancy and vacancy sensors):
Almost every campus building is tied into the campus building automation system (Tridium Niagara). The air conditioning and heating is turned from occupied mode to unoccupied mode via electronic schedules within the system. The Energy Conservation Policy requires thermostat setpoint temperatures of 68F (Winter Occupied mode), 55F (Winter Unoccupied), 75F (Summer Occupied), and 85F (Summer Unoccupied).

A brief description of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies employed by the institution:
Seesmart 4’ 15W LED Tube Light were retrofitted to replace T-12 lights in the Maintenance Center. LED light fixtures are also used extensively in the Bailey Library, and additional LED lighting, including exterior site lighting and interior building lighting, was included in a Guaranteed Energy Savings Agreement recently completed.

A brief description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies employed by the institution:
The Harmony House at the Macoskey Center employs passive solar heating in the south-facing classroom area, where concrete flooring material is used to absorb heat during the day. The windows in this area are also provided with curtains for use to retain heat in the building during winter nighttime hours. The Center also employs a geothermal heat pump HVAC system.

A brief description of co-generation employed by the institution, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP):
NA

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):
Projects included in a recently-completed guaranteed energy savings agreement covered a wide range of conservation projects, including recommissioning building control systems and adding individual building sub-metering capabilities. SRU's Resource Conservation Policy also mandates the purchase of Energy Star appliances/equipment and EPEAT-certified computer equipment.

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:
Energy consumption, facilities GSF building area, and heating/cooling degree day data is provided by a third party consultant (Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute) to the PA State System of Education (PASSHE) in the form of an annual "Utility Usage Report for FY ___". This report includes the same data for all PASSHE colleges that allow us to benchmark against our sister institutions.

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.