| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.76 |
| Liaison | Brad Spanbauer |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
IN-47: Innovation A
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Brian
Kermath Sustainability Director Sustainability Office |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Biogas heat connection project
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
This renewable energy project, which has already been funded by the Public Service Commission’s Energy Innovation Grant Program, would connect the UW Oshkosh (UWO) Campus Services Center (55,300 sf) to the adjacent UWO dry anaerobic digester in order to utilize a portion of the biogas supply as a source of heat energy.
This project will help UW Oshkosh advance its efforts to reduce its energy use and Scope 1 emissions to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, as well as providing annual cost savings by avoiding the use of natural gas. By implementing this relatively simple project consisting of installing a heating loop system between two adjacent buildings, UWO will leverage an existing renewable energy campus resource, its dry digester, to offset 75% of the total natural gas heat used by an adjacent large campus building, the Campus Services Center. Based on a review of past utility data, the Campus Services Center’s total annual natural gas usage was 46,000 therms and 75% of this natural gas or 34,500 therms was equated to be the fuel use in the natural gas boiler operations. Based on monthly utility natural gas usage statements and following this same methodology, the boiler natural gas usage was estimated to be as high as 730,000 btu/hr in the winter months. UWO will monitor and record the natural gas use reduction by reviewing heat use and natural gas utility use data and prepare a monthly tracking system to document and assess the performance of the heating loop system on an ongoing basis.
Implementation of this heating project will displace about 34,500 natural gas therms annually. At an average cost of $0.505/therm, this is estimated to provide $17,400 in annual savings for UWO. With a total project cost of $495,840, UWO estimates that it would recoup UWO’s project investment in about 9.0 years
This project will help UW Oshkosh advance its efforts to reduce its energy use and Scope 1 emissions to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, as well as providing annual cost savings by avoiding the use of natural gas. By implementing this relatively simple project consisting of installing a heating loop system between two adjacent buildings, UWO will leverage an existing renewable energy campus resource, its dry digester, to offset 75% of the total natural gas heat used by an adjacent large campus building, the Campus Services Center. Based on a review of past utility data, the Campus Services Center’s total annual natural gas usage was 46,000 therms and 75% of this natural gas or 34,500 therms was equated to be the fuel use in the natural gas boiler operations. Based on monthly utility natural gas usage statements and following this same methodology, the boiler natural gas usage was estimated to be as high as 730,000 btu/hr in the winter months. UWO will monitor and record the natural gas use reduction by reviewing heat use and natural gas utility use data and prepare a monthly tracking system to document and assess the performance of the heating loop system on an ongoing basis.
Implementation of this heating project will displace about 34,500 natural gas therms annually. At an average cost of $0.505/therm, this is estimated to provide $17,400 in annual savings for UWO. With a total project cost of $495,840, UWO estimates that it would recoup UWO’s project investment in about 9.0 years
Optional Fields
None
The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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