Nicholas J. Hennessy, Ph.DSustainability Coordinator

Bowling Green State University

Energy Conservation Measures: It Takes a Community

What is the ECM Project?Bowling Green State University ECM-1&2•$14,000,000 Campus-wide Energy Program

•Simple Payback: 3.1 Years

•Energy Reduction: 26.1%

•CO2 Emissions Reduction: 28.4%

•10 Year Positive Cash flow: $37 million

•$1 million in utility incentives

Program Elements•Utility Metering, upgrade of BAS and incorporation of an energy dashboard.

•Replacing existing T12 with T8

•Replacing existing incandescent down lights with compact spiral fluorescent or LED.

•Replacing the existing incandescent exit signs and exterior wall-packs with LED.

•Upgrades to the central heating plant including incorporation of O2 trim, new plant controls , Stack & Blowdown Economizers and replacement of the water softener system.

•Conversion of constant air volume systems to variable volume.

•Retro-commissioning, auditing and measurement & verification.

Basic Reasons for Undertaking ECM 1 and 2

Ohio House Bill 251 compliance as well as financial savings

State institutions of higher education required to, among other things:

(1)…reduce on- and off-campus building energy consumption by at least twenty per cent by 2014, using calendar year 2004 as the benchmark year, while recognizing the diverse nature and different energy demands and uses of such buildings and measures already taken to increase building energy efficiency and conservation;

Bowling Green State University

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Project TimingECM 1(HVAC) commenced in spring

semester, 2011 and continues presently;ECM 2(lighting upgrades) commenced early

summer, 2011 and has run concurrently

Community Collaborations Needed- Who are the

players?Design & ConstructionCampus OperationsDiverse array of building managers, occupants of over 45 buildings

Our engineer; large array of contractors, subcontractors

Education of Stakeholders on campus - Strategies

Pre-Project meetings and presentations – Explain what’s happening and when;

Discussion of timelines and building interruptions

Expectations of the new infrastructureBegin discussions of behavioral

assistance in achieving resultsPre-construction buy-inTie to overall green and sustainability

developments on campus-Giving Sustainability Coordinator a role

The Project Begins…Weekly Project meetings with all

stakeholders, occurring since spring semester, 2011 run by URS

Sharing of minutesEmails to ALL building occupants prior to

the work commencing in any particular area (from D & C, offering consultation with Sustainability Coordinator or others)

Campus Operations HVAC and Electric staff serving as backup during construction – fielding daily calls/troubleshooting

Challenges FacedProject delays….(ECM 1 primarily)Extremely HOT summer! Challenges to comfort of

building occupants; raising questions about potential results, etc.

Changing out mechanicals/controls(BAS) running behind

Building-specific challenges, occupant-specific challenges

Lighting upgrades represent significant change from past

Despite challenges, continuing to reinforce overall sustainability reasons for project/changes

Our world just got brighter….

Ultimate Education- Future

Daily behavior of occupants is critical –continue to cultivate team approach

Sharing information on optimum efficiency of building changes, both for HVAC and lighting (open windows; disarming motion sensors)

Continuing to consult with individual building managers and issues, (explanation of set points, operation of motion sensors and lighting quality)

Sharing results of energy savings as team result for both electric and heating

Including students in the educational process – BG News, classes, (ODOD grant), “field trips”, before/after studies