UI Energy Conservation Initiatives

ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM
Facilities Management continued its energy audit program in Fiscal Year 2006. Two significant accomplishments were developing and implementing data collection on the major energy using equipment and setting up trending on all major data points for the air handling, chilled water and steam/hot water systems in the GEF buildings. While the systems to manage this information is still in the process of being developed, these efforts represent a significant progress in UI’s ability to identify energy savings opportunities, and verify that savings are being achieved. This data is used short term to make operational changes to improve energy performance and long term to provide documentation on improvements.  

CHILLED WATER OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM
Improving chilled water efficiency in the General Education Fund buildings is an on-going energy conservation strategy of Facilities Management. In Fiscal Year 2006, this included improving maintenance procedures and chilled water interface control, coil replacement projects, and re-commissioning HVAC systems. Projects accomplished in Fiscal Year 2006 included (1) Developing procedures for and implementing internal chilled water coil cleaning of Bowen, CMAB, EMRB, MERF, Library, Lindquist, Art Building, Theatre, Hancher and Dental Science; (2) Collecting and tabulating data on chilled water pumps and chilled water coils in order to determine when to replace chilled water coils; large chilled water coils at Pharmacy and Chemistry were replaced before the 2006 cooling season to improve performance in these large use buildings; (3) Replacing 50% of the chilled water interface valves; (4) Implementing schedules for times buildings are un-occupied, changing programming of chilled water pumps at Phillips Hall and Adler Journalism Building, and re-commissioning air handlers and chilled water pumping at MacLean Hall. Re-commissioning takes existing buildings to higher productivity levels through the renovation, upgrade and/or tune-up of existing systems.

STEAM TRAP MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
The UI continued its successful Steam Trap Maintenance Program, which was initiated in Fiscal Year 2005 and is on going. One staff member is dedicated to inspecting and repairing or replacing any malfunctioning trap to correct improperly functioning steam traps that waste steam and overheat spaces. Steam trap maintenance programs typically save 5 to 10 % of the steam usage in a building.

USE UTILITY ETHERNET SYSTEM
Energy and utility information is an integral part of the safety, reliability and efficiency of the campus Utility systems. Facilities Management has connected all elements of the University’s energy supply and demand functions through a utility Ethernet system, called the Utility Network (UN). The UN It provides the ability to control systems, as well as share energy-system related information whenever and wherever it is needed.

The Utility Network Advisory Group (UNAG) was created in Fiscal Year 2006 as an advisory body, composed of representatives from utility network users and administrators, for effective communications and planning.

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