In April 2009, two teams of student scientists from the UT Chapter of SEA started a competition to reduce energy usage in the Seay Psychology Building and the Chemical & Petoleum Engineering Building.  Read the report.

For those interested in a detailed analysis (spreadsheets: BEWARE!) of DSEMC campus-wide lighting, water and steam projects . . .

We have used a measurement and verification program* based on industry standards to measure and verify energy and water savings for phase 1 projects. For details about savings related to the specific projects, visit our Project Update or the individual Lighting, Steam or Water projects.

Reductions of CO2 emissions accomplished by our demand-side energy and water projects have been translated into equivalent usage in homes and vehicles as well as equivalent acres of pine and fir forests storing carbon (in the form of cellulose, lignin, and other compounds). Inputs for the conversions are CO2 emissions from the university’s electric power production and Environmental Protection Agency conversion factors. View this Greenhouse Gas Reductions chart to see the translations.

Each paragraph below contains a link to a larger supporting document.

DSEMC’s Measurement and Verification Program
The MV Documentation describes the bases, in terms of industry standards, for protocols used in measuring and verifying energy and water savings for the major UT conservation projects in 2008-09 (campus-wide lighting, water and steam upgrades). MV Documentation.

GHG Reductions
This table (see calculation doc below) translates the reductions of CO₂ emission and water use accomplished by the major UT conservation projects in 2008-09 (campus-wide lighting, water and steam upgrades) into equivalent usage in homes and vehicles, and into equivalent acres of pine and fir forests storing carbon in the form of cellulose, lignin, and other compounds. Inputs for the conversions are CO2 emissions from UT Austin electric power production and the conversion factors found at http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/refs.html. GHG Reduction Calculation

Lighting Savings Calculation
The following document describes the methods of measuring and calculating energy savings from the lighting upgrades on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in 2008-2009. Lighting Saving Calc. Overview

Lighting Savings Summary
This following tabulation summarizes building-by-building results of electricity demand and usage reductions accomplished by the lighting upgrades in 2008-2009 on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Lighting Savings Summary Overview

Water Savings Calculation
Narrative describing methods of measuring and calculating water savings from the 2008 upgrades to domestic water fixtures (toilets, urinals, shower heads and faucet aerators) on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus and installation of laboratory process cooling equipment (chillers) on the Main Campus. Water Saving Calc. Overview

Water Savings Summary
This tabulation summarizes building-by-building water savings accomplished by the 2008 upgrades to domestic water fixtures (toilets, urinals, shower heads and faucet aerators) on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Not included here are the estimated savings from installation of laboratory process cooling equipment (chillers) on the Main Campus. Water Savings Summary Overview

Steam Savings Calculation

Methods and results of energy savings calculations for the steam system upgrades in 2008, which consisted of replacing malfunctioning steam traps (valves) and insulating steam pipes and tanks on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Steam Saving Calc Overview

Energy Efficiency Lighting Upgrade:

• 28 M-kWh / yr of electrcity = energy savings consumption of 1,506 Austin homes / yr
• 24  million lbs / yr of CO2 = taking 1,989 cars off the road
• $1.9M reduced UT electric energy growth / yr

Steam Efficiency Upgrade:

• 23,480 MMBTU of steam energy savings = energy savings to heat & hot water for 706 Austin homes
• 5.8 M-lbs of CO2 = planting 600 acres of Texas Pine trees
• $235,000 / yr. savings to UT

Water Efficiency Upgrades:

• 60 million gallons of water / yr. = 1-yr supply of water for 831 average Austin homes
• 288,000kWh ( city pump power)
• 246,000 lbs of CO2 (based on pump power
• $ 572,000 per year savings to UT

LIGHTING RECYCLING RESULTS:

• Ballast – 612,000lbs
• Lamps – 163,995 lbs.
• Carboard – 47,000 lbs.
• Metals – 119,000 lbs.

Celebrate Earth Week 2009, April 20 -24. Vist the Earth Week site to take the Earth Pledge and view the calendar of events.

As the global scientific community continues to deliver conclusive evidence pointing to forthcoming climate changes due to human actions – thousands of Austin citizens will be showing their support for ecological sustainability and conservation this Earth Day, April 22nd.

Thank to the Austin Chronicle, we’re able review The City of Austin’s (CoA) climate protection progress and look for information that may help improve UT’s steadily growing sustainability efforts.

Quick CoA ACPP Background

Over two years ago, The City of Austin pledged to:

• Make Austin’s facilities, vehicles, and operations carbon-neutral by 2020.
• Meet 30% of all energy needs with renewable resources by 2020.
• Implement the most energy-efficient building codes in the nation.

Current Status – 2 Years Since ACPP Enactment

Achievements

“(…) the municipality itself has made impressive strides. The big positive changes at Austin Energy, Austin Water Utility, the fleet department (..), and other city departments.”

“The consciousness of council, city management, and city staff across city departments has been raised. The entire organization now regards climate protection as a core value, like environmental protection.”

Difficulties

“(…) difficulty of translating a big municipal climate-protection plan into specific practices communitywide [Austin-wide] (…)”

“Asked about the unmet goals, ACPP Director Ester Matthews described a frustrating series of bureaucratic slow-downs, interdepartmental breakdowns, lack of authority to resolve problems at the right organizational levels, inability to effectively address public outreach, and difficulties created by the program’s dual residency at Austin Energy and the city of Austin.”

UT Austin should try to learn from CoA’s difficulties as we build the detail and instruction necessary to spark an institutionalized commitment to sustainability.

The CoA has had many green successes due to the incredible team of ACPP staffers – who are directed by measurable goals, implementation plans and delegation of responsibilities.

I hope that CoA staff succeeds greatly in their attempt to implement a comprehensive climate strategy.

Want to help take charge?

Help us find and eliminate wasted energy by reporting over-cooling, over-heating, unnecessary lighting or other energy waste to the Facilities Service Department (DSEMC program) at 512-471-0492 or e-mail al.lewandowski@austin.utexas.edu or patrick.mazur@austin.utexas.edu.

DSEMC staff will try their best to address your request or comment. Thanks for your help!

This year’s Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) conference hosted some fantastic speakers. One particularly interesting talk was given by Richard R. Johnson, Director of Sustainability at Rice University.

Back in the year 2000, Rice U. was trying to address their carbon footprint but found a larger force impeding their efforts. Staff and students realized they needed to tackle administrative challenges to sustainability before effectively addressing their ecological impact.

Mr. Johnson identified the following problems and solutions:

Organizational Management

• Problem: Lack of a person to speak for environmental issues
• Proposal: Hire a sustainability coordinator

Policy

• Problem: University not fulfilling commitments as a signatory of Talloires Declaration
• Solution: Enact a university sustainability policy

Rice has a very impressive sustainability resume. Richard R. Johnson, Director of Sustainability at Rice, clearly expressed the importance of addressing administrative challenges in order to better address campus sustainability.

Thanks to everyone at TRACS for the great information!

UT Environmental Health Services (EHS) has a good list of contacts for various environmental concerns: