The University of Maine System System wide Energy & Environmental Sustainability Initiatives 2012 Report

Transcription

1 The University of Maine System System wide Energy & Environmental Sustainability Initiatives 2012 Report

2 Executive Summary In 2010, the University of Maine System formed the Collaborative System wide Energy Management Committee, comprised of one representative from the University of Maine System office and one from eachof the seven universities in the system. The purpose of the System Energy Committee is to serve as a virtual energy manager for the System. This objective is achieved through ha collaborative effort by each of the universities in communicating and sharing their respective information, available resources, expertise, and perspectives in seeking to identify and realize opportunities for improving both supply and demand dside energy management, and continuing i the significant improvements made to date with respect to environmental stewardship across the seven universities of the University of Maine System. In 2011, the System Energy Committee prepared the System wide Energy & Environmental Sustainability Initiatives presentation in order to represent its collective and individual actions across the depth and breadth of the System, that document is available at: Today, this presentation builds upon these past accomplishments and reflects the new initiatives and opportunities the System Energy Committee pursues.

3 Maine s Public Universities Established in 1968, the University of Maine System is comprised of seven distinct universities, some with multiple campuses. With an enrollment headcount in excess of 30, students, it is the State of Maine s largest educational enterprise. Among the seven universities, UMS features wind; solar photovoltaic, solar thermal; air to air i heat pumps; geothermal heat pumps; and natural gas as energy source alternatives to the respective campuses. Collectively, UMS greenhouse gas emissions are down 23 percent since Energy efficiency, conservation, and sustainability energy efforts are ongoing on every campus. New and updated projects will save the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of gallons of heating oil annually. The University of Maine System s commitment to Energy and Environmental Sustainability is demonstrated continuously, as evidenced d by the many initiatives iti and accomplishments throughout the system and across the state, provided herein... Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation Energy Efficiency, Conservation, & Optimization Transportation Sustainable Building Design and Construction Outreach, Advocacy, and Public Service The Path Forward: Commitment, Planning, Implementation

4 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation UMA Bangor Natural Gas Conversions: Through the collective efforts of the System wide Energy Committee s members, the University of Maine at Augusta successfully negotiated a natural gas service contract for its UMA Bangor campus. The conversion from #2 fuel oil to natural gas has replaced approximately 70,000 gallons of fuel oil per year serving nine buildings on the campus. The boilers will retain #2 fuel oil capability, ensuring reliability, fuel supply diversity, and protection against potential costs from future natural gas price increases. This investment is resulting in a 27% reduction in carbon emissions and an expected 2 year simple payback period.

5 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation UMFK Biomass Projects: The University of Maine at Fort Kent has two biomass projects underway: The first is a 650KW pellet boiler that will serve two buildings on campus currently consuming fuel oil. The second project, in development, is the Pleasant Street Academy Biomass Boiler Project, so named to reflect the elements of educational collaboration between UMFK and the local school district (MSAD # 27) directly adjacentto to the University campus. Offloading the new biomass boiler The Project is an ambitious effort to install a central heating plant, with potentially two biomass boilers, and build an underground distribution heating system that will initially serve nine University buildings and two MSAD # 27 buildings. This project has several expected benefits: it will switch the majority of combined fuel use from foreign oil to local forest products create a strong market for local labor and forestry related businesses lessen the collective carbon footprint of the project partners allow for the removal of ten or more oil boilers that are all beyond their useful life allow for the removal of up to seven underground oil storage tanks build a solid foundation for collaboration between two government entities that can share resources into the future.

6 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation In September 2011 the University of Maine at Farmington completed the Emery Community Arts Center. ECAC is a 20,516 square foot facility, incorporating sustainable design and construction features, including 100% geothermal heating and cooling capacity. Through the energy measures incorporated in the building design, the Center is projected to save 10,750 gallons of fuel oil per year. This energy reduction will result in an avoidance of 120 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

7 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation Folsom and Pullen Halls: Building Envelope, Air Source Heat Pumps, and Biomass Boiler Installation: Building envelope improvements included new windows and building insulation. Prior to the heat pump installation, Folsom and Pullen halls together consumed 55,509 gallons of fuel oil per year. The following year the complex used less than half that total. Folsom Hall Air Source Heat Pumps UMPI has also been distinguished through two recent grant awards for the same Folsom and Pullen complex: The first award: $750,000 for the installation of a wood chip biomass boiler to heat Folsom and Pullen Halls, with a total project cost of $1,260,000. The project displaces 3,060 MMBTU (22,000 gallons of fuel) and 1,600 MTCO2e emissions per year. The second award: $800,000 funded through federal legislation, for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and an automated weather station on the roof of Folsom and Pullen. The weather station is utilized to collect information on solar radiation levels, and both assets are utilized as teaching tools, further expanding the educational experience and opportunity on campus.

8 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation USM CentralHeating Plant: Natural Gas Conversion Project Conversion of the Plant s newest and largest boiler (Boiler #3) from #6 Residual Fuel Oil to Natural Gas, with provision for future alternative fuel. Boiler #3 is the primary boiler used by USM and is large enough to carry the entire campus load throughout the year. Boilers #1 and #2 serve a reliability function as backups and have not been converted at this time. Cost: $273,400, less Efficiency Maine/ARRA Grant award of $100,000. The payback period with the grant award was less than 1 year due to fuel switching and boiler efficiency improvements. Annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction of approximately 1,048 Metric Tons, equivalent to the amount of carbon removed annually by 223 acres of pine or fir forests.

9 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation UM Central Steam Plant: Boiler Replacement Project The installation of a new 60,000 lb/hr boiler and flue gas economizer, replacing the two oldest and least efficient boilers in the Plant. The new boiler, designated Boiler 8, will have dual fuel capability, fired on natural gas with provision for renewable landfill gas. The Project underway, expected to be fully implemented in 2012, at a Budgeted Cost of $2,970,000 (less Efficiency Maine/ARRA Grant award of $700,000). Projected annual savings in excess of $900,000 for a Payback Period of approximately 2.5 years. Expected annual heating fuels reduction of approximately 30, mmbtu (million BTU), which is equivalent to 216,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil per year, or the total energy consumption of approximately 230 New England households per year. Offloading Boiler #8 Expected annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction of approximately 6,000 Metric Tons CO2e, the equivalent of taking in excess of 1100 passenger vehicles off the road.

10 Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, & Innovation Collaborative Energy Procurement: Working through the UMS Office of Strategic Procurement, several campuses locked fuel oil prices as a hedge against price volatility. Savings in excess of $230, were realized relative to the average spot market price that would have been paid for the associated quantities of fuel oil in the FY2012 heating season. This chart shows the price of #2 heating oil from May 2011 through December 2011, and the respective periods in which strategic hedges were implemented.

11 Energy Efficiency, Conservation, & Optimization From FY2004 to FY2011 the University of Maine at Machias experienced an increase in the delivered unit cost of electricity of nearly 31%, and for fuel oil an increase in excess of 140%. For that same period, the University successfully reduced its carbon footprint, and its total oil and electrical consumption by 22%. The culmination of these efforts has resulted in achieving cumulative avoided costs of $719,000 from 2004 baseline consumption, and cumulative avoided emissions of over 16,300 MTCO2e. Recent campus energy measures have been implemented in Kilburn Commons, Reynolds Center athletics complex, the O Brien House, Dorward Hall, and Sennett Hall, and have included: energy management and building control systems high efficiency gas and/or oil, staged boiler installations HVAC air handling and variable speed pumps installations Single pane, un insulated glass window replacements For the year to date in FY12, the University of Maine at Machias is realizing a nearly 28% reduction in energy fuels consumption relative to FY11.

12 Energy Efficiency, Conservation, & Optimization USM was awarded $135,000 from Efficiency Maine s competitive grant program. Combined with $200,000 in USM funds, the university will implement lighting improvements on the Gorham campus that t are expected tdto save an estimated t 676,000 kilowatthours per year, reducing the university s annual utility bill by more than $70,000, for an expected payback of just 2.6 years. Lighting retrofit of the Field House on USM s campus in Gorham. USM s lighting project will retrofit all parking lot and campus roadway fixtures in Gorham with LED lighting. In addition, all overhead dlighting fixtures in the Field House, Hill Gymnasium, and Ice Arena will be replaced with highly efficient fixtures that provide a better quality of light and feature advanced wireless controls. Users will be able to turn lights on exactly where they are needed.

13 Energy Efficiency, Conservation, & Optimization From 2006 to 2011, the seven Universities i i cumulatively l reduced their Carbon Footprint by 23%

14 Transportation Improving the pedestrian friendly campus at UM UM s Campus Master Plan includes a peripheral vehicular traffic loop concept with a pedestrian priority zone, as well as east west and north south pedestrian travel corridors. In 2011, UM rebuilt approximately 2.6 miles of bike path and installed over a half mile of new bike path in Old Town and Orono. These projects connected the UM system to the adjacent Orono Land Trust trail network, which includes 857 acres of private and public land stewarded for public nonmotorized use. UM s projects promote alternative transportation, health, and fitness. Underway is an additional quarter mile expansion on campus.

15 Sustainable Building Design and Construction UM: Student Recreation and Fitness Center USM: Abromson Community Education Center UMF: Education Center UMFK: Powell Hall USM: Wishcamper Center UMF: Francis Allen Black Hall USM: Upperclass Hall UMF: Emery Community Arts Center USM: PROP Child Care Center UM: Wells Conference Center USM: John Mitchell Center School of Applied Science, Engineering, g, and Technology UM: Foster Student Innovation Center USM: Osher Map Library UM: Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center (AEWC) UM: AEWC Offshore Wind Laboratory

16 Outreach, Advocacy, and Public Service for Our Communities and Our State University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the doorway to University of Maine expertise. For over 90 years, Cooperative Extension has been putting university research to work in homes, businesses, farms, and communities in every corner of Maine. Cooperative Extensions educational efforts Cooperative Extension s vast energy focus on: informational resources include: managing agriculture, natural resources, Energy Saving Webinars and Videos and the environment; Energy Info for Homeowners & Renters enhancing economic opportunity; and Energy Info for Small Businesses & Farms encouraging lifelong wellness Alternative EnergyInformation Energy Info for Travelers More information is available at: Or visit one of Cooperative Extension s 16 county offices located throughout Maine.

17 The Path Forward: Commitment, Planning, Opportunities Each campus President of the University of Maine System signed the agreement. The seven universities joined the greater than 670 colleges and universities that have signed to date, recognizing their unique responsibility to serve as role models for their communities and to develop solutions to reverse global warming. Each institution pledges to develop a plan for carbon neutrality.

18 The Path Forward: Commitment, Planning, Opportunities In June of 2010, the University of Maine System received $9,500,000 in funding through a State Bond toward energy and infrastructure projects for which the System will improve educational programming space and the campus environment while continuing to reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions through conservation and efficiency. To date, nearly half of the funds have been spent across the system toward these measures, such as: UMM Kilburn Commons Renovations: Included replacement of the existing boiler and air handling units with more efficient units; replacement of existing large, single glazed windows; and replacement of existing roof with improved roof insulation. UMA Bangor: Dental Program Relocation: Renovation of the existing College Center building to accommodate an expanded campus Dental Program. New windows and a new roof were installed. The improvements to the building envelope are expected to save up to 15% in thermal demand. UMFK Sports Center Reconstruction: Involved replacing the existing roof with a rubber roof with an average R value of 42. New ceilings, new duct work, new light fixtures and occupancy sensors were installed. Improved roof insulation is expected to yield a 10% reduction in thermal energy demand to the space. Lighting and controls improvements are expected to reduce electrical consumption by up to 5% annually. UM Nutting Hall Renovation and Stewart New Media /Arts Complex: Both building projects are underway, with planned completion by the end of Projects will Include building envelope improvements; windows, doors, roof, insulation; temperature controls; and lighting controls and efficiency improvements.

19 The Path Forward: Commitment, Planning, Opportunities Funding Sources Exist Through Upcoming and Ongoing Opportunities: Efficiency Maine Grants, Rebates, and Incentives. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ( RGGI ) auction revenues implemented through the Energy and Carbon Savings Trust and Efficiency Maine. System wide, many grants and incentives have already been realized, such as: USM awarded $135,000 for campus lighting improvements. UM awarded $300,000 toward energy improvements for the Alfond Arena renovation. UM awarded $700,000 toward the Central Steam Plant boiler project. Through ongoing preparation and planning the Universities will continue to realize these Through ongoing preparation and planning the Universities will continue to realize these and other funding opportunities that may exist.

20 Thank you for your time and attention