Course 3: Energy
Office of Sustainability
Green Office Certification Training
Energy at UWM
Energy is an important aspect in the workplace because it heats and cools
our buildings, operates our labs, lights our desk, and powers our computers.
However, energy usage is costly to the environment and the bottom line.
In response to these issues, UWM is taking positive steps towards reducing
its overall energy usage by implementing a program called Energy Matters,
conserving through the Heat Plant, and investing in renewable energy
resources. Through these initiatives UWM will not only save state dollars,
but it will also reduce the amount of greenhouse gases sent into the
atmosphere.
Although the university is taking great strides in reduce energy usage, it is
also the role of every student, staff, and faculty member to contribute to
these efforts because operational changes can only go so far.
Energy Matters
In 2005, through Executive Order 145, Governor Doyle ordered all UWSystem institutions to reduce energy consumption. Using 2005 energy
consumption as an institution's benchmark measurement, UW-Milwaukee
joined other UW institutions to use 10% less energy by 2008 and 20%
less by 2010.
When UWM recorded a 5% increase in energy consumption by 2008,
the university made a decision to reduce energy consumption by 25% by
2013 to get to the original 20% reduction mandated by the governor. To
achieve this goal, the university went through performance contracting-a
process where a contractor audits buildings to review their energy usage
and then makes recommendations as to how to make the building
"perform" better and use less energy.
Energy Matters
From this process, Energy Matters was
created. Energy Matters is UWM‘s energy
efficiency project with a goal to:
1) Achieve an energy reduction of 25%
by 2013
2) Reduce campus use of fossil fuels
3) Provide comfortable study and work
space
Energy Matters is broken down into 5 phases,
with each phase focusing on a different set of
buildings across campus. During each phase
contractors from different companies improve
features of the buildings, such as:
-Upgraded lighting in offices and classrooms:
lighting is more natural
-Improved indoor air quality
-Occupancy based heating and cooling: buildings
adjust to state mandated temperatures
-New digital controls
Contractors from various companies
working on Energy Matters
Energy Matters
4 Million + Square Feet Covered
$33 Million State Investment
25% Reduction Goal, by 2013
30% Reduction overall, across campus
2013 saw $4 million saving come back to campus
PC Power Management
In conjunction with Energy Matters, computers
labs across campus have been equipped with PC
Power Management, a system designed to power
down computers and monitors during idle time.
“Wake up” takes just a wiggle of the mouse or
keystroke.
 Verdiem Software
 SCCM
Renewable Energy
Along with energy efficiency updates, UWM invests in
renewable energy sources. Investing in renewable
energy is important because it helps lessen our
dependence on fossil fuels.
UWM’s main source of renewable energy comes from Solar
Electric (PV) systems. Bolton Hall- This 74 panel solar
energy installation is a perfect example of using the campus
as a living laboratory. The drive behind this installation is
research being conducted by UWM’s College of
Engineering and Applied Science. Each panel produces 205
watts.
Bolton Hall Solar Panels with researchers
who helped implement project
Another source of solar electric comes from the 30-kilowatt
system of solar cells on the Golda Meir Library Green
Roof that is sponsored by WE Energies, with the support of
Focus on Energy grants.
Cambridge Commons also has a solar photovoltaic
system, installed when it was built as a LEED Gold building.
30 kilowatt system on Library Green Roof
Purchasing Renewable Energy
By working with our local utility, WE Energies, UWM has
been able to purchase renewable energy. The purchase by
UW institutions as a whole comes out to 70,383,875 kWh
(as of 2013), and is expected to grow once the total purchase
is equal to 20%. The State will purchase annually 92,400
megawatt hours of renewable electrical energy.
Building Dashboard
In conjunction with Energy Matters, the Building Dashboard has been
created to allow users to view energy usage in buildings across campus, in
real time. The dashboard is an interactive, 24-7 meter that measures
kilowatt-hours per building, as well as the amounts of chilled water and
condensate used by each building. Users can view the electricity, water, and
heating of buildings at http://buildingdashboard.net/uwm/, or on the
homepage of The Office of Sustainability website,
www.sustainability.uwm.edu.
On the website simply
click on your building
to track its energy
usage by day, month,
or even year. See
energy consumption
in kilowatts, carbon
dioxide, or dollars.
Heat Plant Conservation Measures
Due to a well trained and experienced staff, UWM’s Heat Plant has made many strides over the
years to implement conservation measures. The outcomes of these measures have been well
documented and are one of the finest examples of sustainability at UWM.
The Central Heating and Chilling Plant provides 37 campus buildings + NWQ with steam,
chilled water and compressed air. It also operates 6 satellite boiler
plants and 1 additional Centralized Heating Plant used to heat buildings not serviced by the
campus central utility system. The plant is capable of producing 422,000 Lbs of steam per hour,
12500 Tons of cooling and pumps up to 31.5 million gallons of lake water to campus each day
used to reject heat from campus buildings via its chilling equipment.
By using Cooling-Building Control Installation and Setback Programming, and Heating-Building
Control Installation and Setback Programming, Total Campus Related Savings= $6,480,588
Water Conservation
Through Phase IV of a Wisconsin Energy Initiative in the year
2000, UW-Milwaukee was able to greatly reduce its water usage.
Johnson Controls Inc. estimated a 46.6 million gallon reduction
annually, a proposed cost savings of $142,728 per year.
Through Energy Matters fixtures are being adjusted to make sure
they’re running correctly, improving the efficiency and reducing
water usage.
Office Energy Savings
Vampire Load
Many appliances in break rooms and conference rooms have idle
currents which mean the appliances are drawing electricity even
when they appear to be off (vampire load).
While the idle current of each individual appliance doesn’t amount to
much, all together this wasted energy accounts for 5-7% of our
nation’s total energy consumption.
To eliminate idle currents, departments should unplug appliances or
attach them to a power strip and turn the power strip switch off
when the appliances are not in use.
Temperature
In accordance with Governor Jim Doyle's Executive Order 132
dated November 21, 2005, the Department of Administration issued
guidelines related to temperature, humidity, hours of operation and
other variables that affect energy usage. The main focus of the
regulations is thermostat settings, which will be 68 degrees in the
winter and 76 degrees in the summer.
Through Energy Matters, buildings on campus adjust to these
temperatures based on occupancy of rooms. Set back a few
degrees when unoccupied, but never completely off.
Space Heaters
Space Heaters should not be used in offices, as the heating is
already on in all buildings. Space heaters can actually make
buildings colder because when they are placed near thermostats
the system thinks it is already warm enough and does not
properly heat the building.
In accordance with Governor Jim Doyle's Executive Order 132
dated November 21, 2005, the Department of Administration the
use of space heaters and fans is prohibited.
(http://www4.uwm.edu/usa/risk/policies/heaters.cfm)
Lighting
New, improved lighting (25 watt, 5,000K lamps)
through Energy Matters has drastically reduced the
amount of energy used by lighting on campus. However,
you can help reduce energy even more by replacing the
light bulbs in your desk lamp with CFL bulbs.
Changing your light bulbs can make a big difference. A CFL uses 75%
less energy than an incandescent bulb, and lasts up to 10 times longer.
For example, if your department switches fifteen 60W traditional incandescent
bulbs with fifteen 60W-equivalent CFLs, you will save an annual 756 kWh = 396 lbs
CO2 avoided = $75 in energy savings each year (assuming CFLs are used 4 hours a
day for 300 days per year).
Community Appliances
-Eliminate any personal refrigerators and utilize only break room
appliances.
By itself, your mini fridge doesn’t use a lot of energy, but when all other
fridges in the department are taken into account, it adds up to a lot.
Sharing a communal fridge rather than using your own will decrease
energy usage and increase financial savings.
-Eliminate individual office printers and instead use network
communal printers/copiers.
Individual printers are unnecessary because they require extra ink
cartridges and paper. Utilizing a communal printer/copier reduces the
amount of energy being used by the department
Equipment Placement
Keep all copiers and printers at least 10 feet away from
thermostats and sensors.
Copiers and printers give off heat when they are turned on, and the heat
emitted makes thermostats or sensors think the room is warmer than it
actually is. The thermostats then have to work harder and keep the room
colder than it has to be. By keeping the copiers and printers at least 10
feet away from all thermostats and sensors the room temperature can
remain at the correct temperature and keep your department
comfortable.