George Mason
University
Energy Audit
EVPP 302-202
Fall 2017
Introduction
▪
Energy efficiency
▪
▪
Greenhouse gases
Saving money and
reducing waste
▪
Education
▪
Is George Mason University wasting
money and electricity from the design and
use of dorm buildings?
Background Information
▪
George Mason University

Washington Gas and Dominion Power
Energy use in dorm buildings

● Heating and cooling:
○ 48% Natural Gas
○ 52% Electricity ($0.045 /kwh)
○ Energy varies by building
■ Dorm rooms regulated by students
■ Academic halls regulated to a 70/76 ratio
● Spaces measured:
○ 9 dorm buildings
○ Singles and doubles
○ Plug loads and appliances
Research Methods: Experimental Design and Building
Assessment
▪ Dorm selection
▪ Watt Usage Meter
▪ One dorm room per
floor of each building
▪ Record details
● Shenandoah
○ President’s Park
■ Monroe
■ Roosevelt
■ Wilson
■ Taylor
● Rappohannock
○ Northern Neck
○ Commonwealth
○ Sandbridge
● Aquia
○ Globe
Research Methods: Execution and Data Collection
●
Data was collected on:
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○
○
○
○
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○
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Number of Items Plugged In
Number of Appliances
Number of Windows
Number of Lights
Thermostat Temperature
Room Occupancy
Volts Drawn
Watts
KWh
●
Thermal images
Research Methods: Data Synthesis and Analysis
●
●
Data organization and analyzation
Discussion
● Concerns
● Conclusions
● Recommendations
Average Kilowatt Per Hour Usage Per Dorm
Building
KWh
Daily Price per Dorm
Monroe
0.0037
$0.00
Roosevelt
0.0008
$0.00
Wilson
0.0006
$0.00
Taylor
0.0118
$0.01
Globe
0.0069
$0.00
Blue Ridge
0.0011
$0.00
Northern Neck
0.0258
$0.02
Sand Bridge
0.0556
$0.04
Commonwealth
0.00113
$0.00
Average Price Over 30 Days and Over 8 months
Building
Monthly (30 days)
per person
8 months per
person
8 months for the
whole building
Monroe
$0.08
$0.63
$53.22
Roosevelt
$0.02
$0.14
$12.96
Wilson
$0.01
$0.11
$9.41
Taylor
$0.25
$2.04
$593.36
Globe
$0.15
$1.19
$328.29
Blue Ridge
$0.02
$0.20
$23.43
Northern Neck
$0.56
$4.47
$1,495.83
Sandbridge
$1.20
$9.61
$2,307.50
Commonwealth
$0.02
$0.20
$46.86
Phantom Loads
▪
▪
Inaccuracies in provided meters ( Kill A Watt
P3 EZ Power Meter)
▪ “Phantom Loads”
▪ Inaccurate up to 0.99 kw
▪ A value of 0 could in reality be 0.99
Phantom Loads
▪ Small but can add up
▪ “Standby” phase
Thermal Images By Neighborhood: Shenandoah
Taylor
Lincoln
Wilson
Thermal Images By Neighborhood: Rappahannock
Open Windows, Eastern
Shore
Thermal Images By Neighborhood: Aquia
Other Concerns and Issues
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Propped-open doors
T.V. constantly on
Students with T.V.s and gaming systems
Open windows
Not tested: fairy and holiday string lights
Conclusion/Recommendations
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▪
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Motion sensors on hallway lights
Smart Outlets
Double-paned windows
Thermostat sensitivity issues
Education
Motion Sensor Lights
▪ Issue: Dorm hallway lights are left on 24/7.
▪ Recommendation: Timing system to shut off lights
▪
Save energy
▪
Motion sensor lights
▪ Initial cost: $15-17 per light
▪ Estimated time until return on investment: ???
Smart Outlets
▪
Cut off power to products not in use.
▪
Initial Costs:
▪
▪
Motion Sensor Power Strip: $40
▪
Motion Sensor Outlet: $10-20
▪
Smart Outlets: $40
Estimated Time until a return on investment: ?????
Double Paned Windows
▪ Single vs Double Paned windows
▪ Permanently closed windows
Thermostat Issues
▪ Faulty thermostats
▪ Blowing hot air
▪ Open windows
▪ Recommendations:
▪ Switching cooling and heating systems
▪ Constant monitoring
Educating Students
▪ Address issues to maintenance
▪ R.A. involvement
▪ Floor meetings
▪ Bulletin boards
▪ General information
Literature Cited
Chiaroni, D., Chiesa, V., Franzò, S., Frattini, F., & Latilla, V. M. (2017). Overcoming internal barriers to industrial energy
efficiency through energy audit: a case study of a large manufacturing company in the home appliances industry. Clean
Technologies and Environmental Policy, 19(4), 1031–1046. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-016-1298-5
GMU campus [Photograph]. (2017, August 13). George Mason University, Fairfax In Georgemasonu (Comp.).
Green Campus Task Force. (n.d.). George Mason University Sustainability Assessment, 2007(Rep.). Retrieved August 15,
2007, from https://mason.gmu.edu/~cmeyer/Sustainability%20Assessment.pdf
Guan, J., Nord, N., & Chen, S. (2016). Energy planning of university campus building complex: Energy usage and
coincidental analysis of individual buildings with a case study. Energy and Buildings, 124(Supplement C), 99–111.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.04.051
Hoffman, C. (2017, August 14). Tested: Should You Unplug Chargers When You’re Not Using Them? Retrieved December 02,
2017,
from https://www.howtogeek.com/231886/tested-should-you-unplug-chargers-when-youre-not-using-them/
The Kill-A-Watt meter. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2017, from http://www.green-energy-efficient-homes.com/kill-a-watt.html