In the first four phases of the Energy Action Plan, the university has reduced its carbon emissions by approximately 23,000 tons per year and saved more than $2.3 million in equivalent annual energy costs.
The plan is swiftly approaching full integration — and expected to yield more than $6 million in overall energy cost savings.
When the Office of Energy Management within the Virginia Tech Facilities Department conducted an energy benchmarking analysis of buildings on the Blacksburg campus in 2015-16, it discovered 50 buildings accounted for more than 70 percent of overall university energy costs; that is just 35 percent of all buildings on campus.
The Energy Action Plan combines energy data analysis with energy accounting and retrofitting projects to achieve significant energy cost reductions. Since 2016, four phases of the Energy Action Plan have been implemented with 10 new energy-intensive buildings incorporated into each phase.
One of the cornerstones of the Energy Action Plan is leveraging data to optimize energy usage to achieve energy efficiency at scale on campus. Ten new buildings are added to the university’s energy management platform during each phase. New smart meter infrastructure also continues to be installed in campus buildings. These efforts, paired with ongoing energy audits in the field, enable practitioners to identify energy consumption patterns in real time to optimize lighting, ventilation, heating, and air based on demand.
Also under the plan, ongoing retrofitting projects, especially in laboratories – large scale energy contributors on campus – continue to help improve energy efficiency in energy hog buildings.
“As we approach the final phase of the of the initial Energy Action Plan, energy conservation remains at the forefront of all Facilities Department activities at Virginia Tech. Through efforts like the Energy Action Plan, award-winning sustainability program, and strong environmental standards for new and existing construction, we will continue to make headway in our energy reduction and sustainability efforts,” said Christopher H. Kiwus, associate vice president and chief facilities officer.
Among the proposed projects under Phase 5 (2019-20) of the Energy Action Plan are:
“It is an undeniably exciting time to be at Virginia Tech, and this rings especially true as it relates to sustainability. Current initiatives like the Energy Action Plan and revisions to the Climate Action Commitment are strong indicators of the university’s long-term engagement in environmental stewardship. We will continue to work collaboratively in seeking out new opportunities to invest time, knowledge, and financial resources in pursuit of a more sustainable society,” said Dwayne Pinkney, senior vice president and chief business officer.
The Climate Action Commitment is the university’s guiding framework around sustainability and energy efficiency in campus operations, facilities, curriculum, and research. In continued commitment to sustainability, President Tim Sands recently called for renewal of the commitment.
More information about the Climate Action Commitment revision process, working group, and subcommittees may be found here.
Caption: Daniel Webb (left), class of 2020, and Lowell Jessee Jr., energy engineer, conduct an energy retrofitting project on the roof of Hahn Hall. Sarah Myers for Virginia Tech.
Information provided by Virginia Tech
