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Facilities Management team keeps a sustainable focus

CampusHVAC energy saving projects in Frances Searle

Project Manager:
James McKinney

What are the basic goals and details of the project?
An energy audit conducted by ELARA Engineering indicated that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the building were a retrofit opportunity. FM converted the HVAC from constant volume to a variable air volume system, while still leaving the bulk of the infrastructure in place by retrofitting a custom damper design. This project costs $3 million with a payback of five years.

How do these goals promote sustainability?
The renovation of the HVAC system incorporates current control standards, such as Demand Control Ventilation, which results in energy savings by limiting the amount of air used for space conditioning to match the real-time loads. Additional savings were realized by utilizing the existing infrastructure. Finally, the project reduces the system’s maintenance needs through the installation of updated control systems.

When is the project expected to be finished?
January 2014

University Library window renovations

Project Manager:
David Grosskopf

What are the basic goals and details of the project?
Renovate existing window system at the University Main Library.

How do these goals promote sustainability?
FM replaced the existing single strength glass with laminated insulated glass, which will reduce heat gain into the building, decrease heat loss, and provide substantial protection against UV light that could damage library collections. FM also chose to repair and repurpose the library’s wood window frames because the wood serves as a good insulator and is durable. Lastly, aluminum cladding the wood window frames with a durable factory applied finish along with silicone sealant (utilizing proper weeps) will ensure a maintenance free longevity for the renovated window system.

Thirty-three tons of glass from the old library windows was recycled. FM also designed reusable shipping crates for the replacement glass, which saved over 100 crates. The new window installation is projected to be 73 percent more energy efficient than the previous windows.

When was the project finished?
July 2013

Replacing lighting systems at Alice Millar Chapel and Parkes Hall

Project Manager:
Richard Painter

What are the basic goals and details of the project?
While installing a new fire alarm system, the ceiling had to be taken apart to put in electrical conduits. It came to the attention of Facilities Management (FM) that the lights in a couple of the hallways were on all the time. FM saw this as a perfect opportunity to replace the fluorescent lights with light–emitting diodes (LED) bulbs and install occupancy sensors.

How do these goals promote sustainability?
After this project is completed, the lights will only come on when people are present, instead of having the lights on constantly, which wastes a lot of energy. Also, using LED instead of fluorescent bulbs saves energy and allows for a reduction in the number of fixtures needed.

When is the project expected to be finished?
January 2014