Opportunity
For nine years, Brewer-Garrett has helped Kent State University reduce operating costs through a wide-ranging variety of energy conservation projects.
Solution
Brewer-Garrett completed a comprehensive array of energy conservation measures in two phases. Phase I was completed for campus classrooms, laboratory, and auxiliary buildings, the Summit Street power plant, and utilities infrastructure.
Improvements included:
- Installation of new HVAC equipment in the athletic and convocation center, the student services center, and the ice arena
- Retrofitting of lights across campus with LEDs and occupancy sensors
- Installation of air handling units (AHUs)
- Replacement of chillers, boilers, pumps, heat exchangers, and domestic water heating systems
We also provided complete upgrades to residence halls on the main campus.
Improvements included:
- Repairs to building structures and windows
- Synchronized belt drive retrofits
- Roof replacement
- Implementation of green initiatives
- Inclusion of domestic water fixtures and laundry hook up
- Improved steam distribution system (steam traps and insulation of steam valves)
- Installation of demand control ventilation, restroom ventilation control, and occupancy-based ventilation
- Implementation of display energy control systems
- Upgrades to building automation
- Controls for ice arena temperature
- Installation of chilled water and boiler systems
- Increased size of chiller lines
- Installation of a reflective ceiling for the ice arena
- Retro-commissioning
Special projects in the residence halls included:
- Mechanical systems upgrades
- Utility metering and auditing
- Water-saving fixtures
- Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system
- Occupancy sensors
- Energy conservation education program
The Stark County Campus and other satellites received:
- Lighting retrofits
- Variable Air Volume (VAV) terminal controls
- Mechanical systems upgrades
- Occupancy sensors
- Automated vending machine controls
- High-velocity hand dryers
- Conservation education
- DCV automated systems
Phase II of this overhaul affected additional classrooms, laboratories, and auxiliary buildings.
We advanced the campus’s sustainability efforts through:
- Building repairs
- DCV systems
- Domestic water fixture upgrades
- Restroom ventilation control
- Retro-commissioning
- Stream trap repair and valve insulation
- Mechanical upgrades
- Enterprise optimization solution
- Upgrade of Greenhouse HVAC and windows
Results
This project is targeted to achieve monetary utility savings for all four projects, over 15 years, of $170,056,058. Additionally, all the modifications will reduce capital costs, lower operating costs, and work toward meeting the 20% energy reduction goal.
Behavioral Based Energy Program
Kent State University was looking to reduce their operating costs—and their carbon footprint. We implemented the Green Apple Project (GAP), which affords an amazing opportunity to reduce energy waste across every campus, all without installing any new equipment. We engaged students with active learning, including a campus-wide energy conservation competition.
Energy usage is displayed on an Energy Dashboard that is integrated into the University’s website, so students can view the utility costs and the impact on the environment of each dormitory’s energy consumption. Each fall semester, Residence Services hosts the annual “Do it in the Dark” energy reduction competition, in which residence halls compete to reduce electricity over a two-week period.
Our program at Kent State has delivered 1-10% waste reduction in all residence halls, alongside a total energy savings of over $400,000.