Energy conservation projects net $41M in cost avoidance for five facilities

CHAMPAIGN, IL – A set of energy conservation projects on the Urbana campus will guarantee more than $41M in cost avoidance over the next 20 years and reduce the campus deferred maintenance backlog by an estimated $25M.

In January, Energy Systems Group of Newburgh, Ind., started work in five College of Engineering facilities:

• Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory
• Seitz Materials Research Laboratory
• Loomis Laboratory
• Engineering Sciences Building
• Superconductivity Center

Improvements in these buildings will include the installation of new HVAC equipment, direct digital controls, fume hoods, heat recovery systems, and occupancy sensors. Substantial completion is expected by July 2018.

Josh Whitson, engineer specialist for Facilities & Services said, “We are excited to team up with Engineering at Illinois on this important project. The energy conservation measures will help make these world-class research facilities more energy efficient while modernizing essential building systems and equipment.”

The work will be completed under an Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) model. Energy Systems Group is an accredited energy service company that provides all of the services required to design and implement a comprehensive project, from the initial energy audit through the long-term guarantee of cost avoidance with an energy performance contract. 

Per the agreement, the university would be reimbursed if the implemented measures don’t achieve anticipated results and there is an underperformance to the guarantee. Results will be evaluated on an annual basis throughout the contract period.

“The energy conservation measures will bring the College of Engineering one step closer to our sustainability goals. For example, annually we’ll save approximately 9.5 million gallons of process water that supports our research activities and equipment cooling," said Greg Larson, director of facilities management for the College of Engineering.

This phase of EPC is a part of a long-term energy conservation plan consisting of 23 campus facilities to be upgraded under multiple projects.

--more--

F&S’ energy conservation programs such as EPC, Retrocommissioning, Revolving Loan Fund, Energy Conservation Incentive Program, and the launch of the Energy Management Control Center remain the foundation of the campus’ energy reduction success story. These initiatives, along with increased campus-wide occupant action, have reduced energy use intensity in facilities by more than 20 percent since 2008 - exceeding Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) target goals.

For more information about EPC at Illinois visit their website, including completed projects.

Energy Performance Contracting PDF