Programs:
Active management of gas vs. oil as
boiler fuel and oil supply
Greenville
Utilities (GUC) negotiated a new agreement with intrastate natural gas
provider, Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG), effective November 1, 2005. The new
purchasing agreement with PNG requires changes in the monthly customer rate
negotiation process for interruptible customers, such as ECU. The new
purchasing agreement requires GUC to purchase natural gas on the open market
every month and enables GUC to determine when to curtail interruptible
customers. As such, the pricing for natural gas is driven by open
market pricing that can fluctuate daily unless long-term pricing on projected
volumes is negotiated. Campus Operations monitors fuel oil pricing
weekly and tracks fuel oil pricing compared to natural gas pricing quoted by
GUC. Campus Operations notifies Main
Campus and Health Sciences Campus Steam Plant operations when to change types
of fuel usage based on price when appropriate.
Campus Operations also directs Main Campus and Health Sciences Campus
Steam Plant operations when to consume fuel oil inventory and when to purchase
fuel oil based on projected fuel oil pricing trends. Campus Operations tracks usage based on
actual pricing and future prices to project annual expense based on usage. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; 2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; Summary of Efficiency &
Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility
Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Peak Alert Notices
Campus
Operations alerts the University community of utility peak situations and
recommends extra efforts to conserve electricity. Campus Operations directs members of the
University community to a web site for answers to frequently asked questions.
Campus Operations discusses the University efforts to conserve energy by
explaining the importance of peak alerts to the Deans to share with faculty
members during annual meetings conducted at the beginning of the school year. Housekeeping Services continues to instruct
Housekeepers to turn off lights during peak periods. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; 2006 Strategic Energy and
Water Plan; Summary of Efficiency &
Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption
and Costs compiled May 2005)
Summer Unoccupied Setback Program
In May
2002, Campus Operations obtained support from Chancellor and his staff to
achieve energy savings during the summer months by reducing load and
controlling building temperature through a summer unoccupied setback
program. Challenges facing the
implementation of a campus-wide unoccupied setback program include buildings
that are not practical candidates for an aggressive setback program and other
buildings that require more effort to adjust the program to meet occupants’
needs. For example, the museum quality
exhibits in Fletcher Music limit the feasibility of aggressive setbacks. Problems with humidity and mildew in Old
Cafeteria require close monitoring of setback efforts. In addition, incomplete information from the
registrar has required fine-tuning of the program in buildings with classes not
scheduled through the registrar in the evening, late Friday afternoon, and on
Saturdays. Facilities Services attributes the overall positive response from
the University community to the support and buy-in from the Chancellor and his
staff. With this support and continued
refinement of the system, Facilities Services anticipates that the future of
the setback program will not be limited to the summer months. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May
2005)
Energy Operating Plans
Facilities Services has developed
and implemented energy operating plans for University facilities and has
documented plans in Facilities Services Standard Practices. (Summary of Efficiency &
Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility
Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
ECU Maintenance Program rated
Excellent in Operational Assessment requested by the Office of the President
In 2003,
the Office of the President of the
Best Practice Meeting
As a result of the excellent rating
that ECU received in Operational Assessment requested by the Office of the
President, ECU hosted a Best Practice Meeting in August 2004. Topics discussed
included the organization and operations of ECU Facilities Services and various
aspects of the ECU preventive maintenance work order system including life
safety, control systems, and CMMS. The guest speaker, Terrance Feravich,
Associate Vice President for Finance & University Property Officer, spoke
about the UNC budget. Other individuals involved in the program included
Assistant Director, Maintenance Engineering; Executive Director, Facilities
Services; Assistant Director, Utility Services; University PM Engineer;
Supervisor of Controls for HSC; University Reliability Engineer; Facilities
Technology Manager; Director HSC Facilities; and Senior Associate Vice
Chancellor for Campus Operations.
Twenty-nine people attended representing six other State institutions. (Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May
2005)
State Facilities
Utility Savings Initiative
In response to recommendations by
the Capital Management Subcommittee of the Governor's Efficiency Study
Commission, the State Facilities Utility Savings Initiative (USI) was created
by the State Energy Office (SEO) in FY02-03 to assist State agencies with
lowering their utility costs and to ensure that State agencies have implemented
operation and maintenance conservation measures. Rebecca Bizzell, Director, Resource
Management – Campus Operations, serves as the USI Liaison. (Summary of Efficiency & Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006;
Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Strategic Energy Plans
ECU Campus Operations continues to submit Strategic Energy
Plans on behalf of the University annually to State Energy Office (SEO) as
required per statute G.S. 143‑64.12 that reads as rewritten (Senate
Bill 668 ratified August 2007) “Each State agency and State institution of higher
learning shall develop and implement a management plan that is consistent with
the State's comprehensive program under this subsection to manage energy,
water, and other utility use. The energy consumption per gross square foot for
all State buildings in total shall be reduced by twenty percent (20%) by 2010
and thirty percent (30%) by 2015 based on energy consumption for the 2003‑2004
fiscal year. Each State agency and State institution of higher learning shall
update its management plan annually and include strategies for supporting the
energy consumption reduction requirements under this subsection.”
ECU Campus
Operations submitted Strategic Energy Plans on behalf of the University
annually to State Energy Office (SEO) as required per statute GS 143-64.12,
“each State Agency shall develop and implement an energy management plan that
is consistent with the State’s comprehensive energy management program.” In addition, Campus Operations developed the
required Energy Mandate to serve
as a Memorandum of Agreement between SEO and the State “to ensure continued
support for your utility manager to reduce energy and water consumption and
cost for state facilities.” In
conjunction with the submission of the Strategic Energy Plan, Campus Operations
continues to provide required utility
cost and usage data to the SEO. (Summary of Efficiency
& Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce
Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Long-Term Water
Efficiency Plan
ECU Campus Operations submitted the
University’s Long-Term Water Efficiency Plan to Division of Pollution
Prevention and Environmental Assistance and State Energy Office in July 2004
per Governor Easley’s August 2002 Executive Order No. 26, Water System
Protection, directed all State agencies to develop and implement long term
financially feasible conservation measures.
Upon completion of a long-term water efficiency plan, the University was
released from the ban on non-essential water use per Executive Order #26 issued
during the 2002 drought. (Summary of Efficiency &
Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility
Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Construction Standards
Campus Operations has developed
Construction Standards to express the University’s requirements in different
construction areas and are intended as a guide for the Design Professional in
developing project designs. The
Construction Standards outline initiatives
in energy management such as sustainable building designs that effect lower
operation costs and good stewardship of state funds and natural resources. (Summary of Efficiency &
Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility
Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Utility Conservation & Awareness
Committee
Meeting from
March 2000 to April 2006, the University Utility Conservation & Awareness
Committee (UC&AC) supported the University’s utility conservation, water conservation, resource management, and
sustainability efforts. The
UC&AC included representatives from Academic Library Services - Joyner
Library, the Faculty Senate representing the academic community, a member of
the Division of Research, Economic Development & Community Engagement
representing the research community, and a member of
Conservation
Awareness Team
In November 2002, the State Energy Office established the USI Education
Committee to design an outreach and education program as part of utilities
conservation. The State
Energy Office (SEO) requested that each
USI Liaison establish a Conservation Awareness Team (CAT) to implement the
education program. The SEO requested the
University Conservation and Awareness Committee include a diverse team to
"facilitate our understanding of the ways we waste and ways we can
conserve resources." The USI
Education Committee supported the University Conservation Awareness Team by developing guidelines and providing
educational materials, training, and assistance. In January 2003, the University Utility
Conservation & Awareness Committee agreed to serve as the University
Conservation Awareness Team. (Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May
2005)
Efforts to turn off lights in
unoccupied rooms
Members of
the University community are routinely reminded to turn off lights in
unoccupied rooms. Utility Conservation
& Awareness Committee (UC&AC) emailed reminders to turn off lights in
the evening to occupants of buildings where Housekeeping Services was provided
during the day. Housekeeping Services
continues to instruct Housekeepers to turn lights on only in areas where they
are working and turn lights off when they complete their work. In July 2002, at the request of the
UC&AC, University Police incorporated turning off lights into Officers’
routine security checks. The UC&AC
requested that the University Police report any lights left on during routine
security checks for the UC&AC to follow-up with building occupants. At the request of the UC&AC, over 6000
“instructional labels” reminding occupants to turn off lights were ordered and
installed on the light switch plates in administrative and academic buildings
on both campuses. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; Summary of Efficiency &
Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility
Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Efforts to turn off lights
The
Facilities Services work order system includes the following preventive
maintenance work orders initiated by the Utility Conservation & Awareness
Committee (UC&AC):
·
preventive
maintenance work order established to set and check the timers across campus
when the time shifts to and from daylight savings time.
·
preventive
maintenance work order to survey all exterior lights on campus on a monthly basis.
(2006 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; Summary of Efficiency & Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006;
Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Efforts to turn off computers
In January
2002, the Utility Conservation & Awareness Committee (UC&AC)
recommended that Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS)
reconsider their 2001 policy recommending enabling the "power
management" feature on University computers and shutting down systems,
including monitors and peripherals, completely over weekends, vacations, or
holidays. ITCS agreed with the recommendation and updated information on the
web to reflect the change in policy that computers, including monitors and
peripherals, should be shutdown every night in addition to enabling the “power
management” feature. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; Summary of Efficiency & Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006;
Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Drink Vending Machine Energy
Conservation Devices
In July 2001, the Utility
Conservation & Awareness Committee (UC&AC) requested the Greenville
Utility Commission Energy Services Supervisor evaluate the electric consumption
of refrigerated drink vending machines.
Upon investigation, the UC&AC supported the use of a drink machine
energy conservation device that monitors activity around a vending machine and
regulates its cooling schedule to optimize energy. UC&AC requested University’s Vending
Services to advise the University’s contract drink vendor of the use of a drink
machine energy conservation device and pursue the installation of such devices
on drink vending machines going forward. (Summary of Efficiency
& Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary of Efforts to Reduce
Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005; 2003 Strategic Energy Plan)
O&M Efforts:
Occupancy Sensors
Facilities
Services plans to install occupancy sensors in 42 classrooms in Bate building
for lighting/energy savings. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan)
Insulated roof systems
New
insulated roof systems installed are energy savers. The Modified Bitumen cap sheet is light gray
in most cases replaces a black EPDM which in turn reduces temperature at the
roof surface. Eliminating old roof
systems with wet insulation restores the R factor in insulation systems and
requires less building conditioning costs. (ECU 2007 Strategic
Energy and Water Plan)
Roof Works
The
university roof assets are maintained by Building Services. This department has
three roofers whose responsibility is to perform preventative maintenance
inspections and small scale repairs. The
inspection process identifies roof conditions that need repair or replacement. The data that results from the inspections is
entered into Roof Works, a roof management software program. This program contains a roof rating and
expected roof replacement date, also drawings, details, pictures and notes on
all campus roof systems are included.
This information enables department heads to make informed decisions
when advising roof work to proceed on a certain building. This program has the
ability to project out ten or more years of roof construction project
priorities and budget estimates needed which in turn helps forecast long term budget
needs in the roofing area. Roof Works
data results in saved time when prioritizing the order of roof construction and
repair projects. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan;
Summary of Efficiency & Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006)
Light weight concrete insulation
system
Exterior building envelope
Exterior
building envelope projects have been completed at Fletcher Music and Erwin buildings. Project involved sealing mortar joints and
replacing caulk joints to reduce the impact of external forces on the heating
and cooling of these buildings. Brewster
exterior envelope repair is under design. (ECU 2007 Strategic
Energy and Water Plan)
Insulated window systems
New
insulated window systems have been installed in Spilman, Whichard, Wright,
Graham, and Infirmary buildings. New
windows replace old wood windows that were loose fitting with deteriorated
glazing. Also these projects reduce maintenance
time and labor costs as the windows are practically maintenance free. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan)
Planting trees
Facilities
Services - Grounds Services plants numerous trees each year on campus.
Trees are extremely beneficial to the environment especially when they reach
their mature size. Some examples of the benefits include reduction of
cooling in buildings that they shade. Trees are planted with these energy
savings in mind. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan)
E10 Fuel
University
continues to provide E10 rather than unleaded gasoline from both University
fueling locations.
(ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan)
Truck Stock program
In order to
work productively, craftsmen must have needed parts and materials on hand. To that end, Facilities Maintenance, Main
Campus installation and repair vehicles are stocked with a fixed stock called
“Truck Stock” which is a combination of “Consumables” and “Chargeable Items”. The "Truck Stock" program reduces
trips to warehouse for regularly used items resulting in less fuel usage. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan)
Motor Oil consumption
Facilities
Services - Automotive Services switched to re-refined motor oil in August,
2006. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan)
Doubling in vehicles
Facilities
Services - Building Services attempts to reduce gas consumption by allowing
employees to ride in the same vehicle when the project requires more than one
craftsman. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan)
Grounds storage units
Creation of
Grounds storage units on Main campus. Two such enclosures have been
developed over the last few years (
Air Filter
Facilities Services
-
Computerized Building Automation
Systems
Facilities
Services - Utilities Services centrally monitors and controls HVAC systems in
most Main Campus buildings through computerized Building Automation Systems
(BAS). There are two separate BAS on the Main Campus. Both systems
were upgraded in FY04-05 to improve the ability to remotely access the
systems. One system now alerts on-call personnel of alarm conditions
instantly by pager and generates a follow-up email to the shop supervisor. Significant training at a cost of
approximately $10,000 was provided for HVAC technicians. These upgrades
and training have enhanced Facilities Services’ ability to respond quickly and
effectively to HVAC problems. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; FY04-05 Mgmt Flex)
Instantaneous Water Heaters at
Health Sciences Campus
Plumbing
Shop, Facilities Services - Health Sciences Campus replaced tank type steam
heaters with Flow Rite instantaneous water heaters in
University doubling generator
capacity
Greenville
Utility Commission (GUC) has installed power generation equipment having
nominal nameplate rating capacity of 3,200 kW on Main Campus and 2,020 kW on
Health Sciences Campus operating as peak shaving generator for load
management. The cost of installation,
maintenance, and operation of the generators is the responsibility of GUC. ECU receives a monthly credit of $20,371 ($11,917
for Main Campus location and $8,454 for Health Sciences Campus location) for
participating in the load side generation program. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan;
Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Installation of energy efficient
chillers
Over the
past 10 – 12 years, Facilities Services has made a concerted effort to replace
older chillers with more energy efficient ones.
The most recent efforts have involved central plants. Construction of the
Efficient purges for chillers
Facilities
Maintenance – Health Sciences Campus purchased more efficient purges for
chillers at a cost of $16,050 to more effectively control emissions into the
atmosphere. In addition, upgraded
chiller control panels were purchased at a cost of $32,100 to improve the operating
efficiency of the system. (2006 Strategic Energy
and Water Plan; FY03-04 Mgmt Flex)
Replacement of BSOM central plant
chiller
Replaced
1980 chiller required .78 kw to produce one ton of cooling. The replacement chiller requires .52 kw to
produce one ton of cooling. In terms of
electricity, the replacement chiller requires 2/3 of the amount of electricity
to create the same amount of cooling.
Campus Operations anticipates that the cost of $318,271 will be recouped
over the next 6 years. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan;
FY02-03 Mgmt Flex)
Improvement to University’s Boiler
Operations
The Main
Campus Steam Plant consists of 3 older boilers (1975 or older) and 1 boiler
added with the Science & Technology building. In 2003, the State Energy Office Utility
Savings Initiative inspected and evaluated all boilers in State operated
facilities including 29 central plants.
The Main Campus Steam Plant was one of only 3 where no recommendations
to improve energy efficiency were made.
The Health Sciences Campus Utility Plant was one of the other two. In the past 10 years, state-of-the-art
controls, including oxygen trimming, were added to the older boilers; an
economizer was added to the boiler without one; and variable frequency drives
for the forced draft fans were added to the 2 boilers where that made economic
sense. An excellent preventive
maintenance program is implemented including calibration of controls twice a
year. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; Summary of Efforts to
Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Evaluation of University’s Boiler
Operations
In
September 2003, Dr. Herbert M. Eckerlin and Eric W. Soderberg published a
report summarizing the findings and recommendations of an evaluation of boilers
in state operated facilities prepared for the State Energy Office (SEO). An inspection of the state’s boiler
operations in FY03-04 under the purview of the Governor’s Utility Savings
Initiative found the University’s boiler operations to be two of the most
efficient in the state system with no recommendations for cost savings
measures. (2005 Strategic Energy
and Water Plan; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs
compiled May 2005)
Operation of Heat Recovery
Incinerator
The Health
Sciences Campus has installed a heat recovery boiler for use with the medical
waste incinerator. This boiler produces about 8,000 lbs/hr of steam using
the heat produced by burning medical waste, which is essentially the entire
campus steam requirement during the summer, and about 40% of the requirement
during the winter. In fact, we must sometimes reduce the throughput of the
incinerator slightly during hot weather because more steam is produced than is
required. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; Summary of
Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Implemented efforts to
conserve utilities and reduce utility costs
In September 2002, Director, Resource
Management-Campus Operations forwarded State Energy Office (SEO) the following
list of “ways” ECU conserves utilities and reduces utility costs compiled by
the Executive Director, Facilities Services-Main Campus. The SEO subsequently distributed the ECU list
as recommended practices to other agencies and incorporated ECU list into
Utility Savings Initiative O&M Conservation Opportunities list for
recommended no and low cost conservation measures.
§
T8
bulbs and electronic ballasts
§
Occupancy
sensors and time clocks for active interior lighting control
§
Installation
of energy efficient chillers
§
Low
E glass windows
§
KW
peak shaving by chilled water supply temperature setback
§
Unoccupied
building temperature setback
§
HDPE
central chilled water piping (long term savings on pumping energy)
§
LED
exit signs
§
Aggressive
steam trap maintenance program
§
Computerized
irrigation system reduces water consumption
§
Use
of cooling tower controls to reduce blowdown using high cycles of
concentration, monitor leaks and overflow conditions.
§
Operation
of AC economizer cycles
§
Use of Variable Speed Drives for AHU’s, CW & HW pumps, well pumps,
exhaust and fume hood fans, etc.
§
Low Face Velocity AHU coils for lower Fan HP usage
§
Installation of Central Chilled Water plants
§
Active building pressure control systems to limit infiltration
§
Heating water loop reset based upon outdoor air temps
§
Use of boiler exhaust gas economizer for feed water pre-heat
§
Campus wide email notification during potential high electric demands
periods to shut down non-essential services, computers, lights, etc.
§
Variable
Volume Pumping for Chilled Water Distribution Systems
§
Variable
Air Volume systems (VFD Conversions)
§
Premium
Efficiency Motors
§
Increased
Roof Insulation greater than the Energy Code (Increase from min R15 to R20)
§
Campus
Education Campaign through Housings TV network as well as stickers and other
programs
§
Installation
of vending machine energy savings controllers.
§
Installation
of ground water wells for cooling tower water supplies
§
University
wide summer operating hours
§
Installation
of adjacent building chilled water piping based on excess chiller capacity to
reduce stand-alone chiller units
§
Elevating
steam lines above flood levels
§
Installation
of removable insulation blankets to reduce thermal losses
§
Reduced
steam pressure during summer season
§
Close
remote, underutilized parking lot during summer (turn off lighting)
§
Campus-wide
Utilities Conservation Committee.
Includes Academics, Operations, Residence, Student Government, Local
Utility
§
Active
management of gas vs. oil as boiler fuel and oil supply
(2006 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; Summary of Efficiency & Effectiveness Ideas compiled June 2006; Summary
of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Energy Use in
Facilities The University incorporated the O&M
energy and water conservation measures initiated in response to the few
recommendations following the Building Surveys conducted as part of the O&M
Conservation Program of the Governor’s Utility Savings Initiative into routine
maintenance procedures and operating practices. The University continues to address energy
and water conservation measures in energy operating plans and construction
standards. (2006 Strategic Energy
and Water Plan; 2005 Strategic Energy Plan)
Retention ponds
Installation
of two retention ponds at the North Recreation Complex. These ponds will
supply the water for the irrigation system. In phase I of construction
(anticipated completion date of March 2008), the irrigation system will water
approximately 50 acres of turf, 358 trees, and over a thousand shrubs.
The ponds were designed to supply water to the phase I as well as all future
phases of the 130 acre site. The site uses existing ground water, a
sub-surface storm water system, and surface run off to replenish the
ponds. There are also wells installed that can be used to fill the ponds
in times of drought. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan)
Retrofitting Low Consumption
Fixtures in Restrooms
Facilities
Services -
Retrofitting Automatic Flush Units
in Restrooms
Facilities
Services - Utilities Services East Carolina University plans to replace
existing fixtures (52) in restrooms with automatic flush units in 3
buildings on Main Campus which is expected to result in significant
reduction in maintenance man-hours (about 1/3 the time to rebuild than current
auto flush devices), fewer breakdowns, and improved customer satisfaction. These units are being installed in any new
construction. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan)
Domestic Hot Water Heaters
Facilities
Services - Utilities Services East Carolina University plans to complete
replacement of existing water heaters
(10) with more energy efficient models
in 10 buildings on Main Campus which is expected to result in
significant energy savings (590,625 KWH annually). 8 hot water heaters have already been
replaced. (ECU 2007 Strategic Energy and Water Plan)
Water Conservation Measures in
Boiler Operations
Main Campus: Boiler surface blow-off is on an automatic
system using conductivity in lieu of continuous blow-off. Main Campus and
Health Sciences Campus: All main header steam traps are on an annual
replacement schedule to prevent excessive steam use. All secondary
systems are on a 5-year replacement schedule and are tested periodically to
verify proper operation. Steam Plant bearing water is recovered as make-up
water for the Steam Plant’s boilers. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; Summary of Efforts to Reduce
Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May 2005)
Innovative Water Treatment System
Facilities
Services -
Installation of water wells
East
Carolina University Facilities Services has been unsuccessful in negotiating
sewer credit with Greenville Utility Commission (GUC) for evaporating potable
water in the University’s cooling towers.
Realizing that potable water from GUC is not the only viable option, the
University investigated water well capacity necessary to support the
University’s main chiller plants on both campuses.
As such,
the University has installed three water wells on each campus, one in each of
the major aquifers in this area. These
wells are controlled with variable speed drives to maintain a set pressure in
the distribution system. They are
connected to our building automation system to provide flow and pressure
information and to sequence the operation to avoid withdrawing more than
100,000 gallons of water from either the Black Creek or
Water Conservation Measures in Main
Campus HVAC Operations
During
2003-2004, Facilities Services implemented the campus-wide aqua-track
system that allows monitoring water usage, chemical doses, bleed rates, and
make-up water at all cooling towers in real time 24 hours a day. All
information is charted and reviewed by HVAC personnel at the end of each week
to insure that water is being used appropriately. When inappropriate uses of
water are reported, a technician is sent to inspect the system. As a result of the real time monitoring, two
stuck valves were discovered within days of the problem occurring. A stuck valve would allow water to over
flow out of the tower into a drain. A problem such as a stuck valve could
result in a cooling tower using in excess of one million gallons of water that
was not required in just one month. If
the HVAC shop had not been monitoring water usage, the technician would not
have found the problems until the water bill had arrived and revealed the large
usage. According to the ECU Supervisor,
Facilities Services – Utilities Services HVAC, ECU is the only campus in the
UNC system that monitors water usage in real time. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water
Plan; Summary of Efforts to Reduce Utility Consumption and Costs compiled May
2005)
Computerized irrigation system reduces water consumption
Grounds
Services central control irrigation system, Maxicom, provides irrigation in the
most water conscious manner. By using a
weather station, Maxicom determines how much water is lost daily and only puts
back that much water through irrigation.
This system also detects leaks, maximizes run times, and compresses the
amount of time it takes to irrigate, making shorter water windows. This system is currently used in various
areas surrounding properties on Charles Boulevard including Allied Health
complex and Carol Belk building, Blount intramural fields, Grounds Services Complex, ECU Athletic complex, 14th
Street properties including Facilities Services warehouse and the Moving
Services/Recycling building, and College Hill properties including Jones
Residence Hall and Galley dining facility and Todd Dining Hall. Additional areas are being considered for
future expansion of the system. Grounds Services utilizes the “Cycle+Soak”
option on the irrigation controllers allowing the water to infiltrate at the
soil's own pace. In addition, “Rain
Cans” are used to stop irrigation systems from running when it is raining on
all controllers that are equipped for the device, approximately 75% of the
irrigation controllers. FSSP 34-0007,
Facilities Services Irrigation Schedule, details Grounds Services irrigation
schedule. Grounds Services conducts 95%
of required watering in the early morning hours and minimizes the number of
days vegetation is irrigated. Grounds
Services does not use public water for irrigation on the Health Sciences
Campus. The water used for ornamentals
and turf irrigation is taken from
Replacement of hot water circulation system with a point of use system
Hot water was supplied to 13
buildings near the center of campus through an underground distribution system
from a steam converter at the
Central Control Irrigation System
Facilities Services - Grounds
Services purchased a $21,892 upgrade to the central control irrigation system,
Maxicom, to expand the system. Maxicom
provides irrigation in the most water conscious manner. By using a weather station, Maxicom determines
how much water is lost daily and only puts back that much water through
irrigation. This system also detects
leaks, maximizes run times, and compresses the amount of time it takes to
irrigate, making shorter water windows. (2006 Strategic Energy and Water Plan; FY03-04 Mgmt Flex)