Higher Education: An Overview of Energy
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Energy Use in Higher Education
The nation's education institutions spend almost $14 billion annually on energy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
through the ENERGY STAR program, offers a proven energy management strategy to reduce energy bills by 30 percenter more. By
improving energy efficiency, colleges and universities can distinguish themselves as environmental leaders and save money for repair
and renovation, hiring of new faculty, new construction, and other core activities.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Colleges and universities can find energy savings through multiple efforts.
Low-Cost Measures
> Measure and track energy performance.
> Turn off lights when not in use or when natural daylight can be used.
> Set back the thermostat in the evenings and other times when buildings are unoccupied.
> Perform monthly maintenance of heating and cooling equipment to guarantee efficient
operation throughout the year.
> Educate students and staff a bout how their behaviors affect energy use on campus,
particularly in residence hall settings.
Cost-Effective Investments
> Upgrade and maintain heating and cooling equipment. Replace chlorofluorocarbon
chillers, retrofit or install energy-efficient models to meet a building's reduced cooling
loads, and upgrade boilers and other central plant systems to energy-efficient standards.
> Install energy-efficient lighting systems and controls that improve light quality and
reduce heat.
> Sub-meter campus buildings so that energy use can be more accurately measured
and tracked.
> Work with an energy services provider to help manage and improve energy performance.
> Purchase energy-efficient products like ENERGY STAR qualified office equipment.
> Install window films and add insulation or reflective roof coating to reduce
energy consumption.
Colleges and Universities Making a
Difference:
University of New Hampshire students took a lead
role in tracking the energy use in the university's
residence halls. As a result, the university became
the first institution in the country to earn the
ENERGY STAR for residence halls and has more
labeled buildings than any other campus. Through
a series of retrofits and educational programs, the
university saves approximately $4 million annually
in energy as compared to the national average.
University of California Berkeley, Humboldt State
University, and California State University, San
Bernardino students created ENERGY STAR
Showcase Dorm Rooms in the residence halls to
educate campus residents about purchasing the
most efficient appliances on the market. The three
rooms differ in their particulars, but each is a
showcase of energy efficiency in a residence hall
setting.
Ithaca College utilizes EPA's Portfolio Manager to
track the energy use for all the buildings on
campus. Students organized a light bulb swap in
the residence halls and replaced 400
incandescents with compact fluorescent light
bulbs.
How to Talk About Energy Efficiency
When talking to colleges and universities about energy efficiency, it is important to recognize that they have pressing concerns like the
welfare of students and a significant lack of resources. Showing how energy improvements can help create a better learning environ-
ment and free up resources by spending less on utility bills should be a key part of the message.
1 American School & University's 34th Annual Maintenance and Operations Cost Study for School Districts, April 2005
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses
and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
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Higher Education: An Overview of Energy
Use and Energy Efficiency Opportunities
How to Talk About Energy Efficiency (cont.)
Make sure to engage the president, CFO, director of sustainability, or the director of facilities when discussing
energy efficiency opportunities. When working with a large, complex institution like a college or university, it is
important to secure top-level commitment. You should also mention how improving energy efficiency on campus
through strategic energy management reduces operating costs, provides opportunities to educate students, and
makes campuses more sustainable.
ENERGY STAR Offers
- Guides and manuals
- Facility benchmarking
- Training
- Institutional purchasing
- Technical support
- Innovative financing
methods
- Emissions reporting
- Third-party recognition
- Motivational campaigns
ENERGY STAR Resources
Guidelines for Energy Management: Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners, these guidelines can assist colleges
and universities in improving the energy and financial performance of their campuses.
Portfolio Manager — Measure and Track Energy Performance: Assess your potential to reduce energy expenses in all campus
buildings by using EPA's Web-based Portfolio Manager. By measuring, setting goals, and tracking energy and water use, colleges and
universities can gain control of their utility expenses.
www.energystar.gov/benchmark
Perform Cost-effective Building Upgrades: Plan systematic building upgrades using the
5-stage approach in EPA's Building Upgrade Manual. This online handbook offers guidance
for each stage — from commissioning to plant upgrades.
www.energystar.gov/bldgmanual
Design to Earn the ENERGY STAR: EPA's easy-to-use Target Finder tool can help colleges
and universities set energy performance targets as part of their sustainable building efforts.
Eligible projects can earn EPA's recognition for being "Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR."
www.energystar.gov/newbuildingdesign
Attend Web-based training sessions: Attend or host a working session and receive in-depth
instruction about benchmarking, design, technology, or financing options for performing
energy efficiency upgrades.
www.energystar.gov/businesstraining
Other Resources for Colleges and
Universities:
National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology
(www.nwf.org/campusecology): NWF's Campus
Ecology program recognizes climate- and
wildlife-friendly practices and cultivates long-term
leaders on campus and in the community.
The American College & University Presidents
Climate Commitment
(www.presi dentsclimatecommitment.org): This
commitment garners institutional commitments to
neutralize greenhouse gas emissions and to
accelerate the research and educational efforts of
higher education.
Association for Advancement of Sustainability in
Higher Education (www.aashe.org): AASHE is a
membership-based association of colleges and
universities working to advance sustainability in
higher education in the United States and Canada.
Recognition for Achievements
Earn the ENERGY STAR: Residence halls, office buildings, and campus hospitals that rate in the top 25 percent of energy-efficient
buildings in the nation may qualifyforthe ENERGY STAR.
www.energystar.gov/eslabel
Visitwww.energystar.gov/highered for more information on ENERGY STAR resources and recognition.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses
and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
LEARN MO RE AT
energystar.gov
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