Sustainable Practices

Energy

Digital Direct Controls (DDC)

All mechanical systems such as chillers, boilers, air handlers, etc. need to be controlled in order to provide a comfortable and safe indoor environment. Historically this is been accomplished with pneumatic controls, and for decades that was the case on our campus. In the late 90s, we started converting to Digital Direct Controls. DDC allows vastly expanded programming options that yield greatly improved efficiency. The conversion process is quite costly; therefore, we chose to address high-consuming equipment, typically building-level components such as boilers, chillers, and air handlers. In some cases where existing systems were functioning poorly, we extended control to air distribution and temperature control down to the zone level. In all new projects and renovations outside of residence halls, DDC controls are standard. Because we allow students autonomy within their living space, DDC controls provide little benefit.

"Tri-Coils" for Outside Air Units

All-new air handling units, which provide preconditioned makeup air to our buildings, utilize a wraparound coil that pre-cools incoming air before the chill water coil and reheats the same air after it departs the chill water coil. This both saves energy as well as improves dehumidification.

Occupancy Sensors

For years we have been using occupancy sensors as part of renovations to automatically shut off lighting in areas like mechanical rooms, supply closets, restrooms, etc. Starting with the 170 West Fairbanks Project, we integrated the same occupancy sensors into the building control system to reassign set points for heating and air conditioning when an area is unoccupied. We are hoping in the near future to begin retrofitting existing areas starting with classrooms.

High Performance Glazing

All-new exterior windows installed on campus are fixed and insulated and use tinted glass in order to limit heat gain.

Passive Heat Recovery

The new chiller that will provide air-conditioning for the entire west end of campus was purchased with an auxiliary condenser (heat exchanger), allowing us to preheat incoming city water (from 72° to 95° F) which will then be further heated for domestic use in the residence halls. This will alleviate the need to burn gas for the same purpose.

Water to water heat pumps for heat recovery

High-efficiency heat pumps (the same units used in geothermal applications) will further scavenge rejected heat from the chiller to complete the production of domestic hot water (to 118°F).

District Cooling

Beginning with the construction of the Keene Hall chilled water plant in 1999, we have been in the process of converting our campus from a series of buildings served by dedicated equipment to a District Cooling model that has utilized existing mechanical spaces to house equipment that produces and distributes chilled water across the campus. Built to serve the new Alfond Sports Center, Knowles Chapel, Annie Russell, Keene Hall, and Rex Beach, this approach has allowed us to control costs in three ways: energy conservation, obsolescence, and operational savings. Energy: By joining diverse cooling loads, we are able to stage equipment bringing on resources only as they are needed where they are able to operate more efficiently rather than many pieces of partly loaded equipment. Obsolescence: Since all of the equipment being replaced was at the end of its useful life and because it was cheaper to replace with a few large pieces of equipment than many small ones. Operations: We were able to dramatically reduce the amount of equipment needing ongoing maintenance.

Oversized cooling tower

Both the Olin and Ward chilled water plants share a common 1,000-ton cooling tower, which serves to reject heat into the atmosphere by way of evaporative cooling. Functioning well below rated capacity most of the time, this tower will use dramatically less electricity and generate far less noise.

High-Efficiency Lighting

Over a decade ago, we did a campus-wide retrofit of all fluorescent lighting converting from T12 to more efficient T8 lamps with electronic ballasts. At the same time, exit signs were converted to the LED (light emitting diode) type. Since then, the development of T5 lamps have come along and are now our standard for new construction or renovation projects. We are currently exploring the latest developments in LED lighting for both interior and exterior use. We currently have on campus a prototype for one of our standard exterior pole lights replacing the 200-watt high-pressure sodium lamp and ballast with a 40-watt LED element. As the technology becomes reliable and cost-effective, we will continue to update our lighting.

Open Cell Foam Thermal Insulation

High-performance spray-on thermal insulation has been installed in attics and wall cavities of many existing facilities on campus. This is sometimes done as part of larger renovations and sometimes done as a standalone project. This has been completed in the following buildings in recent years: 170 West Fairbanks, Annie Russell Theatre, Reeves Lodge, Pugsley Hall, Mayflower Hall, Lyman Hall, Gale Hall, Keene Hall, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Ward Hall, Warren Administration, Cornell Fine Arts Classroom building and this summer, Elizabeth Hall, McKean Hall, Beal/Maltie and Hauck Hall.

Demand Control Ventilation

All commercial facilities are required to provide through mechanical means the introduction of outside air (makeup air); this is because as we breathe we give off CO2 and the only way to provide a healthy environment is through dilution with outside air. This is typically done by introducing a fixed quantity of outside air based on the potential occupancy of the facility where in practice most facilities have far fewer people than their design potential. Demand Control Ventilation monitors CO2 levels and adjusts outside air based on an actual building load, thereby saving air-conditioning costs associated with cooling and dehumidification of outside air. Building code requirements for fixed ventilation is 20 cubic feet of air per person per minute; therefore, this represents a very significant savings. We have utilized Demand Control Ventilation on all relevant projects starting with the Keene Hall and Cornell Fine Arts Museum projects.

Modernization of Inefficient Equipment

Since the acquisition of Sutton Place Apartments in 2001, Facilities Management has replaced all 88 of the air-conditioning units serving the building. The replacement of 20-year-old units with modern high-efficiency equipment was performed with in-house staff and strictly operational funding.

Variable Frequency Drives

Commonly known as VFDs, variable frequency drives allow you to control the output of standard AC motors. This allows us to match the output of pumps, blowers, and in some cases even chillers to the required need rather than running equipment at full speed whether or not needed. This proportionately reduces energy consumption.

Bush Solar Project

In 2007 we completed the installation of a 1,600-watt PV project on the roof to the Bush Science Center. This project was intended to demonstrate the potential of PV in Central Florida as well as provide practical data on system output, while introducing our students to this technology.

Centralized Exterior Lighting Control

In order to provide a safe and accessible campus, we have many hundreds of exterior lights. In the past, some of them have been controlled by individual photocells, some by timers, and some by user-controlled switches. In the last several years, we have been in the process of converting to central control as part of our computerized building automation system. We now have approximately 60 percent of these lights controlled with the system, allowing us to ensure that they are on when needed and off the rest of the time. You may from time to time observe some of these lights on during the day. This is done for servicing in order to avoid bringing personnel in after hours at overtime rates.

Recycling

Recyclable Carpet Tiles

We are increasingly making use of carpet tiles instead of broad loom. This allows for less waste during installation, as well as replacement of individual tiles in the event of staining, thereby extending the useful life of the carpet.

Recyclable Collection Point

Waste collection rooms on all floors provide students with a convenient means of recycling, as well as disposing of other items, all at one location.

Single-Stream Recycling

Sometimes known as co-mingled recycling, single-stream recycling allows for the disposal of all recyclables, including cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, and steel, in a single receptacle. A waste processor separates out the individual commodities through a series of mechanical means. We are in the process of standardizing collection across campus. Our goal is to have trash and recycling containers side-by-side with consistent markings and instructions. We wish to make it easy to do the right thing in order to promote increased participation.

Transportation & Operations

Service Vehicles

Since the mid-90s, we've converted all of our service carts from gas to electric through attrition and schedule replacement. Administrators assigned to school vehicles now receive gas/hybrid vehicles.

Reduction in Number Vehicles

Despite increased responsibilities, increase square footage served, and increase staffing levels, we have actually reduced the number of cars and trucks in the department.

Refrigerant Management

As refrigerant-based systems require maintenance or replacement, we remove all refrigerant and store it in containers for reuse. This practice prevents the emission of ozone-depleting chemicals and saves the purchase price for new refrigerant, which is rapidly increasing in cost.

Green Chemicals

We are integrating the use of environmentally friendly chemicals into our daily operations. We use citrus-based cleaners for drain cleaning, air-conditioning coil cleaning, and for grease removal on mechanical components. We are constantly on the lookout to integrate new environmentally sensitive products into our operations as soon as they are proven viable.