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Experimenting with Efficiency

Experimenting with Efficiency. Reducing Energy Use in University Laboratories. Sun Saluters Jae-Beom Bae, Adithya Dahagama, Arman Golrokhian, Alexander Schapira, Lauren White. Better Buildings Case Competition 2014 United States Department of Energy. Introduction: The Problem.

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Experimenting with Efficiency

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  1. Experimenting with Efficiency Reducing Energy Use in University Laboratories Sun Saluters Jae-Beom Bae, Adithya Dahagama, Arman Golrokhian, Alexander Schapira, Lauren White Better Buildings Case Competition 2014 United States Department of Energy

  2. Introduction: The Problem • Research labs consume 40-50% of a university’s energy bills • Energy savings in labs not priority for stakeholders • Stakeholders: • Federal Agencies • Grant-Making Entities • Universities • University Labs Easiest toInfluence

  3. Introduction: Our Solution • Green Revolving Fund (GRF) • Fund raised to finance energy efficient equipment • Facility-efficiency • Research-related • Regenerate via savings • EcoTeam • Faculty & Student-based organization • Two purposes: • “Energy consultants” to labs and manage GRF • Lead green movement in campus

  4. Green Revolving Fund The financial source of energy efficiency projects

  5. Green Revolving Fund: Overview • Fund that finances energy efficiency projects • Sources: • External Loans • Endowment & Investment • Student Fees • Donations • Grants • Regenerates via energy savings from projects

  6. Green Revolving Fund: Application Process 2 Types of Applications • Facility Efficiency Equipment • Ventilation, Lighting, HVAC • Research-specific Equipment Extracted From: http://www.mars.com/gcc/en/assets/images/center-contents/Application.jpg

  7. Green Revolving Fund: Selection Criteria 3 Main Criteria • Economic Performance • Capital Intensity • Rate of Return • Payback Period • Number of Projects • Environmental Benefit • Varies by research lab’s location

  8. Green Revolving Fund: Tracking Savings Metering-based Savings attributed via energy meters Pros Accurate More reliable Cons Expensive & Complex Projection-based Savings attributed via projections Pros • Less capital intensive • Less complex Cons • Inaccurate

  9. EcoTeams A behavioral best practice for energy conservation

  10. A Need for Durable Behavior Change • We reviewed behavioral best practices • How to instill ethos of environmental concern? • Behavior change is “lowest-hanging fruit” • Example: Laboratory Fume Hoods (750,000 hoods in U.S.) • Simple closure could save $1.39 billion / year in energy costs • Small behavioral changes significantly curtail energy consumption

  11. EcoTeam: An Overview • Used worldwide • Teams of affected stakeholders themselves (lab staff!) • Social-support and peer-based team • Managers know energy conservation measures are important, but… • “Value-action gap” + barriers to implementation • Education + procedural guidance + timely feedback = most effective

  12. EcoTeam: Responsibilities Green Movement Offer consulting, elective auditing Provide frequent, solutions-based communications Partner with Campus Sustainability Office Green Revolving Fund • Manage GRF • Act as “energy task force” • Serve as central clearinghouse for resources and best practices • Apply for rebates (retrofits, utility) • Maintain inventory of equipment

  13. EcoTeam: Strategies • Set clear, achievable intention • Post mini-goals publicly • Celebrate small successes en route to larger objective • Pledges & commitments • Prompts (magnets, stickers at decision point) • Friendly competitions • Huddles

  14. EcoTeam: Leadership • Strong support from upper management is critical (EPA) • Charismatic, known and liked  Internal Champion • Sustainability Officer, perhaps? • Salary investment small compared to energy expenditures on equipment

  15. Sustainability Officer’s Funding and Salary Sources of funding for sustainability officer positions Average salary for sustainability officers ($US), dependent upon years of prior experience http://www.aashe.org/resources/pdf/sustainability_officer_survey_2008.pdf http://www.aashe.org/resources/pdf/sustainability_officer_survey_2008.pdf

  16. A Note About Incentives… • Effective short-term kickstarter strategy, but… • Create precedent that behavior without reward is not worth doing • Behavior that is intrinsically rewarding becomes the incentive • Emphasize non-material rewards, but provide a choice • Team member can select what best meets his/her needs • Sense of empowerment

  17. Eudaemonic vs. Hedonic? • Non-material rewards create “eudaemonic” well-being • Long-term, positive effects and lasting change • Enhanced immune system functioning • Reduced absenteeism, increased productivity • Motivation to continue conservation behavior • Material or extrinsic rewards create “hedonic” well-being • Does not have same benefits

  18. Additional Thoughts • EcoTeam framework allows flexibility of design • Adaptable to institution • Unique team members shape approach & impact • EcoTeam resources available online • Involve the student body! • Incorporate academics • Automation • Smart metering to identify energy “sinks” and most impactful behavior

  19. Government Recommendations A more energy efficient policy world

  20. Government Recommendations Policy-makers (e.g. OMB, CEQ) • Make application for the GRF an optional step in the grant application process • Guide agencies to insert sustainability requirements in general grant clauses to better meet sustainability goals of Executive Order 13514. Grant-making entities (e.g. NIH, CDC) • Make sustainability a part of the mission statement • Energy efficiency post-award requirements • Define & Enforce the requirements • Monitoring is taken care of by the university’s EcoTeam

  21. Government Recommendations Both • Award grants to universities that require funding to initiate GRF • Rely on EcoTeams for energy efficiency tracking • Hold annual meetings to… • Review sustainability performances & trends • Understand grant-making entities’ issues with handling sustainability policies • Review regulations that involve energy efficiency for grant-making

  22. Conclusion

  23. Implications Capital Cost • GRF Funding: $10,000 ~ $1,500,000 Operating Cost • EcoTeam - Office, Staff, Events, IT Potential Energy Savings • Ventilation: 40-70% kWh electricity • Heating: 35-50% gas • Cooling: 67-28% gas • Lighting: 26-56% electricity http://www.regencylighting.com/images/energy_savings.jpg

  24. Assumptions • GRF has sufficient funding to sustain lab-wide energy efficiency projects • Projects’ IRR higher than interest rate • University faculty interested • Sustainability Coordinator (energy efficiency expert) can be hired

  25. Conclusion • Green Revolving Fund • Finance energy efficiency projects in labs • Share savings with labs • EcoTeam • Oversee GRF & Provide consulting services • Facilitate application process for labs • Ensure most efficient projects are awarded • Green Movement • Government Recommendations • Enforce sustainability policies • Leverage GRF & EcoTeam • Annual meetings

  26. Thank you.Questions?

  27. References • AASHE. (2008). Higher Education Sustainability Officer Position and Salary Survey. Lexington: AASHE. • Bloodhart, B., Swim, J. K., & Zawadzki, M. J. (2013). Spreading the Eco-Message: Using Proactive Coping to Aid Eco-Rep Behavior Change Programming. Sustainability, 1661-1679. • Chen, A. (2013, February 01). Big Energy Savings in The New York Times Building Confirmed by Berkeley Lab Study. Retrieved from Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETD): http://eetd.lbl.gov/news/article/30598/big-energy-savings-in-the-new-york-times-building-confirmed-by-berkeley-lab-study • De Young, R. (1996). Environment and Behavior. Washington D.C.: Sage Publications. • EPA. (2014). Energy Efficiency Program Best Practices. Washington D.C.: EPA. Retrieved from EPA. • Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). A functional genomic perspective on human well-being. Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, 13684–13689. • Green Billion. (2014, February 18). Harvard Green Loan Fund. Retrieved from Billion Dollar Green Challenge: http://greenbillion.org/participant/harvard-university/ • Ilies, R., Morgeson, F. P., & Nahrgang, J. D. (2005). Authentic leadership and eudaemonic well-being: Understanding leader–follower outcomes. East Lansing: Elsevier. • Kaplowitz, M. D. (2012, Nov.). Energy conservation attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors in science laboratories. ScienceDirect, 581-591. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/science/article/pii/S0301421512006556 • MIT. (2007, June 1). Cutting fume hoods' hours saves energy and money. Retrieved from MITnews: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/fumehoods-0601.html • National Audubon Society. (2013). Influencing Conservation Action. New York: National Audubon Society. • Woolliams, J., Lloyd, M., & Spengler, J. D. (2005). The case for sustainable laboratories: first steps at Harvard University. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 363-382. • NationalGrid. (2003). Managing Energy Costs in Colleges and Universities. Boulder: E Source Companies LLC. Retrieved from National Grid U.S. • Reindorf, L., & Goldman, M. (2011, February 14). Retrofitting labs to reduce energy consumption. Retrieved from Laboratory Design: http://www.labdesignnews.com/articles/2011/02/retrofitting-labs-reduce-energy-consumption • Somervell, D. (2011, June 01). S-Lab Briefing 2: Understanding Laboratory Energy Consumption. Retrieved from I2SL: http://www.i2sl.org/elibrary/documents/somervell_nuttall.pdf • Staats, H., Harland, P., & Wilke, H. A. (2004, May). Effecting Durable Change. Environment and Behavior, 341-367. Retrieved from http://eab.sagepub.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/content/36/3/341 • U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (2013, March 12). MAP: Retail Electricity Prices by State. Retrieved from Institute for 21st Century Energy: http://www.energyxxi.org/map-retail-electricity-prices-state • U.S. Department of Energy. (2013, Nov.). Better Buildings. Experimenting with Efficiency: Greening the Grant Process for Research Institutions. Washington D.C., Washington D.C., United States. • University of California Irvine. (2013). Smart Laboratories Cut Energy Consumption More Than Half. Irvine: University of California Irvine. • Weiss, J. (2013, February 20). Revolving Credit – All Grown Up. Retrieved from UNC Environmental Finance Center: http://efc.web.unc.edu/2013/02/20/revolving-credit-all-grown-up/ • White, F. (2012, April 19). Save big on heating, cooling costs with efficiency controls. Retrieved from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: http://www.pnnl.gov/news/release.aspx?id=919 • Wikipedia. (2014, February 3). List of research universities in the United States. Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States

  28. Metering-based tracking special scenario • Labs funded by GRF are metered • Equipment can move beyond boundaries • University pays “Expected savings” to GRF

  29. Representative Lab Consumption Profile • Study conducted by I2SL • Consumption Ranking: • Ventilation • Heating/Cooling • Research-specific equipment • Lighting

  30. Regional Difference in Grid Composition • Grid’s composition of sources vary from region to region • GRF Criteria 3 ensures optimal environmental impacts

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