OVERVIEW
Since 2012, UBC has completed a number of energy retrofits, buildings control optimization, and maintenance programs to reduce energy consumption on campus. Our plan to 2021 includes continuous optimization and buildings controls optimization that will recommission over 72 core academic and ancillary buildings across the UBC campus to reduce energy and emissions and offset future campus growth.
The program is being rolled out in partnership with BC Hydro and Fortis BC. Buildings will maintain their optimized states through real-time performance monitoring and response, and performance analysis, to identify further opportunities for energy conservation.
28,400
UBC’s energy conservation projects have reduced campus CO2 emissions by 28,400 Tons annually since the early 2000s. This is equivalent to taking 6200 cars off the road.
KEY PROJECTS
BUILDING TUNE-UPS
The Building Tune-Up program involves re-commissioning 72 buildings to reduce the energy and emissions in core campus buildings by 10 per cent. All existing core academic buildings larger than 50,000 square feet are included in the program.
The Building Tune-Up program optimizes buildings by improving their temperature, lighting, and ventilation controls to match occupancy.
Learn more about the Building Tune Ups program.
LIFE SCIENCES ENERGY RETROFITS AND CONTINUED OPTIMIZATION
Since 2012, the Energy Conservation and Innovation group has reduced the energy consumption of UBC’s largest building by over 37%. This was achieved through prioritizing deferred mechanical maintenance, controls optimization of major energy systems, as well as capital retrofits such as installing a new heat recovery chiller and new variable speed pumps and fans.
Learn more about Life Sciences retrofits and optimization.
WIFI BUILDING CONTROLS
Based on research by a UBC Ph.D candidate, Energy and Water Services is using the campus wireless system to save energy in buildings.
By using anonymized location data provided by our WIFI network, we’re able to approximate the number of people in campus spaces and use this data to vary airflow to the room and save energy.
Learn more about WIFI Building Controls at UBC.
LED LIGHTING RETROFITS
Energy and Water has estimated there are approximately 180,000 T8 lamps across the entire core campus. If all T8 lamps were changed to LED, UBC would reduce its electrical energy consumption by approximately 10.8 GWhs and shed 3 MW in electrical peak demand.
Changing out all T8 lamps on campus would result in energy cost savings of $756,000 and $90,000 in maintenance savings each year for UBC.
Learn more about our LED Lighting Retrofit campaign.
MORE PROJECTS
UBC’s Energy and Water Services’ vision is to reduce consumption of energy and water, and eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through mindful stewardship of our campus energy and water resources.
Find out more about UBC’s Energy and Water Services Unit’s projects to conserve energy.
