Energy Use in Buildings

Overview

PIER Technology Demonstration

UC Merced Energy Planning

Monitoring-Based Commissioning

Strategic Lighting Planning
(coming soon)

References

Contacts

UC Merced Energy Planning

CIEE began work in 1999 as a part of the planning team of the 10th UC campus at Merced. Recently, performance measurements of the first buildings have completed a decade-long feedback cycle for the design process. Original planning for deep efficiency included a sequential graduated set of energy performance targets. The targets started at 80% of equivalent climate-normalized 1999 UC/CSU building stock benchmarks for the first buildings (20% savings).  Targets then ramp to 50% for the balance of the campus build-out [Brown (2002)].

The goal-setting process for deep efficiency is groundbreaking.  Comprehensive targets include all building end-uses.  The targets are accompanied by plans for monitoring of actual performance as a part of a "living laboratory." The campus as a whole is surpassing expectations by already operating at 70% of benchmark (30% savings). Case studies have documented two major buildings operating below 65% of benchmarks.  These buildings are now targeting 50% of benchmarks with ongoing commissioning efforts.

In 2007, CIEE held its all-hands meeting on the campus, with local press coverage providing a delightful glimpse of campus excitement surrounding the accomplishments [Levey (2007)]. The initial success in surpassing efficiency goals has led the campus to set a net zero energy goal for 2020 [UC Merced (2009)]. This may include another halving of building energy use to 25% of benchmarks.  Campus deep efficiency goals have led to substantial R&D funding for projects aligned with the campus energy planning [Berkeley Lab (2009), UC Merced (2009a)].

References and Links

ACEEE 2010 Summer Study Preprint: Not Too Fast, Not Too Slow: A Sustainable University Campus Community Sets an Achievable Trajectory Toward Zero Net Energy (pdf 0.9 MB)

ACEEE 2010 Summer Study Preprint: Hitting the Whole Target: Setting and Achieving Goals for Deep Efficiency Buildings (pdf 0.4 MB)

UC Merced Classroom and Office Building Case Study (pdf 1.64MB)

UC Merced Science and Engineering Building I Case Study (pdf 962KB)

UC Merced Performance Snapshot, Working Draft (pdf 67KB)

UC Merced Environmental Sustainability [UC Merced (2009)]