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Outreach Programs

Outreach Programs

Aug 28, 2014

The Energy and Water Conservation (E&WC) Program has developed specific efforts in different areas of energy and water conservation:
Conservation Conversations: View the schedule to join us for a 30-minute presentations and Q&A on different ways to conserve energy and water on campus.
Holiday Scheduling: This annual initiative is a cooperative effort between EWC and multiple stakeholders in which HVAC systems in selected unoccupied spaces are placed on "setback" mode during the Thanksgiving and winter breaks to lower demand and conserve energy. See the memo on our results from fiscal year 2013/2014.
Horns Up, Sash Down: Find out why shutting your fume hood sash helps you reduce energy use.
Longhorn Lights Out: Our campus-wide event where occupants reduce energy by turning off lights and powering down equipment at the end of the day on a specified date.
Power Down Assessment: Email us at energysteward@austin.utexas.edu to sign up to get a review of your individual space at the university and learn how to reduce your energy use.
Ultra-Low Freezer Loaner Program: Learn how you can save energy with proper maintenance of your ultra-low freezer. Borrow our freezer while you maintain yours.

High Energy Reduction Operators (HERO) Program

Summary

The High Energy Response Operators program is an incentive program developed by the Energy and Water Conservation Program (EWC) to reward the hard and tenacious work the zonal staff contributes to campus energy and water reduction goals. There are three main components for the HERO program: Data analysis, food purchasing (incentive), and award.

Frequency/Timeline: The HERO program is a quarterly based program

  • Q1- Sept/Oct/Nov- HERO Award event January
  • Q2- Dec/Jan/Feb- HERO Award event April
  • Q3- Mar/April/May- HERO Award event July
  • Q4- June/July/August- HERO Award event October

Measurement and Verification

The HERO program determines the total decrease in combined building energy consumption within each zone during a fiscal quarter as compared to the same quarter the year prior (e.g. Q1 FY2014 vs Q1 FY2013). Buildings are only included in the total energy calculation if building energy data existed during both quarters, eliminating new construction and new meter installations from the calculation. Based on input from Energy Stewards and Zone staff, select buildings can also excluded from the calculation due to various circumstance (renovations, construction, meter outage, major equipment failure, etc). Energy reduction is calculated as a percent change prior year quarter to competition quarter. The Zone with the largest reduction (most negative percent change) is considered the winner.

Process

Step 1 - After the quarter is complete- discuss at Monthly Zone meetings which buildings in each zone needs to be eliminated for the HERO quarter
Step 2 - Data Analysis
Step 3 - Adjust costs of utilities if necessary- This data can be obtained by contacting Adriana Rojas or Tejas Pevekar
Step 4 - Ensure that buildings that zones have identified are eliminated from the calculations
Step 5 - Review data to identify any discrepancies

Award

Zonal staff is awarded in two ways: A HERO Poster for their zone shop and a lunch provided by the EWC team.

HERO Poster


      • Format for poster is 24 X 18 on hard stock material
      • Purchase through Document Solutions: Rep: Norma Almazan: Almazan, Norma J (norma.almazan@austin.utexas.edu)

Food Purchasing

Food purchasing is done through the Division of Housing and Food Services Forty Acres Catering: https://www.utexas.edu/student/housing/index.php?site=18&scode=0&id=8097 contact Ronnie Ruiz: rruiz@austin.utexas.edu.
Include the following information:

  • Date
  • Pick up location (Cypress Bend, Jester City Limits, or Littlefield Café)
  • Time
  • # People
  • Plates
  • Silverware/Napkins (Yes/No)
  • Food preference
  • IDT Account to transfer funds- Official Occasion Expense Accounts are only allowed for food purchases.
  • Request an invoice

Record all purchases in the budget folder and spreadsheet for the appropriate FY

Longhorn Lights Out (LLO)

Longhorn Lights Out is UT-Austin's campus-wide event where occupants reduce energy by turning off lights, unplugging unnecessary electronics and powering down computer equipment (check with your IT staff first) the last Friday of every month. It is an example of how simple actions can have a BIG impact. Join the Dark Side and make a difference! http://longhornlightsout.com/
Longhorn Lights Out is contributing to ways to conserve energy and water at The University of Texas at Austin. It comes from the students who make our campus-wide efforts rock, the faculty whose years of research and commitment to energy conservation inspire us, and from the staff who are often the eyes and ears of our program.

Horns Up Sash Down Competition

The Horns Up, Sash Down program educates researchers, teaching assistants and students of the energy impact of fume hoods due to their high ventilation requirements. A two-week competition is held each long semester that encourages fume hood users to keep their fume hoods closed on nights, weekends and during periods of inactivity. Labs meeting their specific goals have the opportunity to win prizes and be recognized among their peers. Previous competitions have seen as much as $10,000 in avoided energy costs per year due to behavior change.

SETTING UP THE COMPETITION

CHOOSING THE COMPETITION TIMING

One month of time is needed to conduct the competition - a one-week baseline, one week of marketing and two weeks of competition. An email is sent to the building managers of NHB, WEL and BME one month prior to the competition to confirm that all are on board with the proposed time period and incentives. It is best to select a date range that is mid-semester and does not contain any holiday breaks. The competition runs from a Monday to the following Friday and only encompasses one weekend.

COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA

To collect baseline information for NHB and WEL, access the BAS (Building Automation System): Andover>Nrgy>open:
NHB Sash Bnet2
NHB Sash Bnet3
NHB CFM Bnet2
NHB CFM Bnet3
WEL Sash
WEL CFM
Download and save all trends as their names with the addition of the date range to a thumb drive and download to your computer. Open the compiler report designated as the original: [Maintenance_Energy_Resource_Conservation>Behavioral>HornsUp,SashDown>
Compiler Tool and Reports|Z:\\2-Behavioral
Horns Up, Sash Down
Compiler Tool and Reports]. Ex. NHB_Sash_Bnet2_7.1-8.14
To collect baseline information for BME, access Siemens:

  • Click on the Dynamic Plotter icon and click Open
  • Type BME*SASH into the Name: search box and click Find Now
  • Highlight 'BME SASH HEIGHTS' and 'BME_SASH HEIGHTS_6A-1' and click OK
  • Save both trends by clicking Edit>Save Data To File
  • Download and save the trends to a thumb drive and download to your computer

Copy the data from each of the files into the corresponding green 'Input' tab. The file will generate the charts for the individual labs as well as the comparison graphs for NHB and BME research labs.
Save as a new file with the date range of data collected and whether it is 'Baseline, Week 1 or Final' data. Ex. Fume Hood Compiler-2.24-3.2.2014_Week2_FINAL.
SETTING UP THE COMPETITION PARAMETERS
To set the dates and times analyzed in the Compiler, go to the 'Setup' sheet and enter the baseline or competition start date and time in the 'Override' section. You can also modify when the overnight snapshot is calculated, when the night starts and when it ends. The time considered to be unoccupied and cost per CFM can also be modified here.
COMPETITION GROUPS
Competition groups are determined according to their building and/or research group or teaching lab. This can be left up to the current program manager but examples of current groups and goals are:
NHB Research Labs – each research group tries to maintain an overnight sash opening of 10% or less for the two week period. Each group that meets this goal is entered into a drawing for a prize.

  • WEL Research Labs – at the time of this document there is only one research lab in the section of WEL with BAS feedback of sash opening percentage. If this lab maintains an average overnight sash opening of 10% or less, all lab occupants receive a prize.
  • NHB, BME and WEL Teaching Labs – all teaching lab fume hoods, per buildings, are treated as the same lab although the labs encompass many rooms. The lab managers and TA's are responsible for engaging students in the effort and for closing the hoods at the end of the day. If all teaching lab fume hoods maintain an average overnight sash opening of 10% or less (or 2 inches or less for BME) the teaching lab staff all win prizes.
  • BME Research Labs – Because BME is a Siemens building, data is collected differently and the message is slightly different. The data received from Siemens is the height of the sash opening, not the percentage opening. Also, the CFM data is incorrect in the BAS and must be calculated using the sash opening height in the 'Calc – BME Sash or CFM' tabs. If the data is corrected in Siemens the Compiler will need to be reworked.

EXECUTING THE COMPETITION

INFO SHEETS

Information is collected from the compiler to develop info sheets that are emailed to each lab or group of teaching labs. Example emails are contained in the attachments. Info sheets should be sent out one week prior to the competition start date (baseline data), on the second Monday of the competition (week 1 results) and the Monday following the competition (full competition results). You can also send another email between the baseline data and the start of the competition as a reminder. Be sure to modify the competition details and building name in each of the emails to reflect the correct information.

      • NHB and BME Research Labs – To develop the info sheets for this group you will use the comparison chart for the corresponding building on the 'Combined' tab as well as the 'Estimated Annual Cost and Average Overnight Sash Opening Percentage per Hood' charts on the 'Charts' tab. A message should be added either introducing them to the contest, updating them on their week 1 results or their final results.


      • NHB, WEL and BME Teaching Labs – To develop the info sheets for these groups you will use the corresponding 'Estimate Annual Cost of Fume Hoods' and 'Average Overnight Sash Opening Percentage per Hood' charts on the 'Charts' tab. A message should be added either introducing them to the contest, updating them on their week 1 results or their final results.

MARKETING

In addition to sending information directly to labs, slides can be sent to the TV monitors in the participating buildings. Marketing materials are kept in Marketing_Communications_&_Photos>EWC Marketing Materials>Modules>Horns Up, Sash Down.

PRIZES

In the past, prizes for Horns Up, Sash Down have comprised of food rewards such as pizza or coupons for breakfast tacos and coffee.

OTHER RECOGNITION

Certificates can also be distributed to labs that meet their goal but are not chosen to receive a prize.

MAINTAINING THE ACCURACY OF THE COMPILER

CHANGES TO LABS OR FUME HOODS

When changes are made to lab occupancy or fume hoods are added or subtracted, make changes on all tabs, including the charts.

FOLLOW UP

FEEDBACK

Post-competition surveys are sent out periodically to assess the engagement of the competition participants. Incentives similar to the competition prizes are given to a survey respondent that is randomly chosen to increase survey participation.

Attachments

Baseline info sheet example:


Example of Week 1 info sheet:


Close up of comparison chart:

A line is drawn across the average fume hood opening and symbols are used to show the changes from the baseline period.

Intro Email to Research Labs

Subject: Horns Up, Sash Down – Fume hood competition – Date Range – Lab Name
Join your fellow researchers in saving energy by participating in UT's fume hood competition, Horns Up, Sash Down!




How do you win?
 From February 24 – March 7, your goal is to keep the average overnight sash opening for the fume hoods in your lab below 10%. Fume hood opening percentages will be recorded at 3am every night through the building automation system to represent the opening of the fume hood throughout the night. If your lab reaches the 10% goal your lab will be entered into a raffle for FREE coffee and breakfast tacos courtesy of the Energy and Water Conservation program.
 Why does it matter?
 Fume hoods use a lot of energy because they are constantly exhausting conditioned air from the building. For example, an 8 ft Kewaunee fume hood has a baseline energy usage of approximately $2,250 per year. If that same fume hood is operated with the sash at 18" at all times (this opening amount is considered 100%) that same hood would use a total of approximately $5,500 per year! Closing your fume hood when you are not working in it and keeping it open only as much as required when you are working in the hood greatly decreases the cost and carbon footprint of your fume hood.
 In greater context, NHB is the second highest energy consumer on campus at $1.9 million per year. This is primarily due to the ventilation requirements of the building, largely driven by the fume hoods. You and your lab can make a big difference in the University's energy consumption just by how you operate your fume hood!
 What should you expect?
 
Along with the average overnight sash opening percentages per lab, which will be shared amongst all lab groups in NHB, your individual lab will receive information regarding each fume hood within the lab and the cost associated with it. The accompanying baseline information was taken from February 3-17 and the annual cost is calculated assuming that these are normal operating conditions for the year. You will also receive an update mid-competition to let you know how your lab is doing.
Frequently asked questions:
How and why do you collect this information in the first place?
All new buildings on campus, and many older buildings that have been upgraded, have digital control of building mechanical systems. This building automation allows our engineers, programmers and maintenance staff to have a view into the building to monitor and adjust temperatures, motors, valves, etc through a computer program. Because fume hoods are tied into the building mechanical system and a critical component of the building's exhaust system, we are able to see the current and historical values of the sash opening percentage and the cubic feet per minute (CFM) exhausting through the hood.
 How do you calculate the cost of a fume hood?
We take the cubic feet per minute (CFM) exhausting through the fume hood during the specified time period and apply UT's rule of thumb cost of $5/CFM/year. Because we are looking at the actual CFM exhausting through the hood every hour during the specified time period and not an average CFM it would be possible to have a low sash opening average and a decent sized red portion on the overnight cost chart if the fume hood was left at 50% for two nights but closed for the rest.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about the competition or energy and water use on campus.

Intro Email to Teaching Labs


Subject: Horns Up, Sash Down – Fume hood competition – Date Range – Lab Name
 Join your fellow researchers in saving energy by participating in UT's fume hood competition, Horns Up, Sash Down!

How do you win?
From February 24 – March 7, the goal is to keep the average overnight sash opening for the fume hoods in Welch teaching labs below 10%. Fume hood opening percentages will be recorded at 3am every night through the building automation system to represent the opening of the fume hood throughout the night. If the teaching labs meet the 10% goal your lab will win FREE coffee and breakfast tacos courtesy of the Energy and Water Conservation program.
 
Why does it matter?
Fume hoods use a lot of energy because they are constantly exhausting conditioned air from the building. For example, an 8 ft Kewaunee fume hood has a baseline energy usage of approximately $2,250 per year. If that same fume hood is operated with the sash at 18" at all times (this opening amount is considered 100%) that same hood would use a total of approximately $5,500 per year! Closing your fume hood when you are not working in it and keeping it open only as much as required when you are working in the hood greatly decreases the cost and carbon footprint of your fume hood.
 
In greater context, Welch is the highest energy consumer on campus at just over $3 million per year. This is primarily due to the ventilation requirements of the building, largely driven by the fume hoods. You and your lab can make a big difference in the University's energy consumption just by how you operate your fume hood!
 
What should you expect?
 
Your lab will receive information regarding each fume hood within the lab and the cost associated with it. The accompanying baseline information was taken from February 3-17 and the annual cost is calculated assuming that these are normal operating conditions for the year. You will also receive an update mid-competition to let you know how your lab is doing.
Frequently asked questions:
How and why do you collect this information in the first place?
All new buildings on campus, and many older buildings that have been upgraded, have digital control of building mechanical systems. This building automation allows our engineers, programmers and maintenance staff to have a view into the building to monitor and adjust temperatures, motors, valves, etc through a computer program. Because fume hoods are tied into the building mechanical system and a critical component of the building's exhaust system, we are able to see the current and historical values of the sash opening percentage and the cubic feet per minute (CFM) exhausting through the hood.
 
How do you calculate the cost of a fume hood?
We take the cubic feet per minute (CFM) exhausting through the fume hood during the specified time period and apply UT's rule of thumb cost of $5/CFM/year. Because we are looking at the actual CFM exhausting through the hood every hour during the specified time period and not an average CFM it would be possible to have a low sash opening average and a decent sized red portion on the overnight cost chart if the fume hood was left at 50% for two nights but closed for the rest.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about the competition or energy and water use on campus.

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