Energy Conservation
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Sustainability
- General Discussion
- The Power of Small Steps
- The Need for Better Methods of Energy Production
- What Can I Do?
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The Role of the Facilities Department
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Summary
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Campus Environmental Stewardship
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ENERGY STAR Program
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Sustainability
Sustainability can be understood by asking the question: "Can we continue forever (or a really long time) to produce and consume energy and other utilities at our current rates, using our current methods?" While the concept of sustainability may be applied to virtually all resources, this discussion will be limited to the utilities used by Georgia Tech. If our utilities are not sustainable, what and how must we change in order to make them sustainable? Sustainability of a resource can be improved by:
1. not using it,
2. using less of it (conserving it),
3. reusing it, or
4. using an alternative.
Consider the example of energy for lighting. How do we provide lighting for a classroom in a "sustainable" way? If we use sunlight from the windows and use less electrical lighting, sustainability has been improved. Electrical savings may also be enhanced by installing more energy-efficient bulbs and hardware. If the room occupants use solar-powered calculators, energy is reused. Solar power could also be used to generate supplemental electrical power for the room, improving sustainability even more.
This raises the questions: "Are we currently giving proper emphasis to sustainability?" and, "What can we do to improve sustainability of utilities on the campus?"
Consider that Georgia Tech has about 10 million square feet in occupied building space. Assume that a single 4-tube fluorescent fixture illuminates about 75 sq. ft. If everyone on campus agreed to turn out all the lights (at a time when they were normally on) for one hour during the year, this would save 21,000 KWH or about $1000 for the year. The same reduction applied once-a-week would save 1,092,000 KWH or $52,000 for the year. Applied once-a-day, the savings would be 7 million KWH and more than $364,000 for the year. Simple acts repeated many times by a lot of people can have a huge effect. The Spanish have a proverb: "Little by little we go far."
One way to look at such potential savings is to consider that the benefits will accrue not only to us, but also to future generations. The more we "sustain," the better our "tomorrow" will be. And, "tomorrow," we should have even more efficient methods of producing energy.
The Need for Better Methods of Energy Production
There is much inefficiency built into current methods of energy production and distribution, in spite of our best efforts. For example, to generate electricity, fuel such as natural gas is consumed to heat water and make steam. Much of the heat goes "up the smokestack." Some of the energy of the steam is lost in the mechanics of turning the generator turbine, while further energy is lost as heat radiating from the equipment. Energy is expended to pump the condensed steam. Energy is lost in transmission along the electrical distribution lines. Energy is also lost at the point of delivery. Reducing consumption today buys us time, as we plan for more efficient methods of energy production.
What can you do? A great number of things, as there are countless actions which can save energy:
- Turn out a light.
- Adjust the thermostat (upward in summer, downward in winter).
- Don't stand and hold the door open.
- Don't run unneeded copies.
- Don't let the water run in the bathroom, and install water-saving devices. (Not only does this save water, but it also saves the electricity required to pump and clean the water.)
- Don't get two napkins, if you only need one; it takes energy to manufacture and transport almost everything we use.
- Don't get a plastic spoon, if you only need a fork.
- Don't leave your car running, while you run into the store.
Most of these (and other, similar) actions will make very little difference in your quality of life today, but such actions may have a huge impact on your "tomorrow."
The Role of the Facilities Department
Many people think of the Facilities Department as the unit that cleans, repairs, and provides maintenance. While that is true, Facilities also plays a crucial role in the production and conservation of energy. Facilities is made up of several groups, such as Area Maintenance, Design and Construction, Building Services, etc., each of which has a well-defined role. One group within Facilities, the Utilities & Energy Group, is a key player in energy and other utility-related areas.
Utilities & Energy Responsibilities
The Georgia Tech Facilities' Utilities & Energy Group is responsible for electrical distribution, chilled water generation and distribution, steam generation and distribution, fuel sources for buildings, domestic water distribution, and sewage collection.
The primary electrical supplier for Georgia Tech is Georgia Power, owned by the Southern Company. Georgia Tech is one of the largest consumers of electricity in the Atlanta Area, using about 25,000,000 KWH per month. We own and manage a large electrical substation, and most of our electrical power (80%) comes through this (main) substation, which has 80-megawatts of instantaneous capacity.
Georgia Tech has three chiller plants, which generate and supply chilled water for air conditioning and other needs. The water is distributed across the campus by an extensive and complex system of pumps and piping.
The Georgia Tech Holland Power Plant has six chillers capable of producing 8,000 tons of cooling. Our 10th Street Plant has 5 chillers capable of producing 9,250 tons of cooling. Tech Square Plant has 2 Chillers capable of producing 1,700 tons of cooling. In order to remove heat from buildings, about 55,000 gallons of water have to be pumped to and from these plants every minute. In addition, there are 68 smaller stand-alone chillers and chiller like units on campus used to serve buildings not on the central plant system.
Steam is used to heat buildings, make hot water, and for some special lab needs on campus. The steam is produced by boilers which are fueled by natural gas, with a supply of propane available as a backup fuel source for some sites.
The central steam boilers are capable of producing 200,000 pounds of 150 psi steam every hour. There are three boilers, two with 50,000 pounds/hr capacity and one with 110,000 pounds/hr capacity. Currently, Georgia Tech is expanding capacity by adding a 100,000 pounds/hr electric boiler. This is only the first step, other support systems will need to be added to increase plant capacity, but it immediately adds flexibility to operations. Only two this large are located in the State of Georgia. In addition, there are roughly thirty smaller boilers used for buildings that are not serviced by the central system.
Natural gas is used for producing steam and for heating water on campus. The availability of a backup fuel source allows us to operate under a special "interruptible" contract with significant savings. The two largest users are the power plant and the west campus gas system. Both systems use liquid propane as a backup fuel.
Water and sewer service is provided to the campus by the City of Atlanta. Currently we have 201 water accounts. 143 are for normal water service to buildings, systems or equipment on campus. 68 accounts are for service lines to insure water for fire suppression equipment on campus. Facilities coordinates all services and changes in service, such as termination of service, start up of service, repairs, etc.
Summary
Our objective is to produce and distribute utilities in the most reliable and efficient method possible. Currently, Georgia Tech has a relatively high level of reliability and efficiency, compared to most campuses and cities of similar size.
In order to operate at a high level of efficiency and reduce waste, each of the "citizens" in the "city" of Georgia Tech needs to make a contribution. This begins with an awareness of the concept of sustainability, the potential for savings, and the benefits to be had for all of us and for future generations.
Physical resources, including utilities, are limited commodities. Please use them wisely and efficiently, and help to conserve and reuse them.
Our campus is growing every year, and the consumption of all utilities is growing with that expansion. It is paramount that each member of the Tech community contribute responsibly to the ongoing effort to make our campus a sustainable enterprise.