Facility Executive
Summary
Western Michigan University (WMU) is one of the first universities in the U.S. to address climate change in 2012, but it began its efforts way before. Back in 1988, the university teamed up with Armstrong International to build a university-wide steam trap energy savings program that has now been modeled by 37 other universities to reduce their carbon footprints.
In addition to saving more than $4 million between 1988 and 2011 in energy, and millions more since then, the program has helped WMU reach its carbon-neutral goals. Encompassing 151 buildings, including 22 residence halls, and 200 campus apartments, the steam trap program captures campus-generated heat that would otherwise be wasted to make steam for heating buildings in the winter and driving devices that cool buildings in the summer.
Tell us about this steam trap program. How does it gather heat that would have otherwise been wasted heating or cooling building?
Provot: To understand the magnitude of the steam trap program, we need to talk about the extent of Western Michigan University’s power needs. The university serves more than 18,000 students on campus with more than 8 million sq. ft. of building space within 122 buildings. WMU powers all of this with a central steam/electric (co-generation) plant and a decentralized chilled water plant, operated by 66 skilled-trade employees and a 13-person management staff. Its steam and condensate utilities include 13.9 miles of underground steam and condensate lines, 2.3 miles of utility tunnels, four steam zones, six condensate zones, and 2,773 steam traps working 24/7 to minimize steam loss, alleviate condensate in the system, prevent corrosion in the steam pipes and promote air and carbon dioxide ventilation – all of which helps the plant operate efficiently and effectively.
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