Campus Energy 2020 Proceedings - International District Energy Association

Conference Overview

The Technical Program featured presentations covering subjects including:

Business Models and Financing	Combined Heat and Power
District Cooling	Emissions Reduction
Master Planning and System Design	Metering and Controls
Microgrids	Optimization
Resiliency	Sustainability and Renewables
System Upgrade	Talent Management
Thermal Distribution	Thermal Energy Storage
Water	Workshop: Thermal Distribution
Workshop: Microgrids	Poster Presentations

Business Models and Financing

Transforming Campus Infrastructure to Improve Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Posted By Russell Garcia

Summary This session will focus on two infrastructure improvement projects at the University of Hawaii at Maui (UH) and the University of North Dakota (UND) aimed at improving energy efficiency and providing sustainable campuses for the future. UH has plans to be the first campus in the nation with ...

The Role of Environmental Attributes from CHP & Carbon Reduction Projects on a College Campus

Posted By Thomas Jacobsen

Summary A college campus can be uniquely positioned to meet sustainability goals while also generating a source of revenue from carbon reduction and on-site clean energy projects that qualify to generate environmental attributes. As trustees, students and faculty push for increasingly aggressive sustainability ...

Marketing Your Project to a Board of Directors

Posted By Lindsey Kuhnen

Summary Planning, analyzing and/or designing district energy and utility infrastructure projects consumes significant time and money. The real value of these technically complex projects can be difficult to communicate to a non-technical governing body, causing difficulties in advancing or funding ...

Microgrids & Emerging Utility Business Models: Role of Distribution Support Service Agreements

Posted By Christopher Berendt

Track 2B: Symposium 2 Business Models & Financing Speakers Chris Berendt, Faegre Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLC #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Microgrids #BusinessModelsandFinancing #PolicyandRegulation #DrinkerBiddle

Combined Heat and Power

CampusEnergy2020 Student Video Contest Winner: University of Cincinnati

Posted By District Energy

Summary Launched in 2012, the Campus Energy Student Video Contest challenges students from IDEA member institutions to create a short video about their campus energy plant, focused on district energy and/or combined heat and power (CHP). The 2020 winners from the University of Cincinnati share how ...

Environmental, Economic and Resilience Benefits of Combined Heat & Power Plants (CHP) and their integration with an Institution’s MicroGrid

Posted By District Energy

Summary Technical, economic, environmental and resiliency merits of CHP systems for power and heat. Presentation will address some of the suggested conference themes including how cogeneration (CHP) energy systems can integrate with a University’s energy planning and infrastructure including; 1.Resiliency ...

St. Joseph's Hospital Selects Cogeneration Solution to Improve Reliability and Reduce Greenhouse Gases

Posted By Nikolai Terpak

Summary St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center planned a $200 million-dollar expansion that was projected to “max out” the capacity of the existing infrastructure, forcing the hospital to add a costly power line or look for alternative solutions to its power needs. Keeping sustainability and energy ...

MSU College View - Rethinking Microgrids

Posted By Phil Gonski

Summary The Mississippi College View Development was a $67 million dollar multi-purpose project complete with student residences, retail, and mixed usage space. The project was the first privatized student residence in the entire state and took a state law to enable it's creation. Working hand in ...

CHP Design Considerations for Cold Climates – Don’t Stick Your Tongue on That Pipe!

Posted By Matt Lensink

Summary Presentation will focus on two or three recent and current Canadian CHP projects in the 5 to 15 MW range and review the specific cold weather power island design and balance of plant considerations for industrial power projects. Track 5B: Combined Heat and Power Speakers Matt Lensink, ...

Cost Savings and Decarbonization with CHP

Posted By Paul Moser

Summary Solar Solar Turbines has supplied more than 100 turbines as the core of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants to numerous Universities and Colleges around the world. A CHP plant, alone or in conjunction with renewables, serves to drive down energy costs and increase reliability, while reducing ...

Cogeneration as a Path to a Clean Energy Future: Adelphi University

Posted By District Energy

Summary New York’s Adelphi University implemented CHP technology within a deep energy retrofit project. After completion, Adelphi not only achieved a 40% energy bill reduction, but also achieved a 30% GHG emissions reduction, increased resiliency and energy independence, all within an eight-year payback ...

Six Questions to Ask Before Building a CHP Plant

Posted By District Energy

Summary The decision to build a CHP plant can be a daunting one. This presentation identifies six questions that should be asked during the initial stages of any new or replacement CHP project. The answers to these questions help form the foundation of the project by clarifying the value the project ...

Smart Campus: Ohio State University's Leadership in Campus Energy Infrastructure

Posted By Serdar Tufekci

Summary Going from design to construction phase, The Ohio State University is leading the campus energy infrastructure debate with its Smart CampusE project which encompasses a new CHP, a new heating hot water based heating and cooling network, a new digital network to connect the campus BMS systems, ...

Finding the Least Cost Mix of CHP, Renewables, and Storage

Posted By Andrew Kruse

Summary Campuses are ideal applications of CHP, but the recent cost declines for storage and solar make the design decision more complicated. This presentation will demonstrate the impact of factors, such as demand rates, resiliency requirements, sustainability and carbon reduction goals, seasonality ...

The Role of Environmental Attributes from CHP & Carbon Reduction Projects on a College Campus

Posted By Thomas Jacobsen

District Cooling

High Tech Chiller for High Tech Facility

Posted By District Energy

Summary As buildings are designed with more technology, it is valuable for the cooling equipment to also offer high tech solutions. We will review a case study from a medical center that features magnetic bearing chillers and talk to the performance and lower maintenance all with the objective to ...

Multi-Plant Predictive Optimization at UW Madison

Posted By Brendan Huss

Summary The University of Wisconsin has 4 chilled water plants providing up to 75,000 tons of cooling to 23 million square feet of campus buildings. Cooling is generated with 14 steam and electric chillers as large as 8,500 tons. This presentation will discuss the challenges and preliminary results ...

Trigeneration at University of Minnesota: Installation of a Modern Absorption Chiller

Posted By Matt Wolf

Summary Utilizing the benefits of a recently added combustion turbine with heat recovery, the University of Minnesota considered multiple options for additional cooling capacity. NV5 teamed with the University to meet this requirement. Based on favorable life cycle cost analysis and economical dispatching ...

Modular Type Chiller Plant Design Adds Capacity, Saves Time

Posted By Jesse Cabrera

Summary Demand for Austin Energy’s chilled water services in downtown Austin were exceeding the utility’s ability to meet. The utility needed a quick solution without complex real estate transactions, site development, and the city's conventional design-bid-build process. The design and specification ...

UC Davis Chilled Water, Thermal Storage and Building Integrated Optimization Project

Posted By Joshua Morejohn

Summary UC Davis executed an integrated approach to campus energy reduction by combining chilled water plant and thermal storage system optimization with building controls optimization and a data-driven machine learning measurement and verification. The innovative procurement method required the consultant ...

Optimizing Project Budgets & Outcomes: Butler University District Cooling Renovation & Upgrade

Posted By District Energy

Summary Capital and operational expense, workforce constraints, changes in technology are all impacting operations and projects. This case study of Butler University's District Cooling plant will teach an approach to find a creative solution through planning that maximizes outcomes with available ...

Chiller Performance Improvement Via Tube Fouling Prevention at UW-Madison

Posted By Jeffrey Pollei

Summary UW-Madison trialed Automatic Tube Cleaning System (ATCS) technology on an evaporator and condenser of a 4,000-ton chiller in 2018. The results were compared to an identical chiller without the technology as well as past historical data. This presentation will review the results of this case ...

Gas Fired Chiller Replacements at UConn

Posted By John Turner

Summary This unique project was for renewal of gas-engine driven chillers and ancillary equipment at the UConn Central Utility Plant. Included was modifications to the chilled water pumping, piping and controls between the CUP and Cogen chiller plants. The extent of modifications made for challenging ...

Emissions Reduction

Leveraging Geothermal Energy to Reduce GHG Emissions and Connect with Students

Posted By Fred James

Summary Durham College’s Simcoe Geothermal Project, featuring a borehole field comprised of 150 wells for an Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) system, was developed to achieve the primary objectives of GHG reduction and connection to student learning. This presentation will review key decisions, ...

The Road to Absolute Zero

Posted By Jon Passmore

Summary When most institutions think about the broad topic of renewable campus energy, geo-exchange technologies are not the first that come to mind. The focus has been on solar and wind, especially large-scale off-campus generation; batteries thermal storage for hot or cold water; and co-generation ...

Zero Emission CHP System

Posted By Robert Benz

Summary Climate action initiatives are pressuring district energy system owners to devise ways to decrease carbon emissions from their already low carbon foot print systems. Unfortunately, there are very limited alternatives available to reducing carbon emissions from many of district energy systems, ...

What Are the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Biofuels?

Posted By Mark Spurr

Summary A wide range of biofuels are being considered for GHG reduction in campus energy systems, including woody biomass, bioliquids and biogas. The concept of burning anything, even renewable fuels, is encountering increasing opposition. Determining the GHG emissions of biofuels is a tricky business ...

DU’s Authentic and Innovative Approach to Carbon Neutrality

Posted By Lynn Bailey

Summary The University of Denver will present an authentic & innovative approach, developed to meet emissions reduction goals and carbon neutrality by 2050. A revolving "Green Fund" is utilized for energy conservation projects, LEED building design, and to support campus wide renewable energy ...

Master Planning and System Design

Electrical Master Planning, Substation, Distribution & Building Service Entrance Upgrades

Posted By Nikolai Terpak

Summary Campus Electrical Master Planning Process – Overall process of condition assessment and design concepts to improve electrical reliability, redundancy and safety, while minimizing campus disruption during construction. Substation Upgrades – Complete replacement of incoming utility switch, ...

Redesign of Virginia Military Institute Central Heat Plant

Posted By District Energy

Summary We will share our design approach and challenges encountered during the renovation of VMI's boiler plant (which is in a 1905 historic building), which included boiler replacement, boiler retubing, and replacement of steam piping, PRVs, and ancillary equipment, along with the plant electrical ...

Steele Hall - Energy Retrofit Project

Posted By Scott Hening

Summary A 2018 HVAC renewal project at Steele Hall incorporated energy retrofit measures including heat recovery chillers installation and heating system conversion from steam to low temperature hot water. Using energy recovered from the campus chilled water network, the chillers generate hot water ...

Integrating Solar Thermal and Biogas into an Innovative District Energy System Replacement

Posted By Joshua Morejohn

Summary UC Davis is designing a complete central heating and cooling plant replacement for their primate center campus, converting from steam to hot water and integrating a new solar thermal installation with 300 collectors via a water source heat pump plant with thermal storage. New boilers designed ...

Scary Noise? - District Cooling & CHP infrastructure in sensitive campus locations

Posted By Jane Weinzapfel

Summary Campus growth and related district energy infrastructure expansion can raise many worries for campus neighbors. High among these worries is the fear of increased noise in the neighborhood - this makes it critical for these important projects to control exterior noise emission. Using case ...

Blending Utility Distribution Systems into a Campus Environment

Posted By District Energy

Summary Preserving campus aesthetics can be a challenge when replacing or installing new district energy systems. Institutions place a high value on the visual appeal of landscaping, and keeping that standard of quality is a priority. This discussion shows ideas for blending utility systems into a ...

Peak Load Shaving Analysis for Yale New Haven Hospital

Posted By Andrew Kozak

Summary Through use of a 2.5 MW natural gas generator for peak shaving, an annual savings of ~$500,000 is achievable by reducing demand charges on the grid for a university hospital campus. This design, which yields a net present savings greater than $7,000,000 with an 18.5% ROI, was compared to a ...

Designing Denver's First Wastewater District Energy System

Posted By Catherine Thorn

Summary The National Western Center in Denver is the City’s premier district energy project and a key component of its drive towards a circular economy through the recovery of heat from wastewater. This technical session covers how the City and design team first identified and then optimized the integration ...

Biomass Powered ORC Turbine at Dalhousie University

Posted By Michael Conte

Summary A University's sustainability goals can be achieved by looking at low carbon biomass energy combined with an ORC Turbine. Dalhousie was able to make a significant investment into their campus energy infrastructure while satisfying the key pillars of success identified in their energy master ...

Decarbonized District Energy Network for New Stanford Campus

Posted By Andrew Lau-Seim

Summary An energy masterplan determined the lowest life cycle cost to be an electrified district energy system with combined heating and cooling, 110F LTHW, and dual-temperature energy storage. The presentation will explain the energy model, operation of the system, and how this can be applied elsewhere. ...

Lessons Learned: Developing a Showcase CUP for UF's College of Veterinary Medicine

Posted By Jennifer Meisenhelder

Summary Join University of Florida and Siemens as they share learnings associated with the planning and development of UF’s new showcase Vet Med central utility plant—currently under construction. Topics will include existing CUP renovation vs. new build, use and benefits of ESCO delivery model, continuity ...

Optimizing Project Budgets & Outcomes: Butler University District Cooling Renovation & Upgrade

Posted By District Energy

Designing and Implementing an Ultra Efficient Chilled Water System at Wake Forest University

Posted By Brock Frisbie

Summary Wake Forest University implemented a multi-phased approach to upgrading and optimizing its chilled water system across its 340-acre campus, served by two plants connected through a common hydraulic piping system. This presentation will outline and discuss the process and experiences of Wake ...

Gainesville Regional Utilities: The importance of Revisiting a Utility Master Plan

Posted By John Lee

Summary The value of a masterplan is most valuable on the day it is published and needs to be continuously re-visited to maintain that value. This presentation will demonstrate why revisiting the Masterplan as campus plans change can result in changes to the original concept and a more efficient and ...

Emerging Technologies Shaping a Data-Driven Environment

Posted By Casey Reimann

Summary To keep up with the rapid demand for infrastructure management and improvements across the country, applications for new technologies are critical to improve project delivery, safety and quality. Many of the latest technologies on the market help clients, operators and engineers come together ...

The Evolution of a Campus Chilled Water Distribution System

Posted By Justin Strabala

Summary Iowa State University developed a need to increase chilled water capacity on their west campus. This project installed a pair of a new 24-inch chilled water mains on the western portion of the campus under Bissell Road. By maintaining a utility master plan, ISU was able to leverage this project ...

Metering and Controls

Flow Measurement Technologies

Posted By Scott Peterson

Summary Review of various Flow Measurement Technologies - Magnetic Flow Meter Technology - Vortex Shedding Flow Technology - DP Flow Meter Technology Track: Posters Presenter Scott Peterson, Emerson #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #Poster #2020 #Board Minutes #M ...

Resilient Redundant Control Systems Bridging Multiple Plants

Posted By Bryan Birosak

Summary As part of a larger commissioning effort at CU Boulder’s East Plant and West Plant, AEI helped identify discrepancies between the control system installation, design drawings, and specifications. The control system installations for equipment and balance of plant controls are critical components ...

Control Strategies for Operating Rooms and Critical Spaces

Posted By Adam Vesterholt

Summary A sophisticated analysis and review of precise HVAC control methodology to achieve exceptional control and energy efficiency for critical areas such as operating rooms, laboratories and other areas that have precise temperature, humidity, and pressurization requirements. This presentation ...

Integrated Approach for Control Room and Human Machine Interface Design

Posted By Jeremy Shook

Summary For many facilities, control room and human machine interface design are not performed in a coordinated and integrated manner. This approach often leads to sub-optimal results that can increase the likelihood of human error and reduction of plant availability. This presentation will discuss ...

University of Minnesota SE Heating Plant Controls Upgrade Success Story

Posted By Mike Grimstad

Summary The University of Minnesota increased resiliency on their campus by migrating legacy control systems for their Southeast Heating Plant while integrating SCADA controls into their newly commissioned CHP plant. Track 4E: Metering, Monitoring, Controls & Data Management Speakers ...

Universities Reduce Cost and Carbon Footprint of their Stack Monitoring Systems

Posted By Jim Toolen

Summary Universities and Industrial Campus Power Plants with boilers and combustion turbines are required to demonstrate emission compliance by continuously monitoring their stack emissions. Historically this has been accomplished utilizing a Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEM). Now, many ...

Using Microgrid Controls to Operate a CHP/Steam Plant

Posted By Aaron Fogle

Summary This presentation highlights the challenges of and benefits to implementing a reliable and redundant Microgrid control system to safely maintain a large steam plant. Track 1C: Linking Microgrids with District Energy Speakers Aaron Fogle, RoviSys Malcolm Bambling, University of ...

Microgrids

Developing New Microgrids in Old Regulatory Environments

Posted By Christopher Berendt

Track: Microgrid Workshop Speaker Chris Berendt, Faegre Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLC #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Microgrids #Workshop #Local Policy #PolicyandRegulation

Climate Drivers for Microgrid Development: Role of Microgrids in Decarbonizing the Economy

Posted By C. Baird Brown

Speakers Baird Brown, eco(n)law LLC Ted Borer, Princeton University #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Princeton #Microgrids #Workshop

Campus - Utility Partnerships for Microgrids: Joint Base San Antonio Lackland Microgrid

Posted By District Energy

Summary Campus owners rely on electric utilities due to their large electrical load requirements. Many campus owners are implementing microgrid solutions and coordinating with their electric utility in the process. There are many compelling reasons utilities should and are getting involved with microgrids. ...

Real World What, Why, and Where of Microgrids

Posted By Gary Farmer

Summary Microgrids are the fastest growing market segment in the energy world. This rapid rise has resulted in a wide range of related meanings, components, functions, and applications. This presentation will provide clarity to what a microgrid is by defining its components and functions. It will ...

Policies to Accelerate Development of Microgrid Projects

Posted By Allie Detrio

Summary Overview of MRC activities to support and streamline microgrid project development &amp; finance. Update on MRC activities in Hawaii and California: Adopting microgrid tariffs, removing departing load charges, creating rational standby charges Track: Microgrid Workshop Speakers ...

Interconnection, Islanding and Black Start Do's and Don'ts

Posted By Michael Dempsey

Track: Microgrid Workshop Speaker Michael Dempsey, Burns & McDonnell #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Microgrids #Workshop #BurnsandMcDonnell

Critical Aspects of Designing Controls for a Reliable Microgrid

Posted By Jason Wittkamp

Summary This presentation will discuss key considerations, from design to implementation, related to control systems for integrating OEM equipment associated with microgrids. Achieving a reliable solution requires selection of the appropriate controls technology, coming up with a solid design specification ...

Environmental, Economic and Resilience Benefits of Combined Heat & Power Plants (CHP) and their integration with an Institution’s MicroGrid

Posted By District Energy

Microgrid Resiliency Initiatives at Yale University

Posted By Samuel Olmstead

Summary Yale University's two microgrids have run through hurricanes, winter storms and everything in between. Along the way the University has developed a series of innovative solutions for enhancing the electrical resiliency of these systems: fast bus transfer, auto throwover, automated load shedding, ...

Design & Construction of a New Substation for UT Southwestern

Posted By Thomas Negusse

Summary UT Southwestern Medical Center is a growing research and clinical healthcare campus located in the heart of Dallas. Burns & McDonnell is completing the construction of a new 138kV substation that will serve the new buildings and will provide reliable, redundant, and cost efficient electrical ...

A Model for Clean, Reliable and Repeatable Microgrid at the Nation’s Greenest Port

Posted By District Energy

Summary Ensuring a stable supply of energy is crucial to the zero-emissions future the Harbor Commission envisions for the Port of Long Beach (POLB). In addition, its terminals are increasingly using electric equipment to move cargo, which require boosted energy resilience to keep power and cargo ...

Integrating Renewables with a CHP Microgrid

Posted By District Energy

Summary Typical steps for analysis of buildings to potentially be included in a microgrid project for improving resiliency and efficiency: thermal/electrical energy consumption ratio (current and anticipated), type/age of existing equipment, connection feasibility of multiple buildings to Distributed ...

Resiliency, Environmental & Economic Justice: Microgrid Support for Low-Income Communities

Posted By Christopher Berendt

Track: Microgrid Workshop Speakers Chris Berendt, Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLC #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Microgrids #Workshop #Resiliency

The Role of Microgrids in the Aftermath of CA Wildfires and Public Safety Power Shutdowns

Posted By District Energy

Track: Microgrid Workshop Speakers Allie Detrio, Reimagine Power #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Microgrids #Workshop #California

Finding the Least Cost Mix of CHP, Renewables, and Storage

Posted By Andrew Kruse

Not All Microgrids Are Created Equal: Northeastern University’s Blueprint for Resiliency

Posted By Robert Morin

Summary Colleges and Universities are embracing energy modernization on campuses around the U.S., knowing that there has to be a better and more sustainable way to generate and consume energy. Hear from the campus energy decision maker at Northeastern University on how they plan to implement a customized ...

Microgrids & Emerging Utility Business Models: Role of Distribution Support Service Agreements

Posted By Christopher Berendt

The Journey to an Efficient Centralized Utility System with a Smart Microgrid at MSU

Posted By Frank DiCola

Summary Montclair State University has a sustained and aggressive record of renovation and construction of its facilities to support its expanding community. Rapid expansion of physical assets and the parallel increase in student enrollment also placed a stress on the University’s aging utility infrastructure. ...

Using Microgrid Controls to Operate a CHP/Steam Plant

Posted By Aaron Fogle

Optimization

Managing Operations While Transitioning to Carbon Neutrality

Posted By Joshua LaPenna

Summary Cornell University explores the complex operating environment and the decisions necessary to operate its district utility systems in both an economic and sustainable manner. Discussions in this talk will include: why is it important set a price on carbon, and how can it be done; what is your ...

Flexible Grid-Integration with District Energy - What Are the Barriers?

Posted By Daniel Sneum

Summary When district energy’s flexible integration with the electricity grid can integrate renewables, reduce costs and make the system more resilient, why is it not always happening? In this study, six experts + plant managers at ten US campuses share knowledge on barriers for flexible integration. ...

Field Erected Large Industrial Hot Water Generator Installation at the University of Virginia

Posted By Chris Farr

Summary The University of Virginia has recently completed a project that installed a 100MMbtu/hr hot water generator. This project supports the LTHW conversion currently in progress and represents the first phase of the Main Heat Plant transition from steam to hot water. Additional heating capacity ...

How Low Can You Go? Costs & Technical Considerations of Lower-Temp HW Building Conversion

Posted By James Bohn

Summary Shifting priorities and goals of university leadership reach ever deeper to obtain carbon reductions. Converting buildings to accept lower-temperature hot water has tremendous benefits, yet the costs and technicalities involved in this transition can be daunting. This presentation provides ...

Harvesting Waste Heat to Power District Energy Systems

Posted By Derek Fehrer

Summary Over half of the energy consumed in the United States is rejected as waste heat. There exists a tremendous opportunity to capture and use that waste heat to reduce overall energy consumption and decrease the environmental impacts from heating our buildings. Often, the waste heat is of a low ...

Advancements In Boiler Water Internal Treatment Technology

Posted By Terry Morrison

Summary Waterside scale deposits in steam boilers can have a dramatic impact on fuel efficiency, boiler structural integrity, and maintenance costs for the steam plant operation. In severe cases, waterside scale accumulations can cause boiler tube failures due to overheating, restriction of effective ...

Improving Water Efficiency Through Capacitive Deionization

Posted By District Energy

Summary Capacitive Deionization technology is used to reduce dissolved ion concentration, thus lowering the makeup water conductivity prior to use in an evaporative cooling system. A typical 50% ion reduction allows the operating cycles of concentration to be safely doubled. Track 4D: Water Conservation, ...

The WaterHub® - Sustainable Utility Management Through Water Reclamation and Reuse

Posted By Bob Salvatelli

Summary The Virginia WaterHub® is producing 650,000 GPD of Level 1 Reclaimed Water per State of Virginia standards for a Fortune 100 and FDA regulated manufacturer. The system is expected to decrease total potable water use by up to 40% and total wastewater discharge by up to 70%. Track 4D: Water ...

Direct Non-Potable Water Reuse in the Northeastern US – A Resource for Campus Energy Facilities

Posted By District Energy

Summary Over thirty blackwater reuse systems produce fit-for-purpose non-potable water in the Northeast, and some have been online for more than 25 years. The high cost of water and wastewater services and the increased need for resiliency against droughts (anticipated to be more severe due to climate ...

Thermal Infrastructure Planning, Rehabilitation, & Expansion at the University of South Alabama

Posted By District Energy

Summary With an aging thermal utility system, the University of South Alabama knew that to meet future expansion needs, significant system wide thermal utility upgrades would be required. The University started with implementing projects that would show fast energy savings allowing for quick “buy ...

Modernization of Brock University District Energy Plant - Preparing for the Future

Posted By Drew Cullen

Summary For 25 years, Brock University has operated a Hot Water Co-generation Plant, which serves over 80% of its campus. In 2018, the plant underwent a major modernization, renewing chillers, reciprocating engines and auxiliary systems to reduce carbon and increase campus resiliency as it continues ...

Lessons in System Transformation and Resilience - Milwaukee Regional Medical Center

Posted By Mark Geronime

Summary In 2016, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center acquired their thermal energy system in an effort to reduce costs and improve service and reliability. In the 3 years since, the transition team has overhauled the heating production equipment, transitioned from coal to gas, replaced absorption ...

Smart Campus: Ohio State University's Leadership in Campus Energy Infrastructure

Posted By Serdar Tufekci

Pragmatic Approach to Implementing CHP at a Small University

Posted By David Good

Summary When Gallaudet, the national university for the deaf, decided to explore the possibility of expanding its campus energy infrastructure it partnered with Urban Ingenuity to undertake a cost-effective feasibility study. The result of this work was a preliminary proof of concept design for a ...

Ten Year Growth and Modernization of a 70-year Old Toronto Community DE System

Posted By Xhavit Zaganjori

Summary Case study of a community DE system grows with 25-year Regent Park Revitalization since 2009, along with building constructions, the system phases out a 70-year old steam plant and phases in a new cooling and hot water heating plant for residential buildings, town houses, arts center, aquatic ...

Growth, Managing Costs and Reducing Carbon at Mayo Clinic by Leveraging DERs

Posted By Steve Willins

Summary The Mayo Clinic Rochester Campus is planning for future growth. Together with Kinect Energy and AESI, Mayo Clinic has identified attractive options for meeting energy requirements that are reliable, cost effective and clean. The team focused on reducing both costs and carbon emissions, while ...

Energy Recovery and Utilization for a Mixed-Use Space

Posted By Andrew Kozak

Summary By utilizing hot water and chilled water from a CHP source, as well as energy and mass recovery, this design was able to effectively reduce carbon emissions and EUI while supplying low humidity air to a mixed-use space. The unique demands of a building with a $1.3B construction cost which ...

Redesign of Virginia Military Institute Central Heat Plant

Posted By District Energy

Nano-Engineered Materials Drive Energy Savings for Campus Sustainability & Asset Reliability

Posted By Noah Snyder

Summary Interphase Materials' nano-engineered technology reduced biofouling & increased heat transfer efficiency at two universities. Constrained by energy, water, and maintenance costs to achieve sustainability goals, IPM improved efficiency by 8%, equating to $61,000 in energy savings for five ...

Rebuilding University of Florida’s Underground Infrastructure

Posted By Vince Basilio

Summary At Campus Energy 2019 UF shared how it invested into a comprehensive assessment and documentation of its underground district energy assets in the form of a powerful GIS database. UF has since been successfully using this information to repair and rehabilitate its systems for improved reliability ...

Second Generation Heat Recovery

Posted By Brendan Huss

Summary The University of Virginia ‘s North Grounds Mechanical Plant expansion is doubling the area served and building out the capacity of the efficient central plant. We will discuss new analysis tools, the second generation heat recovery system and challenges in adopting University infrastructure ...

Bridging the Silos Between Building Plan & Plant through Comprehensive Energy Management at UNL

Posted By Aaron Evans

Summary The Utility and Energy Management team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln operates plant- and building-level district cooling and heating systems across three campuses. This presentation will focus on the ongoing efforts of UNL staff to bridge the silos of “building side” and “plant side” ...

Integrating Solar Thermal and Biogas into an Innovative District Energy System Replacement

Posted By Joshua Morejohn

Blending Utility Distribution Systems into a Campus Environment

Posted By District Energy

District Energy: Efficiency, Resiliency & Financing – University of Utah Health Science Campus

Posted By District Energy

Summary At the foothills of the towering Wasatch Range, the University of Utah is in the midst of its own substantial growth. With nearly 800,000 square feet of newly constructed space scheduled to be completed over the next two years, the University realized that the existing chiller plant did not ...

Denver International Airport's Chiller Replacement - Navigating Unpredictable Construction

Posted By District Energy

Summary DEN’s CUP maintains continuous chilled water operations to the complex and critical users. Despite extensive planning, several issues have arisen during construction that have challenged the team to maintain progress and budget. Learn how DEN and team has faced challenges with creative solutions. ...

The Colorado School of Mines Heating Plant Renovation

Posted By Andrew Mudd

Summary Constructed in 1948, Mines began to purchase steam from the Coors Brewing Company in 1982 supplied the campus for 36 years. From relying on others for campus steam to a near fully automated plant, our team looks toward the future for an effective and efficient utility service. Track 3A: ...

Safety Culture Improvement Process

Posted By Malcolm Bambling

Summary The University of Michigan has undergone many changes and improvements to the safety culture and modernizing how work is done within the plant to keep people safe. Review of the new processes and future path to continue to improve. Track 2C: Symposium 3 Talent Management & Training ...

Winning the War for Talent

Posted By Shaun Six

Summary Now, more than ever, operators need to do more with less. Increased demands on operations, decreased talent pools and tighter margins means our talent and their time are more precious than ever. TECO took a proactive approach to drive innovation, embracing a culture of change by implementing ...

Modernization of Control and Information Infrastructure for Utility Plant Control System

Posted By Tom McDonnell

Summary As part of Texas A&M’s journey to continue to provide reliable energy and reduce campus energy consumption over the last several years as a result of extensive energy efficiency improvements it became critical to modernize the existing control and information infrastructure. Plant Control ...

How to Procure Outcomes to Advance District Energy and Sustainability Goals

Posted By Matthew Jungclaus

Summary Procure outcomes, not widgets: Using procurement to achieve zero energy and save money. Procurement that focuses on results and outcomes, rather than commodities, leads to better results. Our presenters will discuss the merits and pitfalls of procurement and contracting mechanisms that can ...

How Real-Time Hydraulic Modeling Enables Optimization at UBC

Posted By Thomas Lund-Hansen

Summary Case study how UBC based on real-time distribution system hydraulic modeling gained detailed control of the operation, system optimization path, system expansion, system bottle necks, among others of their hot water based district energy system, to secure the pay-back of the $88M investment. ...

UC Davis Chilled Water, Thermal Storage and Building Integrated Optimization Project

Posted By Joshua Morejohn

Case study Cologne, Germany; Incident with Vent Valve

Posted By Caroline Heon-Roberts

Summary Valve, vents & drains installation, best practice; what Germany has learned over 100 years of operating a district energy system. Where are the weak areas. Smart valve choices for long term cost savings. Cologne’s experience of a valve vent failure and how the design was changed for safe ...

Improving District Heating Maintenance Programs with Drone Technology

Posted By District Energy

Summary Many district heating systems were installed decades ago. They are aging and failing, and locating leaks can be time consuming, ineffective, and expensive utilizing traditional methods of inspection. Drone-enabled thermal inspections are proving to be highly-effective and affordable, making ...

Resiliency

Microgrid Resiliency Initiatives at Yale University

Posted By Samuel Olmstead

Electrical Master Planning, Substation, Distribution & Building Service Entrance Upgrades

Posted By Nikolai Terpak

Resiliency, Environmental & Economic Justice: Microgrid Support for Low-Income Communities

Posted By Christopher Berendt

Track: Microgrid Workshop Speakers Chris Berendt, Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLC #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #Microgrids #Workshop #Resiliency

Sustainability & Renewables

CampusEnergy2020 Student Video Contest Winner: University of Cincinnati

Posted By District Energy

Energy Storage for Land-Challenged Campuses

Posted By Henry Johnstone

Summary Ice storage can be ideal for land-locked campuses while enabling modular district cooling system growth. Using University of Arizona & New Mexico State examples, presenters will compare ice & water storage benefits, address ice storage myths and describe how to add ice storage to an ...

Leveraging Advanced AI for Next-Gen Campus Energy Management

Posted By District Energy

Summary The Ohio State University has one of the largest and busiest campuses of any university in the world, and some of the most ambitious energy and sustainability objectives. To meet its efficiency goals while streamlining operations and minimizing costs, OSU uses an advanced digital energy management ...

Sustainable Infrastructure at Oberlin College

Posted By Meghan Riesterer

Summary Oberlin College is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. Since 2015, Oberlin and Ever-Green Energy have collaborated on an implementation plan to achieve this goal in a meaningful manner. This effort has included a comprehensive assessment of building performance, fourth generation ...

Endless Possibilities with an Overlooked Cooling Technology

Posted By District Energy

Summary Absorption chillers offer numerous possibilities for resilient and clean cooling, particularly for district cooling, CHP, and micro-grid applications such as education campuses. This highly sustainable technology is being successfully deployed globally and shouldn’t be overlooked, especially ...

Campus Resiliency, Efficiency and a Reduced Carbon Footprint – Union College

Posted By Marc Donovan

Summary CHA performed a Combined Heat and Power Feasibility Study, CCHP plant design and plant construction for Union College which continued advancing its resiliency, efficiency and reduced carbon footprint through development of an Energy Master Plan and a Central Plant Expansion Feasibility Study ...

Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality - Implementing Change in Higher Education

Posted By Nina Axelson

Summary Higher education leaders have been ahead of the curve in commitments to carbon reductions, primarily through efficiency and renewables. To support this momentum, Ever-Green launched the Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality program to create actionable plans to make sustainability and carbon neutrality ...

Biomass Powered ORC Turbine at Dalhousie University

Posted By Michael Conte

Decarbonization Options for the Future

Posted By Chris Lyons

Summary Many universities and colleges have agreed to reduce their carbon footprint. While renewable sources of energy is growing they cannot be relied on as a 100% secure source of energy supply. Will look at examples of using renewable and low carbon fuels in addition to technologies to remove CO2. ...

Managing Operations While Transitioning to Carbon Neutrality

Posted By Joshua LaPenna

Flexible Grid-Integration with District Energy - What Are the Barriers?

Posted By Daniel Sneum

Solar District Cup

Posted By District Energy

Track: Poster Presenter Joseph Simon, National Renewable Energy Laboratory #ConferenceProceeding #Poster #CampusEnergyConference #2020 #NREL #RenewableEnergy #SolarThermal

Integrating Renewables with a CHP Microgrid

Posted By District Energy

The Role of Environmental Attributes from CHP & Carbon Reduction Projects on a College Campus

Posted By Thomas Jacobsen

Integrating Solar Thermal and Biogas into an Innovative District Energy System Replacement

Posted By Joshua Morejohn

Tools and Concepts for Wastewater Heat Recovery

Posted By Mike Homenuke

Summary Wastewater heat recovery has gained interest as a viable renewable energy source as cities aim to reduce their carbon footprints. Wastewater is an abundant source of energy in urban areas, and can be utilized at a wide range of scales. This presentation will discuss ways for cities, utilities ...

Centralized Renewable Energy System

Posted By Aaron Evans

Summary Presentation of the Centralized Renewable Energy System (CRES) project located at Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC). This unique system provides campus-wide heat sink / source using treated wastewater effluent from the city of Lincoln. This installation involved construction of a new utility ...

Biomass Solutions for Decarbonizing Your Campus with District Heating

Posted By District Energy

Summary Biomass provides more cost-efficient and sustainable energy than any other renewable energy source, and Linka Energy Group is looking to share our knowledge and experience in implementing biomass solutions. We will discuss why biomass should be considered CO2 neutral, how this energy source ...

System Upgrade

Addressing Financial, Operational and Technical Issues of Aging-Coal Fired Steam System at UW

Posted By Bill Koller

Summary This presentation will discuss the common issues related to aging campus infrastructure, evaluation of system performance, life cycle cost analysis of various solutions, and implementation of a viable solution for the University of Wyoming's heating and cooling infrastructure. Solution includes ...

Modernizing the DES in Canada's Capital

Posted By Tomasz Smetny-Sowa

Summary Canada is committed to reducing GHG emissions. In Ottawa, the $2.6B (CAD) modernization of the DES connected to over 80 buildings, including the iconic Parliament Buildings, has begun. This talk will focus on the steps taken to plan the system expansion and the challenges faced along the way. ...

Modeling Decisions for an Optimal Solution at University of Florida

Posted By Kevin Fox

Summary In an effort to develop an improved and resilient utility infrastructure, the University of Florida faced a number of crucial decisions. Addressing deferred maintenance, meeting future campus growth, partnership with a private utility and evaluating funding and phasing options were all significant ...

Detailed Monitoring and Engineering Oversight at Texas Tech

Posted By Ken Scheepers

Summary A case study and review of operational improvements at Texas Tech that yielded significant energy savings ($2.06M) form optimizing the performance through continuous detailed monitoring and engineering oversight. Track 1D: Plant & System Optimization Speakers Ken Scheepers, utiliVisor ...

Powering Up: Inside the Design of the Supercomputer Frontera Installation at UT Austin

Posted By Juan Ontiveros

Summary System expansion using the university’s electrical and mechanical system within an active data center to provide power and cooling for the supercomputer. The electrical upgrade included high efficiency transformers, busways and associated electrical components for liquid cooled server racks ...

The Evolution of a Campus Chilled Water Distribution System

Posted By Justin Strabala

Pushing Boundaries – Chilled Water Master Planning at the University of Denver

Posted By Lynn Bailey

Summary With growth looming and a CHW system near its firm capacity, DU quickly needed to develop a strategy to expand its system while minimizing costly distribution work across their iconic campus. These limits led the engineering team to consider a new approach when charting the campus’ future ...

Discussion Seasonal Preparations and System Readiness

Posted By Michael Schorsch

Session: Thermal Distribution Workshop Speaker Michael Schorsch, Lansing Board of Water and Light #ConferenceProceeding #CampusEnergyConference #2020 #ThermalDistribution #Workshop #SystemUpgrade

Talent Management

The Struggle is Real: Hiring and Keeping #millennials

Posted By Viet Le 02-19-2020 13:40

Winning the War for Talent

Posted By Shaun Six 02-19-2020 13:24

Staff Development Planning

Posted By James Rosner 02-18-2020 11:17

Thermal Distribution

Evaluation of Campus Steam to Hot Water Conversion

Posted By Aaron Wickersham

Summary PSU's goal was to determine the energy, maintenance, and resulting carbon emission savings from converting the existing steam distribution system to a hot water distribution system. A study was conducted based on the existing campus heating distribution system condition consisting of approximately ...

Campus Wide Utility Replacement at UMass Boston

Posted By Robert Mischler

Summary This $240M project upgraded the Central Utility Plant and replaced the entire utility distribution network for the entire campus. The energy distribution systems were upgraded in quality and size to deliver the energy demands of the existing and future planned buildings. Systems include MTHW, ...

Absorption Heat Pump for Cooling Heating

Posted By Amit Vatsa

Summary I shall be presenting on LiBr cycle Absorption Heat Pump which recycles heat from low-temperature heat sources to produce high-temperature water, how an Absorption Heat Pump and Absorption chiller are very similar in structure and working principle while used for different applications. I ...

Lessons Learned: Chilled Water Distribution Upgrade at Oklahoma State University

Posted By Justin Grissom

Track: Thermal Distribution Workshop Speakers Justin Grissom, Burns & McDonnell Phil Curley, Oklahoma State University James Rosner, University of Denver #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #ThermalDistribution #Workshop #UniversityofDenver #OklahomaStateUniversity ...

Case study Cologne, Germany; Incident with Vent Valve

Posted By Caroline Heon-Roberts

The Evolution of a Campus Chilled Water Distribution System

Posted By Justin Strabala

Pushing Boundaries – Chilled Water Master Planning at the University of Denver

Posted By Lynn Bailey

Building A Resilient Steam Network

Posted By Chris Abeles

Summary During a recent campus expansion, the U of Alabama at Birmingham chose to use aerogel blankets in their thermal distribution network to make it the most robust, resilient system available. With the incidents of severe weather increasing, campus steam operators are looking for insulation solutions ...

Improving District Heating Maintenance Programs with Drone Technology

Posted By District Energy

Staff Development Planning

Posted By James Rosner

Session: Thermal Distribution Workshop Speaker James Rosner, University of Denver #CampusEnergyConference #ConferenceProceeding #2020 #ThermalDistribution #Workshop #TalentManagement #UniversityofDenver

Discussion Seasonal Preparations and System Readiness

Posted By Michael Schorsch

Session: Thermal Distribution Workshop Speaker Michael Schorsch, Lansing Board of Water and Light #ConferenceProceeding #CampusEnergyConference #2020 #ThermalDistribution #Workshop #SystemUpgrade

Welcome to Denver and University of Denver System Profile

Posted By James Rosner

Summary A profile of the University of Denver System and introduction to the thermal distribution workshop moderators. Session: Thermal Distribution Workshop Speaker James Rosner, University of Denver #CampusEnergyConference #2020 #ThermalDistribution #Workshop #ConferenceProceeding ...

Thermal Energy Storage

Embrace the Architect - How TES Tanks Become Campus Landmarks

Posted By Guy Frankenfield

Summary Working with (instead of against) the campus Architect can result in a successful Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tank project that saves energy costs for the owner, and becomes a landmark for the campus. Learn how big TES tanks were built to enhance the campus appearance. Track 4C: Thermal ...

Optimization of Largest Sensible TES CHW System in Manhattan with Hudson River Heat Rejection

Posted By Travis Smith

Summary Brookfield Place undertook a plant modernization of their 15,000 Ton CHW plant. The plant circa early 1980's was designed with (13) 280,000 gallon TES tanks, River heat rejection via 11 titanium PFHXs, and 47 CW/TES/CHW pumps. The plant, located 5 floors below grade in lower Manhattan, required ...

Thermal Energy Storage at Rockefeller Center

Posted By District Energy

Summary 45 Rock housed a satellite plant with 30 y/o chillers. Study revealed opportunity to participate in utility demand management program, reducing peak demand at the Center. The plant was replaced with a 2,500 ton chiller plant and a 11,500 ton-hr ice storage plant integrated with a Central CHW ...

Parallel TES Systems - In It to Twin It!

Posted By Roberto Del Real

Summary At congested campuses, operating multiple TES systems on a single thermal hydronic loop has proven key to fulfilling the storied promise of load leveling, reduced demand costs and energy use, as well as enhanced resiliency, all at a small fraction of the cost of added thermal energy production. ...