CRed - The Community Carbon Reduction Project at UNC-Chapel Hill

The University of Cambridge currently gets 73% of its energy from oil, coal, and natural gas, all of which release carbon dioxide. If the current mix of fuel sources applies to the North West site, there will be a need for large, and perhaps unrealistic, increases in the efficiency of energy use or decreases in energy demand. As a result, the design and policies implemented at the site will need to reflect a concern simultaneously for energy efficiency, energy demand and the mix of fuels underlying provision of that energy.

Several policies that target energy efficiency can be implemented in order to reduce energy use and make the development a Carbon Reduction site. They include:

1. Improve Heating Efficiency – The heating sector of higher academic institutions accounts for an average of 49% of the total energy used in those institutions. It is essential, therefore, that heating needs be minimized, energy efficiency maximized and fuels used to provide heating release as little carbon dioxide as feasible- requiring development of some form of Renewables Portfolio Standard. With respect to efficiency, design and construction principles include:
   • Use highly insulated buildings with tall ceilings promoting natural ventilation and daylight.
   • Use efficient building materials such as wide internal insulating block work, double-paned glass and 200 mm thick roof insulation.
   • Locate and orient the building along the east-west axis with the longest wall facing South, like University of East Anglia’s Zuckermann Institute of Connective Environmental Research.
   • Employ thermal distribution systems. The most prominent is a Swedish-designed Thermodeck system, using thermal mass to provide balanced ventilation and heating and cooling. The Elizabeth Fry Building at the University of East Anglia uses the Thermodeck system, resulting in a total heating energy demand of 25 kW-hr/m2/year.
   • Employ a heat exchanger to increase the efficiency of heating systems. Such exchangers provide for the efficient transfer of heat within fluids over a solid surface, and are highly efficient in boilers, furnaces, and other heating systems. For example, the heat exchanger in the Geochem building at Cornell University has an annual savings of approximately 400,000 kW-hr and 298 tons of carbon dioxide compared to standard designs without such an exchanger.
2. Improve Cooling and Refrigerant Efficiency – Cooling and Refrigerant sources account for about 24% of a typical research facility’s energy budget. One solution is to employ a High-Efficiency High Capacity Cooling and Refrigerant System.  For example, the system designed by the Environmental Technology and Education Center in Alburqerque, NM, uses an innovative compressor system with 30-40% cooling capacity and 10% greater energy efficiency.
3. Improve Equipment Efficiency – According to a study at the University of Leicester, 12% of total energy consumed by research laboratories is used by lab equipment, apparatuses or machines requiring electric power. Two modest changes are suggested here:
   • Program computers for Sleep Mode. Sleep mode conserves 80% of the energy that would be used in a screen saver program or standard monitor operation. At the University of Vermont, this program is saving 1.6 million kW-hr/yr for 8,000 PCs on campus.
   • Use modern technology alternatives. A commitment to energy efficient devices can have significant impacts. For example, most exit signs use 17 watts each. A new exit sign technology only consumes one quarter of a watt and saves 170,000 kW-hrs each year.
4. Improve Lighting Efficiency – With readily available solutions, buildings can decrease the total energy consumed by lighting. Selected solutions include:
   • Employ ultra-efficient light bulbs. Using ultra T8 light bulbs increases energy efficiency in lighting by 50% compared to the use of 100-watt light bulbs with only 10% efficiency.
   • Use light sensor technology. According to a study by the University of Michigan, a lighting scheme with light sensor technology, such as automated blind and lighting systems, can save 20-75% of energy in classrooms, 30-60% in corridors, and 30-75% in restrooms.
5. Increase Pumps and Fans Efficiency – Pumps and fans manage the flow of air or liquid within the infrastructure of the buildings. Control of their operation is essential to reduction of energy use. Possible improvements include:
   • Equip such systems with variable speed control. Varying the shaft speed controls on pumps and fans can reduce 20-50% of the compressor electrical use.
   • Plan for system cohesiveness. The design, installation, and use of pump and fan systems are key factors in energy efficiency. The position and location of pipes and ducts in relation to the pumps and fans is imperative to efficiently transfer fluid.

Other policies targeting energy source can be implemented in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit energy consumed. They include:

• Solar Energy: Photovoltaic Cells – A sustainable photovoltaic facility provides carbon dioxide-free energy for academic buildings. The 275 m2 of photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the Zuckermann Institute at the University of East Anglia provide 33 kW of peak power.
• Combined Heat and Power Facilities (CHP) – A Co-generation Plant increases energy efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide emissions, offering substantial environmental, economic and social benefits, as well as security of energy supply. The CHP facility at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides one third of the electricity and all of the heat for the campus, reducing their carbon dioxide emissions by 10,620 tons annually.

Summary Reduction of Carbon Dioixde Emissions With Implemented Policies

The table below summarizes the percentage of energy use in five sectors of the university buildings, and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions that might be anticipated using the policies described previously.

For a complete description of sustainable practices in the educational and research sector, see the 2004 Final Report.