Better Buildings Challenge celebrate their partner the University of Virginia (UVA). They are celebrated for impressive energy efficiency advances made on campus. Because UVA is home to more than 40,000 students, faculty, and staff and more than 500 buildings. As a partner in the DOE Better Buildings Challenge, UVA committed to improving its energy performance. Their commitment is 20% in 10 years across all their 15.3 million square feet.
UVA Showcase
Representatives from DOE Better Buildings Program visited UVA’s Better Buildings Showcase Project Clark Hall. All to tour the building’s energy and water upgrades. In addition, UVA implemented a combination of energy and water conservation upgrades. Thereby converting all 5,000 interior and exterior fixtures from fluorescent lamps to LED. Furthermore installing low-flow toilets and faucet aerators. Finally recalibrating air handling units and upgrading HVAC controls.
In conclusion and as a result, Clark Hall achieved an annual energy savings of $750,000, or 65%. That’s along with an annual water savings of $22,000, or 79%. Finally and relative to their pre-retrofit baseline.
About
More than 900 organizations now partner with DOE in Better Buildings. They have saved more than $8.4 billion in energy costs to date. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors. Consequently to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy-efficient. They do this by facilitating investment and the sharing of best practices. Greater efficiency saves billions of dollars on energy bills. Finally it reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and creates jobs.
Best part of the story is from CBS 19 NEWS reports that they spoke Jesse Warren. Jesse is UVA’s Sustainability Program Manager for Buildings and Operations, helped lead the project at Clark Hall. He says it is just the beginning.
Source: Better Buildings DOE Website: Jul 16, 2019 and USDOE PRESS RELEASE
