Smith College
- $183,558 ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS
- 658 ANNUAL MTCO2E SAVINGS
- 9,340 ANNUAL MMBTU SAVINGS
- $183,558 ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS
- 658 ANNUAL MTCO2E SAVINGS
- 9,340 ANNUAL MMBTU SAVINGS
Environmentally sustainable practices integrated into institutional operations
Smith College has made significant strides in upgrading its aging campus infrastructure with a persistent drive toward collecting data—and sharing it with their engineering students.
Sustainability Goals
Carbon neutrality by 2030
In 2015, Smith College was experiencing a series of metering and data problems and was seeking a way to share their energy data with their engineering program for use on academic projects. Also, Smith’s 4,100-ton chiller needed significant work.
GreenerU implemented analytics-based diagnostics on 120 electric, steam, and chilled water meters. We identified 24 problematic submeters and recommissioned or replaced them as needed. We also integrated all 120 submeters into our data analytics monitoring platform, enabling Smith to organize and analyze energy data, identify energy savings opportunities, and provide opportunities for students and faculty to use energy data for academic projects and engineering coursework.
GreenerU also worked with Smith to develop a more cost-effective alternative to replacing an 1,000-ton chiller; instead we optimized existing chillers and overhauled their three 700-ton chillers, including retrofitting them with variable frequency drives. This saved Smith $800,000 in capital costs and is generating greater energy than the original project would have achieved.
GreenerU has also done comprehensive energy-efficiency improvements in several other buildings, including a campus center, a science laboratory building, and an indoor track and tennis facility.
Campus Improvements
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Laboratory efficiency
Using a three-pronged approach of engaging air quality and safety experts, engaging lab users, and optimizing equipment, GreenerU helps reduce energy intensity in labs.
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Chiller upgrades
Chillers providing comfort cooling can be updated with optimized controls systems or replaced with newer, high-efficiency models.
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Ongoing commissioning
Ongoing commissioning, also called continuous commissioning, is an integrated, data-driven approach to building performance optimization.
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Lighting
Transitioning to LED lighting is one of the most effective ways of reducing energy costs on campus.
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Building automation system
Building automation is the automatic centralized control of a building's heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and/or other systems.
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Building envelope
A building envelope keeps the outside out and the inside in. A well designed envelope is critical for efficiency and comfort.
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Metering
Metering or submetering are ways campuses can gather data on energy uses and identify areas for use reduction over time.
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Ventilation
Ventilation is adding fresh air to and removing stale air from a space. Regulating air exchange by managing its volume and speed is one way to improve energy efficiency.
Related Resources
Smith College’s 4,100-ton chilled water plant was due for an upgrade…or maybe a downgrade.
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Ford Hall, a science laboratory building, was one of the top energy users on the Smith College campus. GreenerU helped to calibrate laboratory ventilation while balancing air quality, addressing environmental safety concerns while lowering energy use.
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Faced with the prospect of a $2+ million investment in converting their heating system, it would have been easy to justify narrowly defining the project scope in an effort to minimize capital expense. Instead, MSPCA had GreenerU take a holistic look at the medical center’s energy systems and develop a plan that would best serve the facility for the next 50 years.
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