Stony Brook University Continues to Reduce Energy Consumption

The Stony Brook University Department of Energy Management has furthered its commitment to reducing energy usage on campus with an aggressive multi-tier project consisting of upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the addition of building sub-meters, and an exterior lighting retrofit.

The largest portion of energy consumed on campus comes from heating, cooling, and ventilation. To help reduce the energy consumed by this type of equipment, 39 variable frequency drive control panels (VFDs) were installed in various academic buildings. The new VFDs provide maximum efficiency through optimization of the speed a motor operates at by varying the electrical frequency and voltage to the motor. A small reduction in motor speed relates to a large reduction in energy consumption. Additionally, 19 heating and cooling roof top units (RTUs) were replaced with smaller, more efficient models, and old thermostats were replaced with new wireless technology. These RTUs were installed in Westchester, Sullivan and Rockland, and the thermostats were installed in the Melville Library. All energy conservation measures will be monitored and controlled remotely through a building management system (BMS).

In an effort to monitor building energy consumption, additional thermal meters were installed throughout campus. This phase of the project featured the installation of thermal meters on high temperature hot water and chilled water pipes, giving the Department of Energy Management a way to more effectively analyze energy consumption at the building level and rank buildings based on energy intensity per square foot.

The final phase of the project includes the replacement of more than 3,500 exterior lighting fixtures with long-life, energy efficient LED technology and wireless communication modules. The new fixtures were installed on the roadways, parking lots, and buildings throughout West and South Campus, and Research and Development Park.

"Energy reduction projects on such a large scale help demonstrate the overall commitment Stony Brook University has made to environmental responsibility," said SBU Sustainability Coordinator Greg Monaco. "It is important that the University continues to serve as a leader in higher education by implementing sustainable measures to help reduce the University's carbon footprint."

This initiative is part of Stony Brook University's continued goal to reduce greenhouse gases, mitigate impact on the natural environment, and reduce energy consumption in order to meet New York State Executive Order 88 goal of a 20% reduction in energy by 2020.

For more information on this initiative, please contact:
Stony Brook University
Office of Sustainability
E-Mail: sustainability@stonybrook.edu