Similar to most other higher education institutions, St John’s
University faces the challenge of continued growth within the
confines of existing aging facilities. New and remodeled facilities
have been integrated into existing infrastructure systems,
many of which are at the end of their useful life.
Addressing increasing energy prices, commitment to reduce
carbon emission, and providing students with a
safe, comfortable living/learning environment are goals of the
University. Significant opportunities exist;
facility infrastructure can be improved so that energy is used
more efficiently and systems are more reliable. The avoidance
of wasted energy dollars can pay for improvements that provide long
term benefit.
A major portion of the campus carbon footprint comes from
energy used within campus buildings. As energy use decreases,
so does the campus carbon footprint. New technology can be applied
seamlessly to existing systems so that the overall plant
operates more efficiently and effectively. St John’s University has
made some progress toward energy reduction through the
implementation of master plan projects. The energy projects
listed below will be completed in the next three years and will
continue this trend and build upon the direction that has been set
for major energy savings and carbon reduction.
Click
here for a summary of the completed energy conservation
projects and savings.
Cogeneration Plant
By installing a cogeneration plant, St. John’s University can
take advantage of the significant difference in utility cost
between natural gas (low cost) and electricity (high cost) along
with obtaining a grant from NYSERDA. Cogeneration is
accomplished by using natural gas to generate both electricity and
steam. We will have a 1.8 MW cogeneration system installed
that will reduce the annual cost of electricity, reduce
the amount of steam consumed (natural gas) at the St Albert
Hall boiler plant, and lower carbon emissions. This project
provides St. John’s University the economic advantage of producing
two types of usable energy at a lower utility cost.
Steam System Improvement
Efficient delivery of steam is crucial on a campus that has a
central steam distribution system. At St. John’s University,
the steam distribution system on campus is in overall good
condition with the exception of a few devices that have become
outdated. This project will provide new devises to assure that
the steam is distributed in the most efficient manner. The
present steam radiator controls will also be replaced so that
overheating of occupied spaces will be eliminated. Piping
connections will be improved so that the St Albert Hall boiler
plant can also operate more efficiently, requiring much less energy
to produce the steam required. This project will also improve
the insulation of the existing distribution system to
accomplish this task.
Central Chiller Plants
Similar to the opportunities that exist by way of a central
steam distribution system, St John’s University also utilizes
central distribution of chilled water to provide cooling to many
buildings. The existing equipment that produces that chilled
water is nearing the end of its useful life and newer
technology provides the ability to produce the same amount of
cooling with significantly less energy. This project
will replace these older units and will provide the required
piping connections from building to building to provide
cooling in the most cost efficient manner possible. The new
electric chillers at the D’Angelo Center will take the place
of older units that now serve St Augustine Hall, St Albert Hall,
Newman Hall, Council Hall, Lourdes Hall, and Sullivan Hall.
The new electric chillers to be installed as part of the
North Chiller Plant will cool the following buildings:
Carnesecca Arena, Bent Hall, University Center, Belson Hall/ Finley
Hall and St Johns Hall.
This will provide significant improvement in reliability. These
system improvements, while carrying a slightly higher payback,
provide the basis for efficient cooling across campus.
Theseimprovements will continue to provide benefit well beyond the
payback for these installations and will providethe capacity to
upgrade St. John Hall master plan project.
Kitchen Hood Renovations
Kitchen exhaust systems have not changed much since the 1960’s,
until recently. This project will install controls on the
existing kitchen hood systems to assure that they are running at
the speed and the times required by actual work being
performed in the kitchen. The ramification of allowing kitchen
exhaust air systems to run during times of minimal kitchen
activity is significant in that large quantities of air are
being removed from the building space that has already been
heated or cooled.
Controls Planning / Improvements
One of the most significant improvements in building technology
available today is computerized building automation controls
or ATC systems. The University has implemented this technology with
35% of the campus completed. In order for the mechanical
heating and cooling systems to operate most efficiently, we
will be expanding the same technology and integrate the
communication between two digital control systems across
campus. Equipment operations can be accomplished through one
computer software program that allows maintenance staff to
remotely control heating and air conditioning
including scheduling the operation of equipment and
temperature, as well as to remotely troubleshoot
complaints. Through the implementation of the proper sensors
and controls, the St John’s University buildings will be able
to adjust to the actual number of people in a building or to the
outside weather conditions without manual adjustment of
schedules and set points. This level of automation provides
substantial energy and carbon reduction.
Lighting System Improvements
Ten years ago, the University made significant strides in
converting to more energy efficient lighting across campus.
This new project focuses on installing lighting occupancy controls
to reduce the number hours that the light systems will
operate. This new generation of occupancy sensors will provide
light when and where it is needed. These same sensors will
provide information to the ATC system described previously to
begin to accomplish “smart” building technology.
Water Conservation
A conservation measure often overlooked is the savings that can
be achieved through domestic water conservation in fixtures
such as toilets, urinals, faucets and showerheads. Across 23
buildings on St John’s University’s campus there are over 2500
opportunities to conserve water. Older fixtures can consume 2
to 4 times the water used per flush than the 1.6 gpf (gallons per
flush) flush valves manufactured since 1994. By installing
restrictors on faucets and new showerheads, the water flow
rate will be reduced thus cutting down on water consumption
without compromising the function. Water savings in sink and
shower fixtures will also yield a savings in domestic hot water
heating reducing the money spent on natural gas. While water
use in itself does not have direct impact on the
university carbon footprint, the elimination of over 100,000
gallons annually of water use provides
significant environmental impact directly to the local water
and sewer system.
HPS System Improvement
St John’s University provides a number of programs which include
work in laboratory space. This will convert a steam system
used for autoclaves and cage washing in St Albert Hall from one
where steam is constantly generated for intermittent use to an
“on demand” system. Fuel oil savings and carbon reduction will
come from eliminating the present high pressure boiler system.
Autoclaves will be serviced by a new electric instantaneous
boiler and the cage wash system will be attached to the existing
central low pressure boiler heating system.
Lab Hood Improvements
Laboratory hoods provide safety for the lab users by exhausting
potentially harmful vapors from the area inside the hood
itself. Similar to the previous discussion regarding kitchen
exhaust systems, laboratory hoods provide a significant energy
savings opportunity in that full exhaust is only required when work
is being performed. As always laboratory occupancy safety is a
primary concern. This will modify the process used to draw air
from the laboratory space, through the hood, and out to the proper
dilution level above the roof of the building. Infrastructure
modifications to the central supply and exhaust air systems
will be part of the University’s master plan. This project will
provide the required air movement through the working space
while eliminating the removal too much heated or cooled air from
the laboratory room itself.