Energy Management Policy

Policy Statement

It is the policy of SUNY Brockport to design and establish a fundamental institutional commitment to environmental responsibility and to implement methods to reduce energy consumption and related costs, while maintaining a comfortable environment throughout our campus facilities. 

Purpose/Scope

This policy is relevant to the entirety of SUNY Brockport, including the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center (REOC), and encompasses, but is not limited to, buildings, grounds, and equipment. 

Applicability

This policy applies University-wide.

Definitions

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) — EUI expresses a building’s energy use as a function of its size or other characteristics. EUI is expressed as energy per square foot per year. It is calculated by dividing the total energy consumed by the building in one year (measured in thousand British thermal units [kBtu] by the total gross floor area of the building).

Retro-commissioning — A systematic process to improve an existing building’s performance. Using a whole-building systems approach, retro-commissioning seeks to identify operational improvements that will increase occupant comfort and save energy.

ASHRAE Level 2 Energy Audit — This audit evaluates the building energy systems in detail to define a variety of potential energy-efficiency improvements. This process includes the building envelope, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), domestic hot water (DHW), plug loads, and compressed air and process uses.

Measurement and Verification — The process for quantifying savings delivered by an energy efficiency measure.

Policy Procedures

1. SUNY Brockport will demonstrate commitment to our community and leadership in our industry by reducing environmental impacts associated with our energy use.
2. SUNY Brockport will set and publish energy performance targets, represented as energy use intensity (kBtu/SF) and will monitor and evaluate performance levels on a monthly basis as part of the Facilities Maintenance and Operations monthly and annual business review. Our goal is to reduce our energy use by 10% by 2025 from the 2019 baseline. Energy conservation goals will be revisited annually to evaluate operational challenges and opportunities that will impact performance in the longer term.
3. All buildings will continue to target energy efficiency improvement measures to the greatest extent possible through ongoing Strategic Energy Management planning, retro-commissioning, and ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits. SUNY Brockport will undertake all necessary steps to secure funding for efficiency strategies and, subsequently, expeditiously implement identified measures. All implemented improvement measures will undergo a pre- and post-measurement and verification process.
4. SUNY Brockport will promote the use of cost-effective, renewable energy sources (hydropower and solar, wind, and geothermal energy) whenever possible, both in new construction and existing building renovations.
5. SUNY Brockport will actively seek sources of funding to implement energy efficient improvements and utility infrastructure renewal projects, including federal, state, and private sector incentives and grant opportunities. 
6. SUNY Brockport will collaborate with federal, state, and local governments and other organizations (e.g., National Grid, RG&E, NYSERDA, NYPA, NYS DEC, Monroe County Water Authority, and other agencies) in accomplishing energy conservation and utility management objectives.
7. SUNY Brockport has a designated Energy Review Board with the responsibility and authority to implement this policy and identify energy saving opportunities within the Energy and Facilities Master Planning efforts.
8. The Energy Review Board will monitor monthly energy usage for SUNY Brockport against energy saving goals and required benchmarks and will report results to the President’s cabinet. The Energy Review Board is responsible for managing and mitigating energy consumption to:
   1. avoid unnecessary expenses and improve cost-effectiveness;
   2. reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment;
   3. gain control over the University’s energy consumption by reviewing and improving purchasing, operating, and training practices; and
   4. raise faculty, staff, and student awareness, and encourage the sharing of experiences and expertise.
9. Campus Space Temperature Guidelines
   
   

   Campus Space	Heating Season*	Cooling Season
   Occupied / Scheduled	70 °F	75 °F
   Unoccupied / Closed	60 °F	80 °F
   Tolerance	± 2 °F	± 2 °F

   Note: Research and teaching labs, chemical storage locations, special event venues, and spaces with sensitive equipment will be maintained in accordance with contractual requirements, research needs, and manufacturer warranty specifications. Not all spaces have centralized cooling abilities.

   *Please also reference the Space Heaters Policy.

Links to Related Procedures and Information

Environmental Sustainability Policy
Space Heaters Policy

Contact Information

Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations

History (in descending order)

Approval

This policy was approved by President’s Cabinet on 2022-02-23