IU Integrated Energy Master Plan

On Monday, September 17^th, I attended the public hearing for the IU Integrated Energy Master Plan.

Some Background
In 2009, the IU Trustees adopted the Master Plan for the Bloomington campus, what came later was the Integrated Energy Master Plan in 2012. The goal was to identify a transformative plan to reduce energy and carbon emissions while maintaining sound economic justifications for these actions. In charge of the plan was 8760 Engineering from St. Louis. Jerry Williams, PE, LEED AP was a member of the team, and spoke at the presentation.

Some Numbers

• The group found that energy costs in FY2011 totaled at $489,894 and for FY2012, $450,173.  This was an a 8% decrease, and also the first time net carbon decreased in recent years.
• Just about 100 buildings account for over 90% of the energy use on campus.
• The energy audit used 104 major campus buildings.
• 23% of the cost went to building lighting, 17% to building equipment, 16% building fans,  17% heating, 18% cooling , 7% heating losses (almost $2M a year), 4% building losses
• The Central Heating Plant coal boilers range from 42-53 years old (currently replacement is not economically viable)
• During FY2010/2011, the Central Heating Plant fired 92% coal and 8% natural gas
• 4.2 miles of steam and condensate distribution pipes need to be replaced, the distribution losses represent $1.8M in annual energy consumption
• The entire project would cost over $80 million

Some Stuff I Learned

• I have been to the Central Heating Plant twice already, but I have never been to the Central Cooling Plant. I guess since it is not directly across from SPEA it could be something we forget might exist. Actually, the central cooling Plant operates very efficiently and is quite cost effective. Also probably a reason we have not heard much about it.  
• Also, since this is something I do not really think about, IU does not produce its own electricity. The central heating plant only produces steam, so we buy our electricity from the open market and that is usually coal.
• Some people do not like this plan. There were a number of student groups who spoke out against the Master Energy Plan. One student handed out flyers  entitled “A brief introduction to how much our university’s past and future Energy Master Plan is f*cking EVERYTHING Up"
•   IU is hopefully on the right track. At least we have an Energy Master Plan...

On a different note, there was a panel session for questions after the presentation. What struck me as odd was that on the table all 3 panelists had Dasani bottled water on the table (I am very anti-bottled water). Granted it was the plant-based bottled, but still. I just found it odd in this type of setting. If you are going to set an example to the community, use a reusable water bottle, or hey a glass.