Sustainable Energy
Heating and Cooling
UNC design standards require high efficiency centrifugal chillers, which use less energy to create one ton of cooling and releases fewer GHG emissions than other technologies. Recent installations include Butler Hancock, Campus Recreation Center and New West Campus Residence Halls North and South. Installations are planned for Kepner, Carter, Guggenheim and Crabbe halls.
1
Re-commissioned several building HVAC systems to optimize performance.
2
Upgraded the Heating Plant pumping arrangement to improve efficiency.
3
Installed VFD’s on most pumps and cooling towers on campus.
4
Expanded the building automation system campus to control additional equipment and implemented additional night, weekend and holiday temperature set backs.
5
Replaced one of the original boilers at the Heating Plant with a new unit including economizer capabilities.
6
Pump coolant lines have been re-piped to recycle the water as condenser water rather than dumping the water down the drain.
Solar
UNC has invested in a small 10kw solar array on top of McKee Hall. This was installed fall of 2008 and the cost was offset with an Xcel energy rebate of 50 percent of the $100,000 cost and a Governors Energy Office $10,000 grant. In the last four years this system has generated 37,250 kWh of electricity without using any fossil fuels.