By Maureen McMahon
The University of Chicago is proud to announce that it has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence–Energy Management Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. UChicago is only the second University in the history of the ENERGY STAR® program to achieve this milestone.
UChicago campus energy manager Henock Kidanu stated, “Achieving the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for the fourth consecutive year speaks highly to this institution’s reputation as environmental stewards. This award demonstrates leadership in energy and sustainability to partners, stakeholders, and peer institutions.”
“It was possible with the efforts from UChicago students, faculty, and staff who have all contributed to this award and it is a step towards achieving our University’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals,” he said.
“I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR® award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
Each year, the ENERGY STAR® program honors a select group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the transition to a clean energy economy. ENERGY STAR® award winners lead their industries in the production, sale, and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies. These efforts are essential to fighting the climate crisis, protecting public health, and creating a clean energy future for everyone.
The University of Chicago was previously recognized as a Partner of the Year in Energy Management in 2023 (Sustained Excellence), 2022, and 2021.
Over the past year, the University completed efficiency projects for its buildings that use the most energy and expanded its work with the ENERGY STAR® program. Key accomplishments include:
- The energy improvements implemented throughout campus during the 2022–2023 performance period have shown an annual energy savings of 1,634 MMBtu/y, reducing GHG emissions by 199 MT eCO2, equivalent to removing CO2 emissions from the creation of 73,431 books.
- Designed a new chilled water optimization plan to include central utility system improvements, machine learning algorithms, and central chiller plant management. These enhancements are projected to achieve 2,088,450 kWh/y in electric savings or 837 MT eCO2 of GHG emissions savings, which is equivalent to 164,169 gallons of gasoline consumed.
- Designed a plan for the South Steam Plant boiler blowdown heat recovery system that is estimated to result in 54,840 therms of natural gas savings and 3.4 gpm of makeup and sewer water recovery, which is equivalent to 32,435 gallons of gasoline consumed.
- HVAC systems migrated to a new user interface with new hardware and software to ensure building engineers can adequately monitor and control building HVAC systems across campus.
- The Office of Sustainability launched a new website that emphasizes data transparency, live utility and usage dashboards, reporting, and digital accessibility.
- A new Sustainability and Energy newsletter gained 1,000+ subscribers and boosted campus engagement.
- Establishment of the Downtown Campus Connector that transports UChicago badge holders to and from downtown Chicago.
- Students received (by request) an annual 10-ride Metra transit pass last year reducing the need for fuel powered vehicles.
- Expansion of Divvy bike sharing stations at four locations: 1126 E 59th St., 801 East 60th St., 5810 South Woodlawn, and 1414 East 59th St.
- In a June 2023 reuse campaign, 4.4 tons of campus residential housing items were diverted from landfills through student donations.
- UChicago Rheaply, an online reuse marketplace where the campus community members can post, find, donate, and request supplies and equipment to reuse at the University, surpassed 67,000 pounds of weight diverted from landfill and $569K in value recaptured through circular economy principles.
Winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR® partners. View a complete list of winners.
About University of Chicago Sustainability and Energy
The Office of Sustainability and Facilities Operations, both within Facilities Services, collaborate on the University’s sustainability goals and partner with students, faculty, and staff across campus to achieve a sustainable University of Chicago.
Energy Services professionals conduct energy audits, implement energy conservation measures (ECM), and engage occupants with behavioral strategies to reduce energy consumption. They are an integral part of new project planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The energy team follows ENERGY STAR® Guidelines for energy management and relies on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® to track usage, identify improvement opportunities, and validate successes. The University’s energy management information system also interfaces directly with Portfolio Manager, allowing for streamlined energy reporting. Please visit the Energy landing page for accomplishments and awards, energy dashboards, energy plans, news, ENERGY STAR® Partnership information, and the ways to get involved.
About ENERGY STAR®
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR® and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. Read more on ENERGY STAR® impacts.