Campus wide thermal insulation project expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,700 MT eCO2
The University of Chicago Energy Services team within Facilities Services recently implemented a thermal insulation project in collaboration with the North Campus and South Campus Engineering Shops. The project started by surveying over 75 buildings on campus that use utility plant steam. Energy can be reduced in buildings by insulating piping and steam system components so that waste heat is not radiated into unwanted areas. The team used thermal cameras to identify steam system components and piping that needed to be insulated. Temperature readings, dimensions, and photos were recorded for each component so that thermal jackets could be manufactured offsite. A total of 2,963 thermal jackets and 4,200 feet of pipe insulation were installed over seven months to complete the project. Measurement and verification were completed using thermal cameras to measure the temperatures of all components after the insulation was installed. The project resulted in an annual reduction of 1,700 metric tons of eCO2 – equivalent to eliminating the annual emissions from 205 typical US homes
2,963 thermal jackets and 4,200 feet of pipe insulation were installed in buildings on campus to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,700 MT eCO2.
One of the more innovative aspects of the project was using Slate software to log data. Each component was assigned a unique ID during the initial building survey, and associated information was recorded in the software, including surface temperature, dimensions, location, and a photo. The software tracks the progress of the installation and quickly identifies areas where insulation still needs to be installed. Photos and thermal images of each installation were added for each component after completing the installation. Each thermal jacket included a tag with a QR code so the data can be accessed from a phone or tablet in the future.
Slate software was used to track the progress of the installation and store data associated with each component.
The University of Chicago is a proud United States Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® Partner, collaborating with peer institutions to reduce higher education campus energy usage. The goal of this energy efficiency program is to: (1) reduce the impact on the environment as about 70 percent of University greenhouse gas emissions are from energy usage in campus buildings; (2) redirect funds currently going to utility providers back into the maintenance of our campus buildings; and (3) reduce the risk of disruption to our educational and research mission by locating and correcting issues before systems and components in our buildings fail. More than 200 energy efficiency measures have been completed in the University of Chicago campus buildings since 2009, and buildings will continue to be the primary target of our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
