The first cohort of Environmental Frontiers Campus (EFCampus) research assistants recently completed their work to advance University of Chicago sustainability through their research and projects.  Nine research assistants from the College collaborated with University faculty and Facilities Services staff in support of the goals outlined in the University’s Sustainability Plan.  Teams focused on energy reduction and water conservation efforts, framed as sustainability inquires identified by Facilities Services.

During the ten-week Summer Quarter, guided by graduate student mentor Kriti Bhardwaj and with support from the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, the research assistants formed three teams each with a separate area of study —  laboratory buildings energy use, LEED-certified buildings energy use, and water efficiency assessment.

Building utility data required for the projects was provided by Facilities Services Operations through the newly implemented energy management information system, EnergyCAP, and ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.  Additional building data and LEED certification documentation was provided by Facilities Services Campus Planning + Sustainability in collaboration with the United States Green Building Council.

Laboratory Buildings Team (Shopnavo Biswas, Eric Chen, Kimika Padilla)

The laboratory buildings team studied utility data from University laboratory buildings and completed a benchmarking study.  The results helped to identify areas of opportunity for additional analyses and confirmed the expected findings and priorities.  The team created a lab energy benchmarking tool to predict the source energy use intensity (energy use per area) of lab buildings on campus to estimate if the building is over-or under-performing.  They completed an analysis of best practices in laboratory ventilation from peer institutions, including an air-flow ventilation assessment of energy consumption versus risk management for air changes per hour.  The compilation of these best practices from peer institutions is a valuable tool to use with stakeholders on campus.  The team also developed a tool to help guide decisions regarding energy conservation measures in laboratories; this new tool has the potential to help inform the design of laboratory build-out projects and equipment selection to minimize energy consumption.  Another recommendation is to raise ultra-low temperature freezer set points from -80 °C to -70 °C in laboratories, confirming findings from a previous study.

LEED Buildings Team (Dinesh Das Gupta, Lily Mansfield, Jasmina Scekic, Mark Siedentopf)

The LEED buildings team examined utility and other data from LEED-certified buildings on campus and compared the energy performance to LEED and non-LEED certified buildings in Chicago and other locations with similar climates.  This research found that LEED buildings did not outperform non-LEED buildings in Chicago or in other regions.  They studied prerequisites and credits in the Energy and Atmosphere category of the LEED rating system and determined that achieving additional LEED Energy and Atmosphere points did not correlate with energy use intensity in buildings.  The team offered recommendations regarding policy decisions to improve the energy efficiency of major renovations and new construction projects such as adding some Passive House principles to the Facilities Services Facility Standards for major projects.  This information will help inform future sustainability and energy efficiency practices from Facilities Services for major projects.

Water Efficiency Assessment Team (Gillian Gagnard, Ruby Rorty)

Two research assistants advanced the University’s water use reduction goal by completing a benchmarking study of peer institutions and institutions located in the Great Lakes area.  They studied water consumption by building use type and occupancy.  They also compiled the information provided by Facilities Services and provided a report to be used in creating the University’s water conservation plan.  Additionally, they created high-level calculations for water savings for water conservation measures that can be used and refined in the next phase of the project which includes the completion of the water conservation plan, including behavioral changes and water conservation measures.

“EFCampus provided me with a great opportunity to make a tangible impact on UChicago’s campus sustainability. Receiving regular feedback and guidance from faculty, Facilities Services, and our graduate student mentor was unique and invaluable to our research and learning. It was amazing to work with engaged and inquisitive classmates from various disciplines–each brought different skills and talents to our projects. I’ve learned so much about the infrastructure supporting the research and educational mission of the University and am awed by the efforts required to keep the lights on, water running, and heat flowing into our buildings. I plan to continue researching sustainable building design, an interest that was formed during my EFCampus experience,” said Dinesh Das Gupta, a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a BA/Masters in Public Policy with a specialization in Environmental Policy who worked on the LEED Building Performance Benchmarking team.

“The results from this summer’s research show what can be achieved when student passion is directed at concrete challenges faced by campus operations experts and paired with quantitative scientific training,” said Elisabeth Moyer, Faculty Lead, Associate Professor, Department of Geophysical Sciences. “The students produced professional-quality work that can have an impact on campus practices. Their visualizations highlight our challenges—for example, University LEED-certified buildings do not outperform non-LEED certified buildings in terms of energy efficiency—and can help us going forward. The laboratory team prototyped a tool that we are continuing to refine and that will be a valuable asset to the University.”

“Facilities Services is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty, students, and staff throughout the University to implement energy conservation measures, greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and develop a water use reduction plan.  The excitement and enthusiasm around these efforts from students in the College have been phenomenal and the collaboration has been an effective opportunity to advance several areas of the Sustainability Plan, including Climate Change and Energy, High-Performance Buildings, Water Conservation, and Building Awareness and Partnerships,” said Sara Popenhagen, manager, Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services.

“Each team provided valuable analysis and insights into the operation of our laboratory and LEED buildings as well as our campus water consumption.  The benchmarking, best practices comparison and tools created by the research assistants will support our efforts to reduce energy consumption from our laboratory buildings and major projects and will help us achieve our new greenhouse gas emissions goals,” said Adam D’Ambrosio, senior director energy services and sustainability, Facilities Services Operations.

With support from the College, EFCampus research and implementation will expand during the 2020−2021 academic year.

Environmental Frontiers creates student-faculty research and educational opportunities focused on the intersection of environmental sustainability and urbanization, with the goal of giving UChicago undergraduate students a scientific and practical understanding of sustainable urban development. The initiative is led by the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation in close partnership with PGE, RDCEP, the College, the Office of the Provost, and Facilities Services and the Office of Sustainability at the University of Chicago.

The University of Chicago is a proud ENERGY STAR Partner, working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and our peer institutions to find ways to reduce higher education campus energy usage. Part of our communication and engagement strategy is to engage with faculty and students in planning and implementing energy conservation and sustainability efforts. Students are a driving force behind energy use and behavioral change in buildings, as they are the key stakeholders and prime inhabitants of the campus. To encourage rigorous thought and inquiry around sustainability and efficiency, we have partnered with the Mansueto Institute Environmental Frontiers initiative to discuss the current environmental challenges facing our campus and city, and how they can leverage ENERGY STAR and University resources to improve those conditions. We are excited to engage the UChicago community and communicate our efforts more widely in the years to come.

Learn more on the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation