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Sustainable Solutions Awards
The 2009 Sustainable Solutions Award for Energy Conservation went to:
IFAS Mid-Florida Research & Education Center
The goal of their Apopka Efficiency Project was to reduce the overall energy consumption in the facility while maintaining the required indoor air quality environment for the laboratory facilities. The intent was to add to the existing Siemens Building Automation System and replace the non-functioning Honeywell system in 22 existing lab areas with fume hoods. The system was converted from Constant Volume to Variable Volume and from a 24 hour a day seven day a week operation to a scheduled night set back system with occupied system override only. This was a co-developed prototype modification of the Venturi valves. This adaptation is a first of its kind anywhere to make these valve full modulating verse two position. It was first worked out in the IFAS FP & O shop in Gainesville & Siemens shop in Chicago. Both organizations tested the system before the project moved forward.
This project is saving significant energy for UF/IFAS. To date, it has saved $39,993 in electrical costs (22.6%) and 640,556 kwh (25.42%). Also, savings of $19,838 in natural gas cost (21.9% and 5,378 therms (10.77%). This will produce a ROI of slightly less than two years. It was developed by two UF facilities maintenance employees along with Siemens. Joe Hayden and Jon Lanhart are the two employees who developed, worked on and have commissioned the project. The application is a first of its kind anywhere and is being implemented in other IFAS buildings right now. UF has numerous buildings that could be modified on main campus as well as others around the globe.
Congratulations to Joe, Jon, and Siemens for their excellent work around energy conservation!
Honorable mentions for the Energy Conservation award went to:
- Dick Deason and the Health Science Center Information Technology (IT) Center for their green IT initiatives
Anyone with questions about the awards can contact Jessica Song, Green Team Project Manager.