SCUP Telecast on Sustainability

Recently, CPDT members, JR Fulton and Dave Fields, attended a Telecast on Sustainability presented by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). The event was hosted by Seattle University at no cost to all interested parties. The two hour telecast was designed for higher education operations and facilities administrators, faculty, students, consultants and agencies that are interested in learning more about the opportunities for promoting sustainability in a higher education environment. Following the telecast, a discussion among local participants at the Seattle University site provided opportunities for sharing information about local sustainability programs and initiatives.

Water Conservation

Sterilizer Water Saving Retrofits

Approximately 75% of the sterilizers identified to be retrofitted with Water Miser water saving devices are now completed. This work is contracted at a fixed cost of $96,000. The anticipated Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) incentive rebate will be approximately $30,800. It is anticipated that the University will save around 26 million gallons of water per year equating to $250,000 each year in avoided water and sewer costs as a result of installing Water Misers. The simple pay back period for this investment is about four months. The project should be completed sometime this November.

Additional Water-free Urinals

An additional 100 Duravit McDry water-free urinals have been purchased through a contract with Rosen Supply Company. These urinals are made from vitreous china and do not require a cartridge as do other water-free urinal designs. Presently, there are about 20 McDry units and over 100 Falcon water-free urinals on campus. The Physical Plant Office Building, the IMA men’s locker room and various locations in Health Sciences

are being considered as sites for installing the McDry fixtures.

Campus Toilet Upgrade Program

Campus Alterations is playing a major role in the campus wide Toilet Upgrade Program.

Ultra-low-flush (ULF) toilets that use a mere 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) are replacing existing toilets that use 3 to 5 gpf. ULF toilets have already been installed in Balmer, Padelford, Schmitz, Gould, Communications, Condon, Meany and Denny. Fixtures are arriving for Health Sciences and installations there will begin soon. It is estimated that the Campus Toilet Upgrade Program will cost about $1 million and take about a year to complete. Water savings multiply as more toilets are retrofitted and when the program is completed we anticipate that the University will save over $250,000 each year in avoided water and sewer charges. In addition, SPU provides a $120 incentive rebate for each toilet that is installed.

Urinal Flush Valve Retrofitting

Alterations staff working on the toilet replacement program are simultaneously retrofitting all urinals with water saving flush valve kits. Preliminary data gathered from the Balmer Hall test site indicated that by installing the more efficient flush valves a 10% urinal water usage reduction can be achieved.

Bloedel Hall Water Distiller Replacement

A survey of distilled water users will be conducted in Bloedel to determine if a smaller capacity distiller will meet the demand for distilled water prior to replacing the existing inefficient distiller currently located in the upper mechanical room. The existing distiller will cost approximately $25,000 to replace. The anticipated incentive rebate from SPU should pay for 50% of the project. Avoided water and sewer costs are estimated to be about $25,000 annually.

Haggett Hall Renovation

Conservation measures were undertaken during the recent renovation project at Haggett Hall. A dry cooler has been installed to replace six existing single-pass-through refrigeration units that were previously connected to city water. Water conservation improvements also include the installation of 19 Duravit water-free urinals. With respect to electricity conservation, energy efficient lighting and controls were installed in the kitchen and dining rooms. Seattle City Light (SCL) will be inspecting the site for project closeout in the near future. Water conservation installation documentation is in the works for review and approval by SPU. Although specific savings are not yet available, these conservation enhancements will result in water and electricity consumption reduction and incentive rebates from the utilities will be delivered to Housing and Food Services.

Electricity Conservation

Nordstrom Indoor Tennis Court Lighting

The Nordstrom Indoor Tennis Court Lighting Project has been completed by Tri Phase Electric Supply out of Portland Oregon. They replaced the existing 1000 and 400 watt metal halide fixtures used to illuminate the tennis courts with T-5 high-output fluorescent fixtures. In addition, controls were installed to provide various levels of illumination for normal play, team practices, tournament play and televised events. The new lighting system can deliver more illumination than the old metal halide system could provide. This ability to control and reduce lighting levels provides additional electricity savings. In addition, maintenance dollars will be reduced because fluorescent lamps are cheaper and do not need to be replaced as frequently as the original lamps. The project cost is $106,000. SCL incentive rebates will be about $40,000. The project should reduce the electricity consumption by approximately 50% or 500,000 kWh realizing a potential for annual savings of $25,000.

Delta P Valves

The measuring apparatus to collect operating data for the Delta P Valves located in T-Wing West and T-Wing East have been installed. The Delta P Valves are expected to achieve balance and conserve primary pumping horsepower. The kWh/year savings and associated avoided cost savings will be determined after enough operating data has been collected and analyzed.

Student Solar Array Project - Mechanical Engineering

The CPDT’s student member, Nathan Miller, and his team of University students are finalizing their design of a solar array sunshade system to be installed above the 3rd and 4th floor windows of the Mechanical Engineering Building. The project was presented to and approved by the Design Review Board on September 11th. CPDT Team Leader, Dave Fields, and the students also met with Bruce Adee, Interim Chair for Mechanical Engineering and Michael Carette, Assistant to the Dean (Facilities) and obtained their approval.

After a recent site visit and meeting with Seattle City Light, consideration is now being given to place a few of the solar panels atop the roof. By installing a fixed window awning design and an adjustable rooftop design, an opportunity may be provided for accumulating comparative data regarding efficiency and benefits, e.g., reduction of solar gain within offices fitted with the awning design. The project will also include the creation of a website that will provide real time data associated with the project and other information that may be accessed by students and other interested parties. Review and approval of the design work by Facilities Engineering will be required before commencement of fabrication and installation which is planned for March.

Exit Light Retrofits

Physical Plant electricians have completed a survey of campus exit lights that will be retrofitted with new 1/4 watt units. SCL provides a fixed incentive rebate of $15 for each exit light that is retrofitted.

Lighting Retrofits

Lighting retrofits for Allen Library, Fluke Hall, Burke Museum and Gould Hall have been reviewed and approved by SCL. Work in Burke Museum is underway. The remaining lighting retrofit projects will be scheduled as labor and materials become available.