Energy-Saving Upgrades Earn Award,
Save University $1.5 Million a Year

By Paul K. Mueller I April 4, 2005

Talk about cool cash.

Two energy-saving projects - upgrading a steam-turbine chiller and retrofitting two laboratories with more efficient air-handling systems - will together save UCSD about $1.5 million a year, and the latter project recently earned the university a San Diego Excellence in Energy (SanDEE) Award.

The first nominated project combined an energy-efficiency upgrade to UCSD's largest and oldest steam-turbine-powered chiller with the addition of a powerful new steam-turbine electrical generator. According to Russell Thackston, director of Facilities Management and a member of the campus team responsible for the improvements, the project will achieve thermal energy savings - over 200,000 thermal units per year in natural gas usage - and over 30,000,000 kilowatt hours in imported electricity per year, for a savings to UCSD of about $1.3 million a year.

The award-winning project involved retrofitting two of the university's largest laboratory buildings - Pacific Hall and Stein Clinical Research - to provide constant-volume air supply and exhaust systems based on the newest standards. "We estimate saving approximately 1,700,000 kilowatt hours and 114,000 thermal units per year," said Thackston, "resulting in about $240,000 annual savings to the UCSD campus."

Better yet, said Thackston, "is that it is 100 percent funded from the California Public Utilities Commission's public-purpose funds via a strategic partnership formed by the University of California, California State University, and state and regional energy providers."

John Dilliott and Gerry White served as team leaders for the energy-saving upgrades. The projects were made possible through the support of Steve Relyea and John Woods, vice chancellors; Gary Matthews and Boone Hellman, assistant vice chancellors; Thackston, Marci Holcomb and Sylvia Lepe, directors in design & construction and budget, respectively.

SanDEE Awards recognize outstanding projects and activities that have achieved significant energy savings and contribute to the success of the San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030 through energy efficiency, energy conservation or renewable energy. The program recognizes accomplishments in the areas of (nonresidential) building, transportation or infrastructure within the business, government and institutional sectors. The awards program is sponsored and managed by the San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) in partnership with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (SDRCC), and is cosponsored by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG).