Sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh - Facilities Management

Sustainability at the University of PittsburghFacilities Management DivisionUpdated January 2014

Sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh• Sustainable Design and Construction• Energy Conservation• Pollution/Emissions Reduction• Greening of the Campus• Recycling

Sustainable Design and ConstructionDesign Standards• FM continually develops and updates University designstandards.• Standards are distributed electronically to professionaldesign firms.• Standards stipulate many sustainable and/or energyconservingmeasures for both new construction andrenovations.• Sustainable standards are marked with an identifyingsymbol.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionDesign Standards

Sustainable Design and ConstructionExamples of Sustainable Design Standards• Electronic ballasts and fixtures• No new incandescent lighting unless required forresearch• Direct Digital Controls (DDC) required for all mechanicalsystem installations or upgrades.• Energy efficient control strategies

Sustainable Design and ConstructionExamples of Sustainable Design Standards (cont.)• Occupancy sensors required for all new construction andrenovations.• University standard carpet installations must include aminimum of 25% recycled content.• Carpet adhesives contain no VOC.• The majority of paints qualify as Low VOC paints.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionWhat is LEED?• LEED stands for Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design.• LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for thedesign, construction, and operation of high performancegreen buildings.• 4 Levels of LEED certification:– Platinum– Gold– Silver– Certified

Sustainable Design and ConstructionLEED at Pitt• The University’s first LEED Certified building was theMcGowan Center for Regenerative Medicine (LEEDGold, 2005)• Four additional LEED Gold Certifications– Benedum Hall Phase I Renovation (2011)– Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (2012)– Chevron Annex (2013)– Biomedical Science Tower 12 th Floor Renovations (2013)

Sustainable Design and ConstructionLEED at Pitt• The University is currently pursuing LEED certificationfor nine additional new construction and renovationprojects.• Salk Hall Addition• Benedum Hall Phase 2a• Freshman Housing• GSPH Addition• GSPH Renovation Phase I• Mid-Campus Complex• Clapp Hall Renovation• UPG Sustainable Office/Classroom Building• UPJ School of Nursing

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMcGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Sustainable Design and ConstructionLEED Gold Certified Laboratory• The University achieved a LEED Gold certification fromthe U.S. Green Building Council for the McGowanInstitute for Regenerative Medicine in 2005.• The McGowan Institute was the first LEED Gold certifiedlaboratory building in Pennsylvania.• This project was unique because the University acquiredthe building from the Urban Redevelopment Authorityafter the shell was constructed.

Sustainable Design and Construction

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation• The MCSI project achieved LEED Gold Certification inDecember 2011.• Addition of approximately 27,000 gross square feet toBenedum Hall and renovation of approximately 17,000square feet of existing space on the second floor ofBenedum Hall.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation• Energy saving strategies will result in a 17.5% reductionin energy consumption when compared with traditionalstrategies.• The addition is equipped with high performance glazingfor energy efficiency.• Low flow plumbing fixtures will result in 30% reduction inwater consumption when compared with traditionalfixtures.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation• Design incorporated daylighting features to reduce theneed for artificial lighting.• All paints, coatings, carpets, woods, adhesives, andsealants are low-VOC emitting.• Occupancy sensors in all new and renovated areas.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation LEED Checklist

Sustainable Design and ConstructionMascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation

Sustainable Design and ConstructionPhoto by Ed Massery, 2009Photo by Ed Massery, 2009Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation

Sustainable Design and ConstructionBenedum Hall Renovation

Sustainable Design and ConstructionBenedum Hall Renovation• Two projects:– Phase I Core & Shell– Phase II Fit-out Project• The Benedum Core & Shell portion achieved LEED Goldcertification in 2011.• The Benedum Phase II Tenant project is also pursuingLEED certification.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionBenedum Hall Renovation• Energy saving strategies will result in a 17.5% reductionin energy consumption when compared with traditionalstrategies.• All Benedum Hall windows have been replaced with anenergy efficient Low-E curtainwall system.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionBenedum Hall Renovation• The Core and Shell project included the installation ofthe University’s first green roof (Benedum Auditorium).• Occupancy sensors installed in all new and renovatedareas.• Heat recovery equipment will capture heat from exhaustair, and exhaust fans will be equipped with energysaving variable frequency drives.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionBenedum Hall Renovation• Low flow plumbing fixtures – 30% reduction in waterusage when compared with traditional fixtures.• Low-VOC paints, carpets, woods, adhesives, etc.• Daylighting features to reduce need for artificial lighting.• Construction & Demolition waste is being recycled. Todate, over 3,200 tons of construction waste has beendiverted from the landfill (over 75% of total waste).

Sustainable Design and ConstructionNew “Green” Vegetated RoofBenedum Hall Renovation

Sustainable Design and ConstructionBenedum Hall Renovation

Sustainable Design and ConstructionChevron Science Center Annex

Sustainable Design and ConstructionChevron Science Center Annex• This project was completed in fall 2011.• Achieved LEED Gold Certification in 2013.• Energy saving strategies to result in a 15% reduction inenergy consumption when compared to traditionalstrategies.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionChevron Science Center Annex• Heat recovery equipment & variable frequency drives• High performance glazing• Low-flow fume hoods• Occupancy sensors• Bicycle racks and showers to promote alternativetransportation.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionChevron Science Center Annex• Low-flow plumbing fixtures• Low-VOC paints, coatings, carpets, adhesives, etc.• Daylighting features• Construction & Demolition waste was recycled. Over874 tons of construction waste was diverted from thelandfill (97.5% of total waste).

Sustainable Design and ConstructionGraduate School of Public Health Addition

Sustainable Design and ConstructionGraduate School of Public Health Addition• Addition of approximately 57,000 GSF above Parran Hallauditorium area• Three floors of additional wet-lab space

Sustainable Design and ConstructionGraduate School of Public Health Addition• Construction began in February, 2011• Completed December, 2013• First University project to pursue LEED certificationunder the LEED Version 3 rating scale (100 point scalevs. 69 points with prior version)

Sustainable Design and ConstructionGraduate School of Public Health Addition• Low-flow plumbing fixtures & fume hoods• Low-VOC paints, carpets, adhesives, etc.• Daylighting features• Heat recovery equipment• High performance Low-E glazing• Occupancy Sensors

Sustainable Design and ConstructionNordenberg Hall (Fifth Avenue Freshman Housing)

Sustainable Design and ConstructionNordenberg Hall (Fifth Avenue Freshman Housing)• Pursuing LEED Certification• Completed July 2013• Urban site and easy access to public transportation• Light-colored paving and roof deck to keep the buildingand surrounding area cooler in summer• Low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumptionby 35%

Sustainable Design and ConstructionNordenberg Hall (Fifth Avenue Freshman Housing)• Day-to-day operational recycling plan will significantlyreduce building waste.• More than 75% of all construction waste was recycledand diverted from the landfill.• More than 20% of all building materials have recycledcontent.• More than 20% of all building materials were extractedand manufactured within 500 miles of the site.

Sustainable Design and ConstructionNordenberg Hall (Fifth Avenue Freshman Housing)• Street level and patio plantings require no irrigation.• All adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, flooring, andcarpets have low VOC or no VOC content (VolatileOrganic Compounds).

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition• Currently in construction• 81,000 gsf tower adjacent to Salk Hall (North side)• Addition to house wet lab space for Pharmacy andDental Medicine• Construction started in January, 2011• Completion expected in Spring, 2014

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition• Pursuing LEED Silver Certification• Low flow fume hoods & plumbing fixtures• Energy recovery heat wheel (more efficient than heatrecovery systems used in other recent projects)• Occupancy Sensors• High performance glazing• Daylighting

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition

Sustainable Design and ConstructionSalk Hall Addition

Energy ConservationBuilding Automation System• University’s first campus wide energy managementsystem was installed in 1975.• In 1986, the system was replaced with a Trane Tracersystem which provided start/stop control and verylimited direct digital control (DDC).• In 2000/2001, the Tracer system was replaced with anAutomated Logic system and most buildings have sincebeen converted from pneumatic to DDC control.• Pitt is relatively unique in that we have standardized ourbuilding automation system to one major system.

Energy ConservationBuilding Automation System

Energy ConservationBuilding Automation System

Energy ConservationBuilding Automation System• Starting and stopping campus fan systems on anautomated schedule saves over $500,000 per year.• The University invested approximately $4.8 million in thetwo main phases of the building automation systemimplementation, and the system is continually updatedfor renovations and mechanical equipment upgrades.• To date, the system has provided over $21.8 million inenergy cost avoidance.

Energy ConservationEnergy Master Plan• In 2000, a consulting firm was hired to perform acomprehensive utility master plan.• Recommended improvements in campus utilityinfrastructure, building system upgrades, and energyconservation projects.• Approximately $6.0 million in projects with a projectedsimple payback of less than 5 years were initially funded.• To date, our cumulative savings from this $6.0 millioninvestment are estimated at over $17.4 million.

Energy ConservationLighting Upgrades• The University contracted with a lighting supplier toupgrade lighting in nine Pitt buildings to standard energyefficient lighting fixtures - annual savings of $125,000.• Earlier upgrades of Posvar Hall, the William Pitt Union,and the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering.• Additional upgrades were completed for the Frick FineArts and Information Sciences buildings for annualsavings of $61,000. (PA Conservation Works! Grant -$236,000).• Fitzgerald Fieldhouse and Cost Sports Center lightingupgraded in 2013 – annual savings of 93,000.

Energy ConservationMetering• Electric, steam and chilled water metering is nowautomated through the building automation system.• Meter data is used to identify buildings with high energyusage.• These buildings are then analyzed for potential energysavings.

Energy ConservationOccupancy Sensors• Occupancy sensors have been installed in mostcommon areas, i.e. hallways, lobbies, some bathrooms,mechanical and electrical spaces.• Lobbies, bathrooms and other spaces are done asrenovations occur or as lighting upgrades are done.

Energy ConservationCentral Chilled Water Plants• Installation of upper campus chilled water plant resultedin the elimination of stand-alone chillers in GSPH,Benedum, and Salk Halls.• Extended the chilled water distribution system to includeFrick Fine Arts, Clapp, Langley, Crawford, SIS, andMusic buildings, allowing the removal of old, inefficientchillers in these buildings.

Energy ConservationOther FM Initiatives• Replacement of 770 exit signs with LED signs, resultingin a savings of 256,000 kilowatt hours each year.• Surveyed nearly 1,000 steam traps in Universitybuildings. All failed traps were replaced, resulting insteam cost savings of $165,000 per year.• $8.7 million has been invested in upgrading 71University elevators, providing electrical savings whileimproving elevator service and accessibility.• Installation of variable frequency drives at LRDCresulted in 38% reduction in electricity usage ($62,000annually)

Energy ConservationCumulative Results• Since 1996, an estimated cost avoidance of over$46 million has been achieved via energy conservationprojects.

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsBellefield Boiler Plant

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCampus Steam Supply• Bellefield Boiler Plant– Provides central steam supply for the University,UPMC, Carnegie Mellon, the Carnegie Museums &Library, Phipps Conservatory, and two PittsburghPublic Schools facilities.– Formerly burned mainly coal, but converted to allnatural gas on July 1, 2009.– The conversion to all gas reduced the capacity of theplant – no longer has sufficient capacity to serve allowners.

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCarrillo Street Steam Plant

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCarrillo Street Steam Plant

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCampus Steam Supply• Carrillo Street Steam Plant– Located on Carrillo Street behind Trees Hall– Began operation in November, 2009– Houses six boilers with a total steam capacity of600,000 lbs/hr.– Plant has capacity to meet current and anticipatedfuture needs for both Pitt and UPMC.

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCampus Steam Supply• Carrillo Street Steam Plant– Boilers are designed to operate using either naturalgas (primary) or oil.– Plant is equipped with state of the art emissionscontrol technology.– This technology will provide for significantly loweremissions levels than those that can be achieved bythe Bellefield plant, even after the switch to all-gasoperation.

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCampus Steam Supply• Carrillo Street Steam Plant– Compliance testing has consistently met an ultra-lowNOx limit of 9 parts per million.– To our knowledge, the Carrillo plant is the onlyUniversity plant in the nation to have achieved thisultra-low NOx limit.

Pollution/Emissions ReductionsCampus Steam Supply• Carrillo Street Steam Plant– Plant is currently serving approximately 50% of theUniversity’s and UPMC’s combined steamrequirements, and is expected to begin serving allPitt/UPMC facilities within the next several years.– For Pitt and UPMC facilities, the full transfer ofproduction from the Bellefield Plant to the CarrilloStreet plant is projected to reduce annual CO 2emissions by 48,000 metric tons (47% reduction insteam-related CO 2 emissions).

Greening of the Campus• Campus exterior appearance has greatly improved inrecent years.• Amount of green space on campus has expanded toinclude new parklets and other green space.• Planting of hillsides with ground cover has reducedmaintenance requirements as well as lawn mower fueluse and emissions.• Trees have been added to many sidewalks.• Four new bus shelters have been installed.• More than 50 new bicycle racks across campus.

Greening of the CampusSennott Square

Greening of the CampusBeforePosvar PlazaAfter

Greening of the CampusBeforeSchenley PlazaAfter

Greening of the CampusClapp Hall Entrance

Greening of the CampusPetersen Events Center Green Space

Greening of the CampusAfterCathedral of Learning Hosta GardenBefore

Greening of the CampusStudent Community Rain Garden – Petersen Events Center

Trees, shrubs, and otherlandscape materials arecarefully relocated to otherareas of campus whenimpacted by renovationsand construction.Trees relocated from 121 UniversityPlace to Crawford Hall

Two large Sugar Mapleswere recently planted tohonor Pitt AlumnaWangari Maathai, whowas awarded the NobelPeace Prize for herenvironmental andhumanitarian efforts inher native Kenya.

Two raised circulargardens were createdbeside the Maathai trees.

“Free” Water from the Oakland AquiferPhotos courtesy University TimesSennott Square

RecyclingRecycling Initiative (E&G)• Aggressive initiative in 2005 to expand and improve ourrecycling program in E&G facilities.• Upgraded the program several years ago to beginrecycling plastic grades 1 through 5 (previously recycledonly grades 1 and 2.)

RecyclingRecycling Initiative (E&G)• Enhanced battery recycling program now recycleseveryday disposable batteries as well as NiCad andLead Acid batteries.• Construction and Demolition (C&D) recycling programrecycles construction debris (i.e. mixed metals, stone,wood products, etc.)• Researching options for outdoor recycling andstandardization of collection containers

Recycling Collection Statistics (in tons)FY04 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13Mixed Office Paper 393 300 375 383 512 349 499 461 473Corrugated Cardboard 160 203 393 535 602 666 628 521 550Aluminum/Glass/Plastic 38 19 19.6 84 41.3 55.6 54.9 58.3 59.2Scrap Steel 10 37 8.9 184 28.6 24.3 74.4 68 140Stainless Steel 5 3.6 3.8 0.25 0.58 0 0Bulk Aluminum 5 0.98 0Iron 34 89.3 83.6 154.6 14.5 34Copper/Brass/Tin 13.5 7.671 51.6 8 1.9 0Lead 4.5 0Lamps 4.1 4.75 11.3 9.2 6.1 9.7 11.8 14.1 9.6Electronics 37 5.68 6.9 1.5 30.4 17.7Batteries 7.5 3.1 4.25 3.12Carpet 10 35.6 1.25Construction & Demolition* 71 133 65.8 114.8 49.2 112.5Green Yard Waste 85 189 15.4 35.5 16.5 19 19.5Total Recycled (Tons) 610 579 928 1543 1446 1356 1572 1242 1420Refuse (to Landfill) 7253 3100 2140 2367 1969 1925 2066 2012 1979Total Waste Stream 7863 3679 3068 3910 3415 3281 3638 3254 3399% of Waste Stream to Landfill 92.24% 84.27% 69.74% 60.53% 57.66% 58.68% 56.79% 61.84% 58.23%% Diverted from Landfill 7.76% 15.73% 30.26% 39.47% 42.34% 41.32% 43.21% 38.16% 41.77%*Excluding major construction projects

RecyclingCarpet Recycling – Hillman Library• Recently replaced the carpet in Hillman Library.• All carpet removed from the building was taken by thecarpet installer for recycling.• Once all results were tallied, over 71,240 pounds ofcarpet was diverted from the landfill, and over 255 tonsof carbon dioxide credits were retired.

RecyclingCarpet Recycling – Hillman Library

RecyclingRecycleMania• Pitt is participating in thenational RecycleManiacompetition for the sixthtime in 2014.• Began participation in2009 in the BenchmarkDivision (student housingonly), and upgraded in2010 to the CompetitionDivision (full campus).

Recycling• FM works with student group Free the Planet, ResidenceLife, Housing Services, and Sodexo to plan and promotethe program.• Materials are collected and measured each Friday andresults are submitted to RecycleMania on a weeklybasis.• 2014 Competition runs from January 19 – March 29.

Recycling• 2013 Results– “Gorilla Prize” (highest total weight recycled) - Pittranked in top 3% of all schools participating.– “Grand Champion” – top 12%– “Targeted Materials – Cardboard” – top 17%– “Per Capita Classic” category – top 18%– Big East Conference Rankings:• 1 st in Corrugated Cardboard• 1 st in Paper• 2 nd in Gorilla Prize• 3 rd in Grand Champion and Per Capita Classic

RecyclingStudent Participation in RecycleMania

Awards and Recognition• Pitt was recognized for the first time in the PrincetonReview’s 2011 “Guide to Green Colleges”. Thepublication was released to the general public on EarthDay, 2012, earning of a score of 92 of a possible 100.• Pitt was again recognized in the 2012 edition(announced on Earth Day, 2013) with an improvedscore of 97!

Awards and Recognition

Awards and Recognition• The University was recognized in theSeptember/October 2011 edition of Sierra Magazine’s“America’s Coolest Schools”, ranking 52 nd out of 118schools featured.

Awards and RecognitionEnviro-Star Award• The University was recognized by the Allegheny CountyHealth Department as an Enviro-Star Award Recipient inboth 2007 and 2009.• Pitt was the only award recipient to be recognized with thehighest level Three-Star award in 2007.• The award recognizes the University’s efforts in emissionsreduction, energy conservation, recycling, and greening ofthe campus.

Awards and RecognitionWaste Watcher Award• The University was recognized by the ProfessionalRecyclers of Pennsylvania with a 2012 PennsylvaniaWaste Watcher Award.• The award recognizes the University for its “outstandingcommitment to recycling, waste reduction, and reuse inthe state of Pennsylvania”.

The Future of Sustainability at Pitt• Continue to incorporate sustainable design practices intonew construction and renovation projects.• Significantly reduce CO 2 emissions through transfer ofsteam production from Bellefield Boiler Plant to CarrilloStreet Steam Plant.• Continue to invest in energy conservation efforts.• Expand recycling program, including expansion ofconstruction debris recycling and outdoor recycling.

Sustainability at the University of PittsburghFacilities Management DivisionUpdated January, 2014