The University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
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E/S3 is currently under a multi-year master consulting contract with the University of Wyoming to provide consulting services for energy-related initiatives.  Under this contract we have helped the University develop and manage an energy performance contract program for the Laramie, Wyoming campus and created an in-house retro-commissioning program for execution by Physical Plant staff.
Energy Savings Performance Contract Pilot Project

The University elected to start its energy performance contract evaluation with a pilot project involving ten buildings to determine if the process and the energy performance contract vehicle were suitable for expansion to the entire campus.  A two stage RFQ/RFP process was used for ESCo selection and three firms were short-listed from responses to the RFQ.  These finalists moved to an RFP phase and were required to perform an initial survey of facilities and include a preliminary baseline and analysis of potential energy and water saving measures with preliminary estimates of savings and implementation costs as part of their RFP response.

Work by E/S3 on this program included:
 
  • Assembling the University team and establishing goals and success factors for the project.
  • Identifying potential energy conservation measures.
  • Analyzing utility data.
  • Determining the requirements for the initial pilot project.
  • Creating contractor Request for Qualifications, Request for Proposals and contract documents.
  • Reviewing and evaluating ESCo proposals, including preparing evaluation worksheets for use by UW team members.
  • Developing questions for ESCos to be used during interviews based on their individual proposals.
  • Participating in ESCo interviews and compiling scoring.
  • Preparing a summary of the overall selection process and rationale for selection of the awardee.
  • Assisting the University with management of the audit process.
  • Reviewing the ESCo’s audit report and proposal.
  • Working on the University’s side in contract negotiations with the ESPC contractor.
  • Developing and preparing final contract documents.
Working with the University, E/S3 developed an innovative ESCo Fee structure under an overall $5.3 million guaranteed maximum price for the project with any construction costs savings to be retained by the University.  This resulted in savings by the University of approximately $80,000 for construction costs.

Retro-commissioning Program

E/S3 also developed an in-house retro-commissioning program to be implemented by Physical Plant staff at the Laramie, Wyoming campus.   This work included identifying energy efficiency and operational improvements and quantifying the savings from retro-commissioning projects to provide justification for the program.

Program development involved performing targeted retro-commissioning efforts on the Wildcatter Suites at the War Memorial Stadium and at the Health Sciences Center on campus.   Deliverables included a retro-commissioning report and Building Operator Manual for each location and a University-specific Retro-commissioning Program Manual.

At the four-year-old Wildcatter Suites, the boiler plant experienced a host of reliability issues and Physical Plant staff were not able to control the boilers through the campus-wide automation system.  The joint retro-commissioning effort by the University and E/S3 resulted in installation of properly sized boiler circulation pumps, other piping improvements and revising the boiler controls to operate through the campus automation system.  In addition to correcting a number of reliability problems, the energy savings associated with the changes implemented as part of the retro-commissioning process were estimated to be $18,356 annually, representing a 24.5% reduction in energy costs.

The Health Sciences Center underwent additions and a major interior renovation, including new HVAC equipment and controls in 2003, but was not commissioned as part of the project.  Control of the HVAC systems and building static pressure had been problematic over the years since and occupant complaints on comfort and noise were common.  Part of the retro-commissioning effort included implementing a revised controls sequence, designed by E/S3, to improve comfort and building static pressure control.  The energy savings associated with the changes implemented as part of the retro-commissioning process in this building were estimated to be $12,955 annually, representing a 9% reduction in energy costs.