Energy Management

HSC, with our sprawling campus and diverse facilities, consumes a significant amount of energy, and with our mission grounded in health, it is crucial that we balance the university’s budget with environmental responsibility. We work to:

Implement strategies to reduce energy consumption in buildings
Utilize renewable energy sources
Promote sustainable practices among students and staff

By effectively managing energy, we can bring forth cost savings, lessen our environmental impact, and serve as a model for sustainable practices in our community and beyond. Since 2010 the Energy Management Programs implemented by the Facilities-Energy Management Department have saved $12.5 million in energy costs.

Energy & Water Management Plan Update:

SECO FY2023

Energy Savings Performance Contract: Phases I, II, & III

Phase I & II

HSC began aggressive energy conservation efforts in 1999 when it completed a detailed energy audit for several of the buildings on campus. In 2001, HSC contracted with Schneider Electric to complete a two-phase guaranteed energy conservation project (ESPC) to support cooling demand and energy conservation for current and future campus programs and infrastructure. The $10 million ESPC provides $424,912 in annual avoided costs to UNTHSC over the course of the 20-year contract, and Phase I&II resulted in a utility savings of $11,657,980 from 1999 to 2010.

Phase I & II Key Improvements:

Lighting efficiency improvements and motion sensor lights
Window Replacements
Replacing two chillers and mechanical upgrades to several chillers
Installing direct digital controls and a computer power management system
Domestic water conservation efforts and a new water management package

Phase III

In 2022, HSC implemented a 20 year Energy Savings Performance Contract that focused on future growth of the university, avoiding major costs, and increasing operational savings while improving campus aesthetics. This project will provide us with $424,912 annual avoided costs over the next 20 years.

Summary & Savings

HSC’s goal was to reduce kBtu/sqft by 20% by 2020 with a baseline year of 2009. HSC is currently 26.2% below that baseline.

Phase I&II projects resulted in $11.6 million from 1999 to 2010, and since 2010, we have further saved $12.5 million. This means we have saved $24.1 million due to the ESPC as of February 2024.

Energy Management: A Priority of HSC Operations

Seth Willmoth, Vice President of Facilities Services, has taken an active role in making the university faculty and staff aware of utility conservation efforts. We aim to involve the campus community in conserving energy, and some of the efforts include:

Sending campus-wide notices reminding personnel to turn off lights when leaving conference rooms, offices, labs classrooms, etc.
Reminders to turn off computers when they are not in use
Occupancy sensors placed in all offices, all applicable conference rooms, and public restrooms and corridors
Notices instructing faculty and staff not to prop open exterior doors