Building Energy Demand

The Whole Building Energy Retrofit Program (WBERP) retrofitted the 27 most energy-intensive buildings, representing 60% of campus energy use. Retrofits saved $6.5 million annually, cut energy use by 24%, and reduced emissions by up to 50% in completed buildings.

The Energy Retrofit Program (ERP) provides incentive funds to Stanford facilities management teams to support the implementation of energy saving projects (e.g., HVAC, lighting, motors). The ERP supports all sizes of energy retrofit projects and provides financial rebates to any Stanford Utilities customers for qualifying projects. Funding is also available to support engineering studies, new technology vetting, and project implementation services.

The ERP Express program incentivizes energy-efficient equipment purchases across campus, focusing on office and laboratory equipment. Rebates are available for energy-efficient strategies and equipment per year. Small-scale upgrades across campus help reduce plug load energy use and empower the campus community to make climate-conscious purchases.

Stanford’s Ongoing Commissioning (OCx) program allocates resources to agile, cross-disciplinary teams to improve building performance through targeted energy-saving sprints to resolve building system issues in ways aligned with energy and operational goals.

The Return Temperature Optimization Program (RTOP) reduces heat waste by optimizing return temperatures from building systems and enables efficient use of heat delivered by the Central Energy Facility.

Stanford launched the Integrated Controls & Analytics Program (iCAP) to improve building energy performance through centralized control systems and data-driven operations. Since 2017, the program has completed over 35 building control and upgrade projects, optimizing HVAC scheduling, lighting, and equipment operation. Stanford continues to invest in the program and will expand iCAP to more than 100 additional buildings and continuously improve energy performance across campus.

Stanford intends to introduce hourly carbon accounting for many of its buildings into its energy data management system to support real-time operational adjustments and further support the Scheduling for Sustainability initiative. This approach involves developing a model that monitors and forecasts electricity consumption at the building level, which will assist in assessing the effects of the university’s building optimization strategies on energy use and operational expenses.

Stanford’s Electric Demand Response (EDR) program reduces peak electricity loads to support grid stability and energy efficiency. The EDR program helps Stanford manage electric grid load during campus peak demand periods.

Stanford sets energy targets for new buildings that are 30% more efficient than code requirements, using benchmarks from peer institutions and campus comparables.

Stanford maintains a Winter Closure Wrap-Up to reduce campus building energy use during the university’s scheduled academic break period. By curtailing energy use associated with heating, cooling, and electricity in campus buildings, the university recognized savings of $5.2 million between 2001 and 2020.