Strategic Energy and Water Plan - September 2024

Executive Summary

Carteret Community College is a campus of approximately 4000 full-time and part time students and 273 full time and part time faculty and staff. We have 20 Main Campus Facilities and 2 Off-site Facilities totaling about 262,000 square feet, occupied for business between 7:30am and 10:00pm nightly. However, we also run an early shift for custodial which begins at 4:00am daily. Carteret CC expects to improve energy efficiency continuously by establishing and implementing an effective Energy Management Program while providing a safe and comfortable educational environment. The growth in the number of facilities and size of our student body will increase overall energy consumption, but Carteret CC plans to reduce the consumption and avoid cost by continuing to implement in the short, medium, and long term, a series of Energy Conservation Measures.

Key Elements and Focus Areas of the Plan

The Energy Plan provides the working framework, at an institutional level, for prioritizing, adopting, and implementing both broad and specific energy-related tasks. Key elements include:

Conservation of energy and water.
Recycling
Data collection — Accurate measurement and analysis of electricity and water usage to benchmark and develop Key Performance Indicators (KPI), including a quarterly review of trends and costs.
Plan development — Organizing a support committee for energy culture change to review policies, programs, projects, encourage employee participation and innovation. The Conservation Committee will incorporate student clubs and volunteer participation for a holistic initiative toward culture change.
The Operations and Facilities Department will identify key maintenance team members with expertise in the fields of electrical, HVAC, administrative analysis, and water resources (stormwater, domestic, etc.) to research, make recommendations and assist with plan review to ensure conservation is consistent in renovation and new construction projects. We will refer to this team as the Carteret CC Energy Team.
Continual employee education and awareness on the benefits of energy resource management and conservation will be promoted via electronic email, intranet, and handouts.
Execute approved, prioritized projects of energy efficiency and fuel conservation and implement process improvements, based on Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) from Energy Assessments, for Capital Improvements and Best Management Practices.
Advertise success stories through the local and regional media including the State Energy Office, the NC Association of Facilities Officers, Duke Energy, Carteret News-Times, or other viable media which could help promote awareness of our commitment and our successes.

Legislative Basis for the Strategic Energy and Water Plan Creation

We agree with, and are committed to, supporting the Legislative General Statute 143-64.12(a) stating ‘The Department of Environmental Quality through the State Energy Office shall develop a comprehensive program to manage energy, water and other utility use for State agencies and State institutions of higher learning and shall update this program annually’.
As a local agency of higher education, we have set our energy policy statements and objectives to mitigate the effects of weather events and climate trends by improving energy efficiency standards internally.
As a State and County funded institution, other benefits of energy efficiencies demonstrate responsible stewardship of our public funding.

Key Initiatives

Jobs created and maintained using local contractors and advanced training of Carteret CC staff to achieve upgrades for efficiency and Best Practices for preventative maintenance so that we effectively control performance of the equipment and systems.
We will continue to implement conservation measures that have a simple payback of two to three years.
Monitoring and Verification measures including commissioning, re-commissioning and review of all energy consuming materials are to be reviewed by the Carteret CC Energy Team. Additionally, the team will review monthly utility invoices for accuracy of billing and track consumption to monitor conservation efforts.
Actively engage Administration to raise campus awareness and promote reduction in consumption of energy in existing buildings and ensure the planning and design of new facility buildings follow the guidelines of this plan.
Actively seek to make all future renovations LEED quality.
Implement tactics for automated controls to adjust consumption of energy when buildings are unoccupied.
Implement water reduction methods in all repair and renovation projects.
Further engage faculty, staff, and students to become involved in energy conservation through the Conservation Committee. This committee includes awareness of energy consumption, sustainability, recycling, and other green initiatives. The committee will stay abreast of new and innovative conservation measures and will advise the campus through news articles, contests, emails, volunteering, and other forms of communication.

Energy Saving Strategies

Identify the location, meter number, and account number on a unified campus map to enhance monitoring capabilities.
Expand the data collection efforts for more critical data on our boilers and chillers.
Continue to upgrade our Building Automation System to incorporate all types of energy management systems on campus.
Work with local utility providers to carefully monitor utility accounts to ensure that the lowest cost rate schedule is in effect for each facility. Rate schedule verification to be completed every two years.
Work with consulting groups to audit and make recommendations to use the most economical source of energy. (i.e.: gas or solar vs. electric equipment) and continue to partner with Duke Energy and Carteret/Craven Electric Cooperative to obtain grants, incentives, or matching funds for continued technical assistance with building and rate audits.
Verify meter readings and billing rates on monthly utility suppliers’ invoices.
Work with local utility providers for recommendations of future cost savings plans and initiatives available through their company. Duke Energy provides assistance through the Energy’s Smart Saver Program for buildings on campus that qualify for this program. All future renovations will be considered by the Carteret CC Energy Team for application to the Smart Saver program.
Use solar thermal on the roof for domestic hot water, when possible, currently Cosmetology uses a small amount of solar as a supplementary resource.
Apply energy saving guidelines for replacing lighting, motors, mechanical equipment, and fans.
Apply for more energy grants to provide assessments, upgrades, equipment, and directions for more energy efficient facilities.
Initiate more internal energy reviews of HVAC equipment to tune equipment to maximum efficiency. Work with internal controls to develop extensive preventative maintenance schedule. Consult local providers for retro-commissioning projects.
Carteret CC plans to demolish older portions of buildings in the coming years which should reduce energy consumption by constructing more energy efficient facilities.
Carteret CC has initiated a flex schedule which will allow reduction of energy usage on Fridays and weekends. Our two-year goal is to consolidate weekend building use into our most efficient buildings and avoid energy costs of temporary use of large buildings.
Any building envelope renovations will consider converting single pane windows and under insulated roofs in design to help meet higher efficiency.
Plug loads will be reduced by the reduction/removal of individual refrigerators, space heaters and other non-essential electronics where possible. Future construction projects to include unified break areas to assist with reduction of individual appliances.
Continue to upgrade automated controls on lighting and HVAC equipment including occupancy sensors and timers, and DDC controls.
Require equipment to be replaced with Energy Star Rating units. Request educational equipment purchases be considered for Energy Star Rating.
Create a replacement schedule for older, less efficient HVAC equipment.

Water Management, Supply, Facilities, Equipment & Organizational Integration Strategies

Identify the location, meter number, and account number on a campus map to enhance monitoring capabilities.
Expand building inspections and monitoring for leaks or misuse of water.
Continue to upgrade our current facility with low flow toilet fixtures, waterless urinals, motion sensors, low flow water saving aerators; use no potable water for landscaping; implement the use of cisterns.
Create a replacement procedure to replace water lines, update gate valves and cut-offs, insulate lines, and install meters, when possible, in our older buildings.
Upgrade toilet facilities with hands free devices that reduce water consumption.
Increase awareness on water conservation – showing examples of cisterns, rainwater barrels, and drip irrigation technology.
Encourage curriculum to get involved with water conservation efforts.

Behavioral and Cultural Change Strategies (Organizational Integration, Communication and Training)

Increase energy awareness through news articles, brochures, and emails. Suggest participation in Duke Energy’s Illumination Newsletter - which provides stories, tips, and advice regarding innovative steps toward energy efficiency.
Created committee to get the student organizations, Staff association, and faculty association involved. The Conservation committee is designed to involve energy conservation, recycling, and education. A logo will be designed for immediate recognition of the “Conserve” initiative. The awareness campaign will include banners, posters, and notices designed to make the campus body understand and buy-in to the measure we are taking to meet our goals.
Involve upper administration to get support for implementation, expenditures, and campus buy-in.
Incorporate energy conservation themes with campus wide meetings and create a professional development segment to be offered to faculty and staff at PINK Days.
Incorporate this Strategic Energy Plan into Carteret Community College’s Master Facilities Plan.
Publicize progress through campus e-mail and flyers about conservation efforts.
Encourage increased recycling in the 4 components that the College recycles: paper, plastic, glass, metal.
Increase awareness to Faculty and Staff, including partners on campus such as Sweet Beans, Bookstore, CMAST, Economic Development Office, and NC works about the outlets in which we collect and dispose of all recycled materials and other sustainable measures.
Send support staff and maintenance personnel to ongoing training, continuing education, and State Energy Office programs to increase our knowledge of modern technology and sustainable standards.
Encourage curriculum to get more involved in sustainability and conservation.
Implement into new hire orientation, awareness of Carteret CC’s efforts in recycling and sustainability to educate all new employees on this plan and our mission.
Maintain at least one (1) personnel in facilities with Professional Energy Manager Diploma.