Space-Heating Conservation in Large Academic Institutions

Gary Thomas

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DOI: 10.2190/6VXY-02DX-83H0-VHNR

Abstract

This paper describes the steps taken in energy conservation in the space-heating system of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. A model for the heating-ventilating and air conditioning system was developed. An experiment, which determined the dynamic behavior of one of the buildings was used to select the parameters of the model. The analysis of the model shows that between 60 and 70% of the total energy used in the space heating of the academic buildings is consumed in the ventilation systems of the campus. Studies of the steam generation plant shows that "normal" operation of the system is very inefficient and that significant savings in energy can be achieved, without capital investment, simply by planning the way in which the energy is consumed. Finally, the areas where this type of analysis may be applied to other institutions of comparable size and complexity are discussed.

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