Building Retrofits

It’s always nice to be able to do a full building renovation on old facilities when it is appropriate and resources are available.  However, in an ever-increasing goal to reduce energy usage and costs, the SSU campus has chosen to undergo lighting retrofits in seven main campus buildings and HVAC retrofits in two main campus buildings.  Already, the lighting retrofit in 2005 of one building, the Main Gym in the Physical Education building, resulted in a 20% reduction in its energy consumption.  Updating the energy technology in an old building can make a profound difference, as experienced by the impact on reductions in SSU’s total energy use:

SSU's Total Energy Use
1973-74 school year 2006-07 school year
148,038 Btu/gross sq.ft. 66,415 Btu/gross sq.ft.

(The CSU average in 2006-07 was 86,000 BTU/GSF)

 

SUCCESS STORIES

Ruben Salazar Hall




Watch the output from the solar array on the roof of Salazar Hall by visiting SunPower Monitoring.

Enter the following user name and password to see performance data:

Username: sonoma
Password: sonoma

A unique system of low-energy cooling, lighting control, high-efficiency glazing, and photo-voltaics in the remodeling of Salazar Hall earned the building projects several awards for energy efficiency.

The remodel of Salazar Hall made the former University library one of the most energy efficient public buildings in northern California. It has one of the largest solar panel grids in the region covering 9,500 square feet with 1200 panels.

The building uses 42% less energy than required by the State's Title 24 Building Standards. Such energy savings are enough to power 80 residences.

Campus project engineer Keith Marchando has been given much of the credit for the innovative mix of design features in the building. Marchando worked with the architects and engineers to develop a unique application utilizing the proven technology of direct and indirect evaporative cooling, powering the fans and pumps with solar energy. Read more on MORE .

Charles Darwin Hall


Charles Darwin Hall, which houses the School of Science and Technology, was built in 1967 and underwent a two-year renovation, reopening in 2006. 

The design incorporated indirect-direct evaporative cooling (IDEC) for air conditioning, new day lighting schemes, super efficient lighting controls, a three-stage ventilation system, and innovative lab/classroom design. The efforts resulted in resulted in energy savings of 54% below Title 24 Energy Standards.

The school worked with Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs 21) during the approach to design. For more information, visit Darwin Hall and Labs21

MORE on the Darwin Hall renovation.

Future Projects


Future energy projects plan to reduce the campus’ production of green house gas by 1,422 metric tons (equal to removing over 250 cars from the road) by 2010. The SSU campus would save approximately $400k per year on utility expenses. Projects include: