Stephen F. Austin State University

PROGRESS REPORT

In January 2009, Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) embarked on a mission to reduce utility consumption and associated costs by soliciting the expertise of an energy solutions contractor. Before that, little had been done on campus to reduce energy or water consumption and curb associated costs. Building systems were often run manually, bypassing automated controls. SFASU’s combined annual utility costs reached nearly $10.9 million in fiscal 2008, and the energy use index (EUI) peaked at 152.1 MBtu per conditioned square foot of space.

SFASU set an energy and water use reduction goal of 30% over a 10-year period and Siemens Building Technologies Inc. was selected as the energy service contractor. An in-depth energy use survey was conducted, and key areas of improvement aimed at energy and water use reduction were identified and implemented. Completing all recommended conservation measures (phases 1 and 2) reduced annual utility costs to less than $7.5 million in 2013 and the university’s EUI to 118.0 MBtu per square foot. Building systems refinements and favorable utility rates further reduced the annual utility costs to $6.56 million in fiscal 2014. Summaries of phases 1 and 2 are included below.

Phase 1 Summary:

1. Start Date: July 2010
2. Completion Date: December 2011
3. Scope of Work:
4. Energy Management and Control Systems – Chiller Plant Optimization
5. Energy Management and Control Systems – Airside Optimization
6. Water Management Upgrades (80% of total in phase 1; 20% in phase 2)
7. Project Cost: $9,817,962
8. Cumulative 8-year Guaranteed Savings: $9,590,850
9. Cumulative 8-year Measured Savings: $14,168,369 (148% of guarantee)

Phase 2 Summary:

1. Start Date: July 2010
2. Completion Date: December 2011
3. Scope of Work:
4. Deferred Maintenance (central plant #1 boiler replacement, outside air handling unit – Music Building)
5. Water Management and Upgrades (20% of total in phase 2; 80% in phase 1)
6. Lighting Efficiency Retrofits (lamp technology and controls)
7. Power Factor Correction
8. Project Cost: $7,427,500
9. Cumulative 8-year Guaranteed Savings: $8,060,712
10. Cumulative 8-year Measured Savings: $8,556,647 (106% of guarantee)

To further improve upon these efficiencies, SFASU commissioned another study (phase 3) to identify additional facility improvements. These improvements were completed in March 2016. A summary of phase 3 is included below.

Phase 3 Summary:

1. Start Date: January 2015
2. Completion Date: March 2016
3. Scope of Work:
4. Building automation/HVAC upgrades in 15 buildings (combined 1.3 million gross square feet)
5. Deferred maintenance (central plant #2 and auxiliary building boiler replacement), lighting retrofits
6. Sewer credit sub-metering for irrigation, cooling tower evaporation and swimming pool water.
7. Project Cost: $11,345,915
8. Cumulative 46-month Guaranteed Savings: $3,337,714
9. Cumulative 46-month Measured Savings: $3,806,686 (114% of guarantee)

In addition to the projects describe above, SFASU implemented the Siemens Desigo CC Management Platform allowing facilities staff to further fine tune building systems by reviewing and analyzing current energy saving techniques as a means of continuous improvement in energy reduction initiatives related to building systems.

Following the Siemens projects, SFASU has continued to make energy-saving facility improvements by strategically replacing additional outdated equipment with new, more efficient equipment. The university has also moved exclusively to LED light fixtures for all new installations related to regular maintenance, renovations and new construction. Existing florescent lights are being retrofitted with LEDs when the existing light bulbs burn out.

In fiscal 2025, all 36 water faucets in the McGee Business Building were replaced with new low-flow motion sensor faucets significantly reducing water consumption in the building. A complete overhaul and replacement of the HVAC system, including boilers, in the Art buildings complex was completed in 2025. The new energy efficient equipment is expected to reduce electricity and natural gas consumption in those buildings by as much as 20%. A similar project was also completed in Griffith and Kerr halls in 2025 with the replacement of all HVAC equipment. Additionally, this project included the replacement of domestic water heating boilers and hot water pipes. These upgrades replaced old inefficient equipment and old water pipes that were prone to frequent leaks. Upgrades to Mechanical Plant II were also completed in 2025 by replacing old natural gas boilers with modern energy efficient boilers that service nearly half of the SFASU campus.

Construction was completed on the Pineywoods Dining Hall which opened in August 2025. The new dining hall, which replaced the old East College Cafeteria, is 10,000 square feet smaller and uses lighting, HVAC and plumbing fixtures that are far more energy efficient. Also in 2025, the Forestry building and adjacent laboratory/greenhouse building were demolished to make way for a new Forestry and Agriculture building that will provide additional reductions in energy and water consumption by employing far more efficient building systems equipment.

When comparing SFASU’s utility usage in recent years, the university’s total energy consumption peaked in 2019 at 431,651 MMBtu. Usage then dropped significantly in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, and reductions in enrollment and number of students living on campus. Energy consumption has gradually increased as more students have returned to campus. The total energy consumption in fiscal 2025 was 410,432 MMBtu. This trend is expected to continue with a major push in growing enrollment in the coming years. However, efforts to offset the increases in consumption will continue through replacement of old building systems and major construction projects.

Despite continuous efforts to make the SFASU campus more energy efficient and reduce energy consumption, utility costs are on the rise. The university’s electricity rate increased in 2025 by 14.7% going from $0.051 to $0.0585 per kWh. Additionally, the rate for natural gas also increased beginning Sept. 1, 2025, by 15.5% going from $4.00 to $4.62 per MMBtu.

GOALS

SFASU has made tremendous strides in reducing utility consumption and associated costs by implementing various facility improvement measures as well as employing strategic utility contract negotiating techniques. As a result, the total annual utility spend (electricity, natural gas, water and sewer) has been reduced by 47% since the base year of fiscal 2008.

In fiscal 2026, SFASU will set new energy and water reduction goals aimed at reducing consumption over a 10-year period. SFASU plans to engage new leadership and University of Texas System (UT System) peers to re-evaluate goals, methods and potential funding sources for employing new energy-saving projects on campus.

STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS

SFASU will continue to build on the success achieved through the implementation of recent facility improvement measures, including using performance contracting, finding opportunities presented through the capital renewal process, taking advantage of available funding incentives and achieving best practices through its operations and maintenance programs. SFASU will also consult with UT System partners in exploring energy reduction strategies. Specifically, this includes, but is not limited to the following:

Performance Contracting:

SFASU has already realized the benefits of performance-based contracts in its pursuit of achieving utility reductions. Due to the results achieved through this partnership, it is expected that the university will continue exploring other viable facility improvement measures in this manner.

Capital Renewal Program:

1. Perform economic analysis and life cycle costing for major system purchases.
2. Specify cool roofing technology for replacement projects.
3. Upgrading constant volume air distribution systems with variable air volume systems.
4. Replacing pneumatically controlled systems with direct digital control.
5. Replacing boilers with more efficient condensing units.
6. Upgrading existing HID lighting at outdoor athletic venues to LED technology.
7. Explore new resources available to UT System members including the potential use of Permanent University Fund money where appropriate.

Incentive Programs:

1. Apply for utility rebates where applicable.
2. Utilize tax credits where appropriate.
3. Applying for grants when available.
4. Negotiate better rate contracts for utilities whenever possible.

Operations and Maintenance Practices:

1. Controlling conditioned environments remotely through an integrated Building Automation System to approved standards and schedules.
2. Continue upgrading lighting as reliable technological advancements dictate.
3. Replacing motors with premium efficiency units; installing variable frequency drive units where feasible.
4. Perform maintenance on all related equipment and components in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and established and evolving best practices.
5. Monitoring and reporting consumption levels and variances for all utilities.

SFASU has been actively seeking energy and water use reduction projects and programs to offset rising utility costs. Several potential projects and programs have been identified, and university staff will continue to evaluate these and bring the best opportunities to upper administration for funding and implementation. These potential projects include the addition of solar panels on campus, additional campus relighting with LED fixtures, building envelope improvements, replacement of aging boilers and HVAC equipment, water saving plumbing fixtures, and further fine tuning of building automation systems. SFASU staff have identified an Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Grid Reliability program called Demand Response that will not only reduce electric consumption but also provide a source of revenue that can be used to help fund energy improvement projects.

SFASU’s operations analyst has met with College of Forestry faculty to begin a collaborative effort of analyzing building envelopes utilizing Forestry’s resources and expertise to help identify areas of heat loss and infiltration. This can be achieved by flying drones equipped with heat-sensing technology around buildings during the cold weather months to pinpoint locations of heat loss. The strategy would be to start with the oldest buildings first and address air gaps and heat losses as they are identified. This would provide valuable information aimed at energy-saving opportunities as well as educational opportunities for students within the program.

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Fiscal 2026 – Re-evaluate energy and water consumption reduction goals and strategies to reduce energy costs, engage new university administration and UT System cohorts, and continue to evaluate opportunities and methods of achieving set goals.

Fiscal 2026 – Renovation of Austin, Rusk, and Health, Physical Education (HPE) building to include equipment upgrades, water saving fixtures, and tightening up of building envelopes thus reducing energy consumption.

Fiscal 2026 – Continue collaborative efforts with the College of Forestry to evaluate building envelopes to identify areas of heat loss/infiltration.

Fiscal 2026 - Explore campus solar energy and demand response options and potential benefits as a means of offsetting electricity consumption.

Fiscal 2026 – Solidify a plan to reduce energy consumption through programs and facility improvements. This will likely involve the solicitation of a campus energy audit and selection of an energy service contractor such as Siemens or ProStar Energy Solutions.

Fiscal 2026 – Engage Texas Energy Managers Association members and attend meetings and training events, networking with other energy managers in Texas and learning new energy and water reduction strategies.

Fiscal 2027 – Completion of the new Forestry and Agriculture building equipped with the latest technology that is far more energy efficient than equipment in the old building.

AGENCY FINANCE STRATEGY

1. In addition to funding future projects with available capital improvement funds, SFASU will explore energy service performance contracts and financing options available through energy solutions companies if needed.
2. Explore potential state funding opportunities available to state agencies for energy reduction and environmental improvement projects.
3. Explore federal tax credits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, part 179D Tax Deduction Program which provides a credit of $5 per square foot for qualified projects, as well as tax credits worth up to 40% of the cost of renewable projects.
4. SFA utility managers will also work with in-house grant specialists to identify and apply for any available grant funding for energy and water reduction initiatives and related facility improvements.
5. As a new member of the UT System, SFASU will explore the possibility of obtaining PUF financing to fund capital improvement projects that will reduce energy and water consumption.

EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN

SFASU will reconstruct the campus sustainability website in fiscal 2026 to provide information and updates on energy and water use reduction initiatives. The website will be periodically updated with new and ongoing projects and ways employees and students can help save on utilities. The SFASU operations analyst will work with the Marketing and Communications Department to craft an email to all faculty, staff and students with awareness information. If the university enters into a Demand Response program, additional information and alerts will be sent out to the campus community (primarily by email) to notify them of curtailment activities and response action to any grid emergencies.