PROGRESS REPORT
The Facilities Management group implemented the projects below during fiscal 2022.
North Energy Plant Chilled Water Supply
This project is a continuation of fiscal 2021. Facilities Management extended the chilled water lines from North Energy Plant (NEP) to the Mays Cancer Center and removed a 400-ton chiller and a 300-ton chiller along with cooling towers and pumps from the Mays Cancer during this process. The NEP began supplying chilled water to the building in late May 2021. Comparing the monthly electric metering reduction at the building and adding the electricity used to produce the chilled water at NEP, the Mays Cancer Center reduced electric consumption by 13.8 percent for a total of 912,481 kilowatts during fiscal 2022.
The NEP used 41.5 million gallons of non-potable recycled water to produce chilled water conserving 34 million gallons of potable water.
The Central Energy Plant (CEP) used 87 million gallons of non-potable recycled water to produce chilled water conserving 72 million gallons of potable water.
CEP Emergency Generator Produced Chilled Water Supply
In September 2021, Facilities Management completed the installation of a 5 kilovolt (kV) emergency generator and 5kV switchgear system to power 1,500-ton electric chillers to produce chilled water in the event of the loss of utility power. The completion of this project produced a reduction in loss of utility power from 30-45 minutes to only five minutes with the electric-powered chillers.
Mays Cancer Center Boilers
The boilers at the Mays Cancer Center were replaced with high-efficiency models. The two 3,000 thousand British Thermal Units (MBH) boilers feature a 10:1 turndown ratio and 94 percent efficiency. The previous boilers were beyond useful life and 80 percent efficient. The installation was completed in January 2022.
HVAC Upgrades
Due to drive failures, facility control technicians and electricians continue to replace variable speed drives on air handlers and pumps placed in by-pass. These repaired systems will now operate at reduced horsepower, saving electricity and more efficient thermal transfer in air handling unit coils.
The following installations and replacements took place last fiscal year:
- Replacement of pneumatic terminal units with digitally controlled terminal units for better control and efficiency in newly renovated areas.
- Replacement of variable frequency drive on-air handler M3A9 in the Medical building.
- Facilities replaced the obsolete building automation system in fiscal 2022 at the Professional Administrative Resource Center (PARC), with a new digital direct control (DDC) system allowing for better control and maintenance.
Roof Replacements
Facilities Management began the award process for replacement of the School of Dentistry U Section’s roof. While roof replacement has not begun yet, it’s anticipated that work should begin this fiscal year in February as submittals are still in progress and the ISO board is still in procurement.
LED Lighting Replacements
Old lamps are being replaced both inside and outside with LEDs that use less energy. Several lights have been replaced throughout the campus including at our Academics & Administration Building, PARC Building, Medical School, the Academic Learning & Teaching Center (ALTC), Nursing School and Dental School. The garage at the Mays Cancer Center had replacements from 250-watt metal halide lights to 70-watt LED lights with a total of 294 fixtures. The Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC) parking garage had 345 high-pressure sodium parking garage lights replaced with LED fixtures over the summer of 2022. In addition, the Briscoe Library has had 10 bollard lights replaced with LED bollards around the building perimeter. Last, but not least, Parking Garage A at the main campus had 95 light fixtures replaced with LED fixtures.
Mays Cancer Center Electrical Consumption
Facilities disconnected power from the City Public Service (CPS) last fiscal year on Oct. 23, 2021, and electrical power is now provided from the North Energy Plant. This has resulted in a cost benefit to UT Health SA of $135,366 per year.
Plumbing Initiatives
Approximately 12 faucets were replaced with low-flow sensor faucets producing a total of 10,800 gallons per year in savings, as one faucet equals 900 gallons per year. In addition, UT Health SA continues to participate in the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) recycled water program. The recycled water is utilized as make-up water for cooling towers and landscaping irrigation.
Offsite Texas Research Park Campus
The Texas Research Park is a campus that is being prepared for sale. The buildings have been placed in “reduced unoccupied mode.” Ventilation rates were minimized where possible, exhaust fans shut off, air handling units reduced to 50 percent airflow, lights turned off, lab air and vacuum utility systems turned off, building chilled and heating set points adjusted and domestic water set in limited operation. The boilers have been listed as inoperable status, and there is no steam supplied to the buildings.
GOALS
Not reported.
| Utility | Target Year | Benchmark Year | Percentage Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | FY2023 | FY2021 | 0.05 |
| Electricity | FY2023 | FY2021 | 0.05 |
| Transportation Fuels | FY2023 | FY2021 | 0.05 |
| Natural Gas | FY2023 | FY2021 | 0.05 |
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
The institution has $4 million in deferred maintenance planned for fiscal 2023. The projects and initiatives include working on a roof project, upgrading a couple of the Building Automation Systems (BAS) and installing a chilled water design at the Mays Cancer Center pharmacy. Input is gathered and collected from Design & Engineering and Facilities Operations groups to prioritize projects based on risk and need. The funding also includes $1 million for critical emergency failures, which eventually meet the established utility conservation goals.
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
The Facilities Management group plans to implement the projects below during fiscal 2023.
CEP Chilled Water Supply
This project was slated for completion in March 2022 but has been pushed back to this fiscal year for scheduled installation in November. Two 1,500-ton chillers are proposed to achieve a 10 percent electrical reduction in chilled water production at the CEP. The new chillers will operate at .55 kW/ton, replacing a sizeable 4,100-ton chiller operating at .7 kW/ton. The less efficient chiller will be relegated as a backup, extending the usable life for several years.
Mays Cancer Center Boiler Pump Replacement
Facilities will complete the installation of new pumps featuring variable frequency drives (VFDs) for a variable primary system to meet building demand efficiently in October 2022.
Fuel Alarm and Containment Upgrades
This project is nearing completion as the main campus generators had fuel alarms and containment upgrades to prevent diesel overflow during refueling. There is one item left on the punchlist.
HVAC Upgrades
Facilities will be replacing the VFDs on exhaust fans BE1A and BE1B for better control of the Biosafety (BSL3) Lab. The VFD for BE1A is currently running in bypass. Facilities will also be replacing the old and inefficient air handlers at the UT Plaza building that serve the first and second floors with new air handlers which will be supplied with VFDs and upgraded to the DDC system allowing for better control of the actual installation conditions. Obsolete and failed controls of NC6 and NC7 boards at the Nursing School building will be replaced with the new DDC system for better control. Air handler unit (AHU) DA11 in the Dental School is still slated for replacement this year. In addition, exhaust fan M1E21B is still scheduled for replacement along with a VFD and is expected to arrive in the January/February timeframe. This fan currently has a temporary replacement until the new fan arrives.
Roof Replacements
Actual work should begin this fiscal year in February for the Dental School U Section as submittals are still in progress and the ISO board is still in procurement.
Fiscal 2023 Deferred Maintenance Projects
Projects listed on the deferred maintenance list include working on a roof replacement for the Print Shop, upgrading the obsolete BAS Honeywell and Computrol with the common platform used and installing a chilled water system at the Mays Cancer Center pharmacy.
AGENCY FINANCE STRATEGY
The institution has secured funding through the Chief Financial Officer for the recommended projects and initiatives part of the deferred maintenance list and implemented utility cost-reduction measures. The Central Energy Plant can fund its projects based on its revenue earnings by charging other institution entities, including University Hospital and the VA Hospital, for steam and chilled water services. The projects scheduled on the deferred maintenance list for fiscal 2023 include more than $5 million in roof replacements, more than $300,000 in BAS upgrades and at least $1.2 million for the chilled water design at the Mays Cancer Center pharmacy. The Facilities Management budget analyst has identified all funding sources. Projects scheduled for fiscal 2023, including those on the deferred maintenance list, will contribute to the utility cost-reduction measures.
EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN
The institution has a Green Initiatives Committee (GIC), a multi-disciplined group made up of faculty, staff and students. The GIC meets monthly and shares information related to campus recycling programs and sustainability.
