University of Texas at San Antonio – Clare Cloudt – 2012

Goals

Clare Cloudt was brought on board by the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to identify strategies for reducing energy costs and environmentally harmful practices.

Solutions

Cloudt performed an energy audit of the three-building University Center at UTSA, suggesting lighting retrofits and some modification to HVAC schedules. She further suggested that the university install sensors measuring real-time plug, lighting and HVAC loads in all campus buildings. Cloudt also identified policy changes to prioritize campus sustainability, such as converting the student Green Fund to a green revolving fund and establishing accountability metrics.

Potential Impact

When completed, the projects could align the university’s academic and operational goals while providing an educational resource to students and employees. Together, they could reduce UTSA’s electricity consumption by 4 percent and avoid 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The University Center changes could save enough energy annually to power 25 homes for a year, in addition to avoiding 160 metric tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions. The installation of the sensors could save UTSA nearly $660,000 annually.