Real-Time Energy Metering of a Large University Campus
Vytenis Milunas, P.E., MBA, University of Illinois at Chicago
Monitoring energy consumption across a large urban campus like the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) can be a daunting endeavor. The UIC is a mix of research laboratories, teaching laboratories, health care facilities, and classroom buildings. The campus encompasses more than a hundred buildings and 16,000,000 square feet under roof, with multiple energy sources—steam, high temperature hot water, chilled water, and electricity—all feeding into a centralized data collection point. The high-energy-use buildings require good tools to manage their energy consumption including high-quality meters, sensors, data collection recorders, robust data storage capabilities, and flexible reporting and data analysis tools. UIC executed a multi-year phased meter installation program to encompass up to 80 percent of the campus' energy consumption.
During this presentation we will review the benefits of a real-time metering system with centralized data collection and reporting capabilities, and the process of phasing in a new metering and data collection system on top of an existing multi-vintage building environment. We will review the successes and pitfalls from this experience. A case study detailing the UIC meter installation program will be available for attendees.
Vytenis Milunas is the director of project management at UIC. UIC is a large urban research university with 16,000,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory, and heath care facilities. For the past 31 years, Mr. Milunas has worked in various capacities in facilities management and systems design for the construction and renovation of research, industrial, institutional, and commercial facilities. As a mechanical engineering graduate from UIC, Mr. Milunas' career has focused on MEP infrastructure system improvements. At UIC, Mr. Milunas' team is responsible for managing various projects including energy retrofits, infrastructure improvements, and research laboratory and healthcare unit upgrades.