Energy projects

Smart meter installation
There are a number of VCU buildings that are equipped with smart meters. Smart meters provide real-time energy consumption data. Use this interactive tool to see if you are in a building equipped with a smart meter and monitor how your building is performing. You can compare your building's monthly energy consumption to others, check standings in energy competitions, assess if your energy conservation initiative is making an impact, and make commitments to conserving. VCU continues to work on installing smart meters to buildings that are the largest energy consumers.

Energy performance contract
Energy performance contracting is an innovative finance strategy designed to help VCU accomplish energy saving initiatives. It identifies opportunities to reduce energy consumption and save money. When we reduce costs, we have extra money to reinvest in energy conservation upgrades. And the cycle of energy reduction and cost reduction continues until VCU facilities are performing optimally and we’re reducing as much energy as we can.

Greenhouse gas emissions
In April 2008, VCU signed the American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment joining more than 650 college and university presidents in addressing global warming by committing to initiatives that neutralize greenhouse gases emitted on their campuses as a precursor to developing an institutional climate action plan for becoming carbon-neutral and having no net GHG emissions, a goal VCU is striving to reach by 2050.

Aircuity
Aircuity is an industry leader in the optimization of building ventilation for sustainable energy efficiency, safety and operational performance. Using Aircuity to safely adjust ventilation rates can reduce HVAC energy costs by 40 to 60 percent in lab spaces and by 10 to 30 percent in non-lab spaces.