TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine significant steps taken by the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to account for both energy cost savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals through strategic investments in energy conservation measures (ECMs) in campus buildings. Through an analysis of multiple years of investment in facility upgrades across the university, the impacts of ECMs of various types are characterized by building type. The standards and criteria for ECMs investments are also evaluated with the goal to develop a predictive tool to support decision making pertaining to an annual investment in a portfolio of ECMs that will maintain a trajectory to achieve both financial return on investment as well as GHG reduction goals.Design/methodology/approach This study is comprised of three main parts: analyzing the energy costs saving and GHG emissions reduction contribution of various building types in which ECMs were conducted, analyzing costs saving and GHG emissions reduction contribution of each ECM while considering the average annual investments made in them and estimating the impact of upgrading Penn State’s steam plants from firing a mixture of coal and natural gas to natural gas only on the GHG emissions.Findings These analyses help identify which types of buildings and ECMs would have larger savings and emissions reduction contributions. A calculator is also created to enable forecasting of costs saving and GHG emissions reduction of investment distribution strategy among ECMs. This study demonstrates that the calculator based on data from previous years will benefit decision makers in more wisely configuring the investment portfolio.Originality/value This paper fulfills an identical need to couple energy efficiency strategies coupled with the environmental impacts associated with different fossil fuel energy sources.
VL  - 24
IS  - 4
SN  - 0969-9988
DO  - 10.1108/ECAM-02-2016-0050
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-02-2016-0050
AU  - Kazemi Rad Melissa
AU  - Riley David
AU  - Asadi Somayeh
AU  - Delgoshaei Parhum
PY  - 2017
Y1  - 2017/01/01
TI  - Improving the performance profile of energy conservation measures at the Penn State University Park Campus
T2  - Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 610
EP  - 628
Y2  - 2024/09/25
ER  -