Energy Management works to identify and implement conservation focused outreach, maintenance, energy studies, and capital projects to meet the university's energy conservation goals. The goal of Energy Management is to develop an adaptable energy management program to stabilize, reduce, and offset campus energy requirements in a fiscally responsible manner that will meet the campus wide environmental and sustainability goals.

Energy Management at CU Boulder has evolved since becoming one of the original signers of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007. ACUPACC strives to exert leadership in addressing climate change through stabilizing and reducing long-term energy costs. In order to begin meeting the goals identified in the ACUPCC, CU Boulder made a commitment to the Governor’s Executive Orders for “Greening of the State Government” and approved the Conceptual Plan for Carbon Neutrality (CPCN) for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2009. Historically, this Commitment was the basis for energy management, defining goals for reduction of not only energy consumption, but numerous sustainability initiatives such as zero waste and Greenhouse Gas reduction.

This is an all-inclusive program focused on benchmarking and optimizing at the building level to stabilize, reduce, and offset energy consumption. The program is flexible and scalable to allow for changes in technology or campus leadership, while focusing on stable, long term optimization. This will leverage existing university assets and funding mechanisms to achieve the goals outlined through continuous building monitoring, commissioning, and data analytics.

Once building optimization is achieved, the task of addressing carbon neutrality resides in the development of renewable energy sources for CU Boulder. Remaining flexible in the effort to acquire renewable resources will be at the forefront of this development. As with much of energy management, new technology will drive the specifics involved. Energy Management will investigate Renewable Energy opportunities for possible implementation when new technologies arise and when requested by the customer, which will support the CU Renewable Energy Goal. Responsibilities of the Energy Management will include technology evaluation, capacity evaluation, site determination, regulatory considerations, incentives and overall viability of the technology.

Implementation

Cross functional coordination of campus entities and influence within existing programs is essential in creating a successful Energy Management Program. This overall strategy of campus wide influence will strategically guide the implementation of the Energy Management Program.

Utility and Energy Services will participate in the development and review of all Facility Management, Project Management, and Architecture and Planning Standards for influence in energy efficiency and sustainability. As a minimum, efficiency requirements will meet or exceed the 2015 IECC and Federal Energy Management Program minimums. Energy Management and Sustainability will also address requirements for LEED Gold Plus certifications within the standards.