Michaels Energy came in as Strategic Energy Management (SEM) coaches for the Auraria Campus. We helped them to identify opportunities, prioritize projects, maximize rebates and incentives, and build campus-wide energy management practices. During our initial discussions with the Auraria Campus, they identified three primary goals:
- Reduce electric site energy use intensity
- Maximize utilization of Xcel rebate programs
- Gain more visibility for facility interval data
As part of SEM, we did a thorough review of the campus’s opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades. During this project, we created an Opportunity Register that track all the recommended measures, status, payback time, and rebates. Auraria Campus’ Opportunity Register has more than 80 Energy Conservation Measures. As of November 2024, nearly two years into the SEM engagement, they’ve completed nearly 30 projects and energy management improvements.
How did we do?
In year two of participation in the Xcel Energy Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program, Auraria Campus has recognized an energy savings of more than 1,520,000 kWh across campus. Included in the total campus savings is savings measured by Admin Building and King Center energy modeling, which totaled more than 500,000 kWh and approximately $50,000 in annual avoided utility costs. For savings achieved at the Admin Building and King Center, this equates to an 8% and 9% energy reduction when compared to the baseline period and previous year, respectively. The insights gained from installing interval metering, which provides insight into real-time energy use, has been a key factor to realizing these savings. After two years of engagement the Auraria Campus has also received over $100,000 in rebates and incentives for their efforts.
In 2025, their final year of the SEM engagement, the Auraria Campus has an additional 10 projects forecasted for completion. This will result in an additional 230,000 annual kWh savings.
Goal Status
| Goals | As of October 2024 |
| Reduce electric site energy use intensity
|
Admin Building – 8% energy reduction
EUI* Starting:73.22 kBtu/ft2 EUI* after 2 years: 65.12 kBtu/ft2 King Center – 9% energy reduction |
| Maximize utilization of Xcel rebate programs | $100,000+ |
| Gain more visibility for facility interval data | Interval metering was installed at many of their buildings on campus |
* EUI is specific to electric use only.
With the savings and rebates, the Auraria Campus has been able to demonstrate the positive effects of energy management not only to their leadership, but to the entire campus community. This has helped the engagement gain more and more momentum.
Don’t take our word for it, here’s what Taylor, Auraria Campus’ Director of Facilities had to say:
“Xcel’s SEM program and the Michaels Energy team have been instrumental in the Auraria Campus’ energy and sustainability goals. Through the SEM program, Michaels has helped track, determine savings, and pursue rebates for several repairs, re-commissioning efforts, and projects that would have otherwise gone unrecognized on the Auraria Campus. The work by Michaels has undoubtedly impacted the Auraria Campus’ utility budgets and sustainability efforts in a positive way.”
Header image courtesy of Auraria Campus https://aurariacampus.edu/
