Building EfficiencyAd Campaign

Products & Solutions

Buildings That Work

University of Massachusetts Amherst

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The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system with nearly 20,000 undergraduate students, more than 5,000 graduate students and an international reputation for academic excellence. To maintain that reputation and continue attracting the best and the brightest, the University had to improve its buildings and make its academic environment and campus the best it could be. 

At the same time, the University was faced with tight budget constraints, rising energy costs and a substantial backlog of deferred maintenance. 

The solution? The university worked with Johnson Controls to develop a campus-wide initiative to reduce energy costs and meet sustainability goals. The resulting, customized $40 million performance contract – covering equipment, upgrades and building infrastructure improvements – was designed to deliver $55.5 million in savings over 10 years. As part of the contract:

  • Lighting throughout the campus was upgraded with more energy-efficient technologies.
  • Electric power generation capabilities were increased from 2 to 3.9 megawatts by upgrading the aging back-pressure steam generator with a new efficient one.
  • Heating systems were made more efficient by replacing failed steam traps to reuse steam rather than let it simply escape unused, and replacing old, leaking steam pipes throughout the campus.
  • Water conservation measures included installing low-flow fixtures on sinks and toilets to reduce water usage, and recycling effluent water from the town of Amherst wastewater treatment plant through reverse osmosis and reusing it for make-up water at the power plant.
  • A Metasys® building management system was deployed to integrate and control electrical and mechanical systems for maximum efficiency and comfort.

In fiscal year 2009 alone, water conservation projects enabled the University to reduce water consumption by 22 million cubic feet, which is equivalent to 40 percent of its 2003 consumption, while energy efficiency projects and use of green technologies resulted in the University reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 21,000 metric tons. 

The University of Massachusetts Amherst project is one of a select number of success stories we're featuring in our new "Buildings That Work” advertising campaign. Here at Johnson Controls, we've been making buildings "work" since 1885, with the invention of the first electronic thermostat. Today, 125 years later, we're enabling buildings to operate efficiently, profitably and provide comfortable, safe living and work spaces, with minimal impact on the environment.

Could your campus or building be working smarter? Find out! Our new, easy-to-use put your building to work calculator lets you estimate the energy cost savings, improved productivity and reduced carbon emissions that can be achieved through building improvements.

Visit http://www.makeyourbuildingswork.com/ to learn more about the University of Massachusetts Amherst project, and how Johnson Controls can help you make your buildings work.
To learn more about performance contracting, view a video from Iain Campbell, Vice President/General Manager, Global Energy & WorkPlace Solutions.

ONGOING FEATURES

Could your building be working smarter?

Our new, easy-to-use Building Efficiency Calculator lets you estimate the energy cost savings, improve productivity and reduce carbon emissions that can be achieved through building improvements.

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