Sector
Education
SOLUTION
Energy Efficiency
Carbon Reduction
TECHNOLOGY
Voltage Optimisation
Mount St. Mary’s University, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland USA, is located on a 1,400-acre campus with over 1 million square feet under roof, and numerous buildings for teaching, living, and sports. The university has grown to have over 2,400 students, with more than 1,000 staff in 2019.
Challenge
Mount St. Mary’s is a not-for-profit organisation, so making the best use of funds and using resources as efficiently as possible is vital to achieve its objectives. The university wanted to achieve savings in energy costs and carbon emissions and identified voltage optimisation technology as an opportunity to do this. Powerstar’s analysis showed that the site’s equipment and activities, combined with long operational hours, made the campus well-suited for voltage optimisation.
Solution
Following a thorough site evaluation and voltage profile assessment, the university was found to have a high but stable incoming voltage. To address this, a fixed voltage reduction solution was recommended: Powerstar LITE. This system would lower incoming voltage by a set, pre-defined amount to improve energy efficiency.
The university received a fully tailored, turnkey solution, delivered from concept to completion and designed specifically to meet its unique operational requirements. As a result, Powerstar equipment was installed on three transformers at:
- McGowan Center / Patriot Hall
- Coad Science Building
- Seminary Building
Installation was completed by Johnson Controls, under the university’s direction. Initially planned for one building, the VO system was expanded to three locations to maximise energy savings.
Ranked Top 3 in FMIs
In September 2019, Johnson Controls released an Energy Savings Report for Mount St. Mary’s University, evaluating both the installation phase and the first year of energy performance. The study reviewed a range of Facility Improvement Measures (FIMs), including a new Energy Management System (EMS), lighting upgrades, building envelope enhancements, and the replacement of ageing equipment.
Powerstar’s Voltage Optimisation (VO) system stood out in the report, ranking third among all FIMs for overall energy savings and cumulative benefits, highlighting its significant impact on the University’s energy efficiency.
Savings were calculated by pro-rating annualised savings by the number of days that the measure was in service during the installation period.
Result
Post-installation verification confirmed that the Powerstar LITE system reduced voltage to the Seminary Building by 15V, delivering 7.5% annual energy savings. This delivered significant cost savings for the university and reduced carbon emissions associated with its energy use.
The graph below demonstrates the average kW before and after the installation of the Powerstar LITE system.
