Energy

About The Energy Program

The Energy Team under the Office of Facilities Planning and Support actively incorporates efficiency and conservation in NOVA's facilities’ operations.

General Information

The College is focused on assessing and evaluating opportunities for energy efficiency and conservation in Energy Management Systems (EMS), lighting and lighting controls, and equipment operations and replacement. We are accomplishing this in a variety of ways:

General

  • integrating energy reduction efforts in all projects
  • educating the NOVA community about our energy usage to influence individual behaviors

Energy Management Systems (EMS)

  • actively monitoring and adjusting building controls and equipment settings to optimize internal comfort (heating/cooling, humidity, air quality)
  • using appropriate schedule settings for occupied and unoccupied time periods
  • identifying feasible options to introduce energy-efficient equipment through retrofits and lifecycle maintenance

Lighting

  • strategically and systematically introducing LED lighting
  • incorporating occupancy sensors for lighting and climate control
  • replacing time clocks with new electronic programmable time clocks

Utilities

  • assessing energy commodity, costs and contracts
  • actively tracking energy/utility usage and billing

Demand Response

  • We have been participating in the program since 2017.
  • We reduce electrical usage when requested by PJM to help during the peak period.
  • Learn more about PJM.

What can you do?

  • Look for savings opportunities. If you see something that you think may be wasting energy, notify Facilities.
  • Turn the lights off when you leave a room.
  • Avoid using space heaters and fans. If your workspace is not appropriately heated or cooled, please notify Facilities.
  • Unplug appliances if you will be out of your workspace for a long period of time.

Project highlights

  • Stay tuned for future updates and case studies about specific projects.
  • If you are interested in getting involved in energy, the environment, or sustainability projects, or you are using them for a class assignment, contact a member of the Energy Team.

NOTE: Any new construction and renovation projects will follow the Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards (VEES), which are a modification of the International Green Construction Code, Version 1.0, from March 2010.