The North Carolina Legislature provides capital funding for repair and renovation projects at UNC system campuses each fiscal year. At NC State, these funds are administered by Facilities Operations, Repair & Renovation (R&R), who execute small construction projects that include carpentry, metal fabrication, painting, signage, and roof maintenance. The amount of repair and renovation capital varies from year-to-year, and tracks with State Budget funding levels. As funding allows, certain energy conservation measures such as energy efficient lighting system modernization or occupancy sensor installations can be implemented and paid for by R&R funds.
Implementation of the projects funded by these grants requires the interactions of Buildings Maintenance and Operations (BM&O), Utilities & Engineering, and Capital Project Management. Together, these organizations develop a master list of potential energy conservation projects. As R&R funding is encumbered, additional energy conservation projects are added, as appropriate. Throughout this process, each unit actively seeks other energy projects, evaluates solicitations and applies for awards, when deemed appropriate.
A second source of funding includes energy conservation grants from both the public and private sectors. Funding opportunities have included block grants for energy efficient lighting, building retro-commissioning, HVAC modernization, infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy demonstration projects, transportation-related energy efficiency projects, as well as education internships and fellowships.
In Fiscal Year 2011, NC State Utilities & Engineering was awarded several grants by the State Energy Office through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for energy-related projects.
- $475,488 to fund ten Energy Fellowships to create synergies among similar groups on campus.
- $778,000 for lighting projects on campus, retro-commissioning at the Varsity Research Building, and two new chillers at Research Building II on Centennial Campus.
- $268,000 to fund one Energy Manager and two Energy Analysts to help identify energy conservation measures.
In addition, Energy Management has applied for $360,000 in funding to provide a solar thermal system at Bragaw Residence Hall. If funded, the solar thermal system will provide about 30% of the yearly supply of domestic hot water for the residence hall.
