Kevin Morganktmorgan@umich.edu

Planet Blue Operations Teams:Involving the Campus Community

www.opsteams.plantops.umich.edu

University of MichiganUtility ConsumptionFY2012 Energy Costs: $117,000,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012$60,000,000

$70,000,000

$80,000,000

$90,000,000

$100,000,000

$110,000,000

$120,000,000

$130,000,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

220,000

240,000

U of M Energy Consumption (All Funds: Exc. UM-D & UM-F)Total Cost vs. BTUs/SF

Total Cost BTUs/SFFiscal Year

Tota

l Cos

t ($)

BTU

's/s

q.ft

.

(Source: U of M Annual Report of Utilities - Numerical)

+ 63%

-10%

History of Energy Management at U-M

Pre 1997: Building Performance Teams

1997-2003: Energy Star / Green Lights

2004-2007: Energy Conservation and Outreach

2008-2010: Planet Blue Program

2010 – Present: Planet Blue Operations Teams

Research Based Actions

• U-M Institute for Social Research – Professor Bob Marans

• Problem:– We don’t know enough about what people do

and think about energy conservation

– We don’t know enough about modifying behavior

• Conducted a study in five pilot buildings

www.isr.umich.edu/energypilot

Survey

• Knowledge of U-M reduction efforts

• Energy Fest – participation & impacts

• Awareness and evaluation of posters

• Availability & use of supplemental lighting

• Willingness to accept changes

• Uncomfortable working conditions

• Unclear or lack of information

• Computer access – remote

• Willingness to accept less comfortable temps

Recommendations

• Leadership – visible support

• Information – share past history, current data

• Motivation – behavior change

• Existing Building Changes – fan schedules, lighting, ECMs

• Future Building Design – LEED Silver

Planet Blue was born

• Strong branding

• Interactive website

• Marketing collateral

• Mission statement

Mission Statement

“Actively engage the campus community to

conserve energy and increase recycling

thereby saving money and benefitting the

environment.”

Key messages

• Save energy, save money and save the planet

• Simple acts, profound effects

• It starts with you, it starts right now, it starts right here.

Key stakeholders

• Executive Officers

• Deans/Directors

• Budget administrators

• Facility managers

• Administrators

• Skilled Trades

• Custodians

• Students

• Environmental Zealots

How Planet Blue Operates

• Assess the building

• Planet Blue Team (for each building)

• Leadership meeting

• Open House Event

• Outreach and Tools

• ECMs & Recommissioning

• Building Tracking

11

Build Teams

Leadership Support

• Engage Leadership

• Request support – Encourage Staff

– Verbal statement of support

Open House

Open House

Share Info

Outreach Tools

Earth Fest

Online Resources

Commissioning People & Work

• Commission people and technology

• Point of use tools

Point of use tools

Measure success

• Utility bills– Report card

– Results poster

• Attendance at open house

• Planet Blue citizens

• General buzz

The Savings

• Achieved and maintained – At least $4.1 Million in cost savings

annually

– 8.1% reduction in energy consumption

– Avoided 17,800 MT/CO2

– Energy and emissions equivalent to approximately 2,500 homes and 3,600 cars

Where do we belong?

Planet BlueOperations Teams(focus: energy conservation)Recycling

Alternative Transportation

Green IT

Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute

(GESI)

Erb Institute

Schools and Colleges

Planet Blue Ambassadors

Operations Research and Education

The Sustainability Brand for U-M

Office of Campus Sustainability

Kevin Morganktmorgan@umich.edu

Planet Blue Operations Teams:Involving the Campus Community

www.opsteams.plantops.umich.edu