Energy Analysis

This report was generated by Cameron Weller, a student at the University of Idaho along
with Dr. Kristin Haltinner from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Dr.
Tom Ptak from the Department of Geography.

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Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
Background Information ................................................................................................................. 3
Preliminary Data ............................................................................................................................. 3
Utility Information ...................................................................................................................... 3
Energy Use Composition ............................................................................................................ 3
Carbon Footprint ........................................................................................................................ 4
Energy Analysis Results ................................................................................................................... 5
Heating ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Cooling ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Temperature Control Systems and Equipment.......................................................................... 5
Insulation .................................................................................................................................... 5
Kitchen........................................................................................................................................ 5
Water Systems ........................................................................................................................... 6
Landscaping ................................................................................................................................ 6
Lighting ....................................................................................................................................... 6
Laundry ....................................................................................................................................... 6
Windows & Doors ...................................................................................................................... 7
Air Leaks ..................................................................................................................................... 7
General notes/comfort issues .................................................................................................... 7
Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 8
Recommendations Explained ......................................................................................................... 8
Solar Panels ................................................................................................................................... 10
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 11
References .................................................................................................................................... 11

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Introduction
The following report is a summation of the energy analysis that took place at the University of Idaho
chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity on March 6, 2019. For context, the high temperature that day was 40
degrees Fahrenheit. Included are findings made by Cameron Weller, Dr. Tom Ptak and Chapter Advisor
Steve Yoder during the analysis and a recommended plan of action for the future.

Background Information
The analysis was performed with the assistance of the Greek Life Energy Analysis Guide by Cameron
Weller, which was inspired by A Guide to Energy Audits by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (1), as
well as smarterhouse.org (2) which provided an abundance of information on Do-It-Yourself energy
audits.

The Sigma Nu house at the University of Idaho was completed in 1915 and was most recently renovated
in 2006/2007. It has a brick exterior and traditional drywall interiors. There are 5 floors, with a
basement, no attic and a flat roof. The electricity and gas utility provider is Avista, and the house gets
their water from the City of Moscow.

Preliminary Data
Utility Information
Data from the utilities was provided to me by Chapter Advisor Steve Yoder. Discussed below are the
results and trends of utility usage for the Sigma Nu chapter. The data available was from March of 2017
to February of 2019. Please note: my definition of year for this report is March to the following February
(e.g. 2018 refers to March of 2018 to February of 2019).

- From 2017 to 2018, the amount spent on electricity and natural gas decreased by 4.5%, and
decreased 11% between the respective winters
- Electricity usage increased by 0.7% and Natural Gas usage increased by 9.4% from 2017 to 2018
- Electricity usage decreased by 9.0% and Natural Gas usage increased by 9.1% from the winter of
2017 to the winter of 2018

There are a few important things to note here. A decreased rate for electricity was applied in August of
2018. There is also variation in these numbers, as Natural Gas usage decreased yet Electricity usage
increased. So, while the house is spending less on energy, the actual usage of energy has gone up, and in
the case of Natural Gas it has risen significantly.

Energy Use Composition

Avista Utilities also provides a breakdown of which sections of the home energy is being used for. On the
next page is a chart showing this breakdown for Sigma Nu. Avista did not include what time period this
was for, but it mentions it “is based on information in your energy profile and your billed usage.”

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 Energy Use Breakdown
Cooking TV
Food Storage 3% 2%
6%
Computer
7%
Heating
35%
Miscellaneous
7%

Hot Water
7%

Lighting
9%

Cooling
24%

If each of these sections of energy usage were to be contracted, this would have vast savings
implications, as well as benefits for our environment. It may be hard to change them all however, so this
report will focus on the largest sectors and most impactful money saving measures.

Carbon Footprint*
Below is an estimate of the carbon footprint for Sigma Nu over the past two years. A carbon footprint is
the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere due to daily activities. It is important to note that
this estimate is just for electricity and natural gas usage and does not include other factors like carbon
emissions from meat consumption or vehicle use. For 2017, the house was responsible for 616.3 tons of
CO2 emissions, and that rose to 630.3 tons of CO2 in 2018. Assuming 35 residents living in the house for
a year, this means each person at Sigma Nu emits between 17.5 and 18 Tons of CO2 per capita per year.
This is useful to compare to other numbers from around the world:
Sigma Nu – 17.5 ⁄ 18 tons CO2 per capita Sigma Nu post recommendations– 12.5 tons CO2 per capita
United States – 18.18 tons CO2 per capita European Union – 7.05 tons CO2 per capita
World – 5.5 tons CO2 per capita Necessary World Average to Sustain Earth – 1.87 tons CO2
per capita (3)

If the recommendations in this report are considered and implemented, Sigma Nu could drop their
carbon footprint by 5 to 6 tons of CO2 per resident, well below the U.S. average, and closer towards the
global goal of 1.87 tons of CO2 per capita. As Climate Change becomes a more serious threat each day,
lowering carbon footprints is an important way we can fight climate change and become more
sustainable.

*
These numbers were found using World Bank Data (12), which is in Metric Tons. A Tons CO2 per kWh value of 0.00565 and a Tons CO2 per
Therm value of 0.01631 were assumed. The KWh history provided by Avista was separated into two years, then divided by these values to find
the total yearly emissions. These numbers were then divided by an assumed 35 residents living in the house to find emissions per capita.

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Energy Analysis Results
Discussed below are our findings throughout the analysis including comments on whole house systems
as well as individual rooms. Recommendations on how to deal with these findings can be found later in
the report.

Heating
While we performed the analysis and walked throughout the house, we found many of the radiators did
not work, and some were installed in less-than-optimal areas. The first radiator that is seen when
entering the house, right underneath the Sigma Nu crest, was not working. Others throughout the house
were very hot, perhaps because the temperatures were set high to make up for the other radiators not
working. The secondary stairwell on the North side of the house had radiators which were running, and
the stairwell was excessively hot. This excess of energy in areas where it is not needed indicates that the
boilers are running harder to make up for loss of heat in other places. Small adjustments to placement
of heaters, or the use of heaters, can make significant impacts on the overall energy use of a dwelling,
and thus significant impacts on cost savings. A quick google search of the boiler models show that most
purchasers are very unsatisfied with them, so this may be a potential spot for an upgrade. Finally, there
is a Reznor SCE 350-6-52 duct furnace, but it only supplies air to a few rooms, the rest have radiators.

Cooling
There is no a/c system present in the house, so residents must have their own fans or windowsill air
conditioners in their rooms during the warmer months of the year. These can be huge money and
energy consumers if not properly used/installed.

Temperature Control Systems and Equipment

There was at least 1 manual thermostat that was found in the chapter meeting room. The lack of
thermostats can lead to a large wasting of energy, as the heating systems run constantly. A room only
needs to be heated for 15 minutes every hour before occupants feel any difference.

Insulation
In general, the insulation seemed adequate in most areas, but there are a few red flags that we found.
The walls had the correct R-Value from what was apparent, granted it was just a primitive look into the
wall with a tape measurer. The main issue with the insulation was the lack of it in the heater/utility
room. There seemed to be an absence of insulation around the water pipes and the pipes heading from
the boilers. This lack of insulation can lead to temperature loss while the liquid/gas is traveling to its
destination, ultimately causing the boiler or water tank to have to work harder or at a higher
temperature.

Kitchen
There are 2 ovens in the Kitchen, an Imperial Convection oven and a Garland U.S. Gas Range. Which
energy source the Imperial Convection oven uses was not revealed, but the U.S. range uses Natural Gas.

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There are also 2 microwaves in the kitchen, one at 1000 watts and another at 900 watts. There are 3
separate sinks, and 1 industrial dishwasher (EcoLab EVA-2). There is 1 Turbo-air deluxe freezer and 1
True air fridge. The freezer was running between -15 and -5 degrees, and the fridge was running at 35 to
40 degrees. Both are against a wall on the outer edge of the building, and both are next to each other.
The freezer door was not perfectly sealed when closed. There was also an Ice-O-Matic ice machine in
the dining room, as well as a Pepsi vending machine. Each of these appliances use energy, and together
they are around 10% of total energy use in the house. Therefore, they should all be considered for
upgrade.

Water Systems
There are two big water storage style tanks in the house, 1 of which doesn’t work. The one that was
operational had the water heated to 130 degrees. As mentioned before there was a lack of insulation on
the pipes in this room, but it is unsure how the insulation looks in the walls. The showerheads in the
upstairs bathroom appeared relatively new but could be measured to see if they need to be upgraded.
In future renovations the unused water heater should be removed to save space, and showerheads
should be upgraded to more efficient models.

Landscaping
There is a sprinkler system and an outdated sprinkler timer at the house. The sprinkler system (the
irrigation and sprinkler heads) was recently rebuilt, however it has not been used so there is no history
of when the sprinklers run. During hot months where there is little precipitation, sprinklers should only
operate in the early morning or late evening to maximize efficiency and minimize evaporation of water.

Lighting
There were around (not every bedroom was surveyed, so this total is an estimate):
- 55 fluorescent lightbulbs
- 50 Halogen Incandescent lightbulbs
- 70 LED lightbulbs
Altogether this at least 175 lightbulbs, but the actual number could be close to or upwards of 200. This is
a large number of lightbulbs, and as evident in many places, there were bulbs that didn’t increase the
lighting of areas (specifically upstairs hallway fixtures, two fluorescents in each fixture is unnecessary),
so in future renovation plans changing these should be considered.
There is some outdoor lighting, it couldn’t be surveyed because of deep snow on the ground, but the
main components are floodlights in the backyard which are hooked to motion sensors, and driveway
lights.
Laundry
There were 6 machines in total, 3 top loading washers and 3 front loading dryers. 2 of the washers are
modern Whirlpool Cabrio brand and one is a Speed Queen which looks very old. There were 3 Amana

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front loading dryers, which looked outdated. These should be immediately considered for upgrading, as
they are both energy and water inefficient.

Windows & Doors

Most of the windows in the house were double paned, a few had air leaks, most had curtains. This is
important as any sunlight that comes into the home heats the air inside, and shading can prevent this.
Some windows were left open despite the heat running, either because the room was too hot, or the
windows had just been fixed and was left open by accident. Windows left open during the winter let air
pour out of the house, but also again show the overheating of certain areas and underheating of others.
The front door has a big chip out of the bottom left corner which allows air to escape outside.

Air Leaks
We could not go outside to see if there were air leaks where pipes go through walls, so that may be a
future area of interest. From what we could see there were no obvious cracks or holes in the wall/roof
joints. There were however some holes in the walls which should be fixed, and the downstairs utility
room had been flooded at some point and possibly has mold. Any air leaks along windows or doors let
hot or cold air escape the house, forcing heaters and air conditioners to work harder.

General notes/comfort issues

Some radiators don’t work, some are on 24/7

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Recommendations
These recommendations are what we believe Sigma Nu should consider implementing. These
will either save Sigma Nu money, lessen the burden on our environment, or both. Of course, not every
measure can be applied immediately, so they are ordered from the most to least urgent.
1. Install a Sense smart meter
2. Optimize heating system - 35% of energy use – Possible $1850 dollars in savings per year
2.1. Have a professional audit done
2.2. Have radiator system repaired
2.3. Have a programmable thermostat installed
3. Optimize cooling system and behaviors – 24% of energy use – Potential $1250 in yearly savings
3.1. Seal Air Leaks
3.2. Ensure proper placement conditions of windowsill A/C units
3.3. Cover windows with Styrofoam or blackout curtains during hot months
3.4. Change behavior of fan usage
4. Upgrade old lights & change behavior – 9% of energy usage – possible $1350 in yearly savings
4.1. Replace halogen incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs
4.2. Change behavior of light usage
5. Change water usage behaviors – 7% of energy usage – Unknown savings
6. Upgrade various other utilities

Recommendations Explained
1. Install a Sense smart meter
This device can be quickly installed (by a licensed electrician) and can detect when, where and how
much energy is being used within the house. Using a phone app, it displays this information to assist in
the decision-making process by visualizing trends and alerting users when appliances have been left on
for too long. More information can be found at Sense.com (4). This provides the residents with critical
information that will aid them with implementing their own energy saving measures. One person in the
home could be responsible for tracking the information the meter provides, and they give other
residents feedback on how to lower their energy use. Without this meter residents won’t know their
habits and will struggle to adopt energy conservative behaviors.
- Sense smart meters are currently priced at $299

2. Optimize heating system – 35% of energy Use – Potential $1850 in yearly savings
It is fully recommended that Sigma Nu hires a professional auditor, who will provide exact replacements
of current appliances. An example of what a professional audit can bring is which new boiler to replace
the Well-McLain boilers with, or which radiators can be moved and replaced.

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Second, installing a programmable thermostat can cut energy prices by 15% in a year, according to
thermostatcenter.com (5). 15% savings on Sigma Nu’s energy bill would be $1850 a year. For context,
programmable thermostats can cost anywhere between $150 to $300.
- Professional energy audits run between $200 and $700
- Most likely north of $1000 for heating and radiator system repairs/renovations.
- Programmable thermostats are between $150 and $300
Having a professional audit done and installing a programmable thermostat are crucial first steps
towards saving energy money, for without them an exact action plan will be hard to formulate, and
money that could be saved will continue to be wasted.
3. Optimize cooling system and behaviors – 24% of energy use – Potential $1250 in yearly savings
The first step is to seal the home of air leaks. More information can be found at energystar.gov, but
essentially this includes weather stripping door frames (or replacing the front door because of the hole
in it) or sealing windows. Larger measures include upgrading insulation, a professional audit could tell if
this is necessary. Sealing the house can lead to savings of 10%, or around $1250 a year, according to
energystar.gov (6) (7).
The second step is to ensure that the windowsill A/C units have a complete seal with the window frame.
This may include covering the remainder of the window (the open part above the unit) with either
Styrofoam or cardboard to ensure the A/C can operate efficiently.
Along the same lines, covering the windows with either blackout shades or Styrofoam can block light out
and keep a home surprisingly cool. This is a common technique in the Southwest U.S. and can keep a
room at 70 degrees when it is 115 degrees outside.
The final step involves a behavior change with standing or ceiling fans, it is a common bad habit to leave
fans on when not in a room. Fans only push air around, they do not cool the room, so turning fans off
when leaving the house or room can save energy as well.
- Sealing Sigma Nu of air leaks would probably cost between $750 to $1000
- Cost of Styrofoam or curtains is uncertain due to high variability
Behavior changes are hard, but it is important to educate residents on energy conserving measures. As
long as lights are left on in empty rooms, fans are left pushing air around and heaters are heating room
which are too hot, Sigma Nu will continue to waste money.
4. Upgrade old lights & change behavior – 9% of energy usage – possible $1350 in yearly savings

When it comes to lightbulbs, LED’s are the best, closely followed by Fluorescents, and Halogen
Incandescent bulbs are in a distant third. LED lights last nearly 50 times longer than Halogen
Incandescent bulbs. At Sigma Nu, there were roughly 50 Halogen Incandescent bulbs. By replacing these
bulbs with LED’s, an additional $1,350 could be saved in a year according to the ledwaves.com calculator
(8). This estimate may also be short, as on the second story and above, some light fixtures had two
fluorescents in each of them. This is a waste and there are more efficient fixtures, but Fluorescents are
already efficient in the first place so this should only be addressed in future renovations.

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Besides upgrading the type of lights, reducing how long lights are on is also important, and that is a
behavioral change. Below is a figure from mrelectric.com that details how much leaving lights on adds to
the yearly bill (9). An effective tool to encourage conservation is incentivizing the behavior. This may be
selecting a maximum electricity cost for the year, and however far the real cost of electricity is for the
year is under that limit is how much money goes back to the residents in the form of investment in
events or further renovations of chapter buildings.
- Estimated cost of replacing incandescent bulbs with LED’s is $275

5. Change water usage behaviors – 7% of energy usage – Unknown savings

Water Heating is usually one of the first areas looked at for reducing energy use, however the house’s
gas fired water heater is already rather efficient. In general residents could practice better water saving
behaviors, trying for shorter and colder showers. This could save around $75 in energy costs a year (11),
but the decreased water bill could yield even more savings.

6. Upgrade various other utilities – 10% of energy usage – Unknown savings

A professional energy audit may produce a better idea of which appliances to replace, but considering
the lack of energy star ratings, there may be a few appliances that need replacing. I was unable to find
exact numbers on how inefficient the current appliances are, however considering the state they are in
(old, thoroughly used), this could be a great area for savings. The appliances that should be focused on
are everything in the laundry room, the kitchen, and the ice machine in the dining room.
Also recommended would be to check the freezer temperature settings. When recorded, the freezer
was at -13 degrees, which appears excessive. As well, ensuring the seals on the doors of the freezer
and/or refrigerator are working correctly is important, and could be the reason the temperature is set so
low.

Solar Panels
Energysage.com was used to calculate the cost and potential savings from installing solar panels at
Sigma Nu (12). If a $0-down loan option was taken, over 20 years $61,000 would be saved. This is just
the estimate from an online source, and solar panels are a huge investment, so a professional should be
consulted for a real quote. This is a great amount of savings however, so it should be considered. As
well, it would display the innovation and care for the environment of the Sigma Nu members to the
community.

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Conclusion
To conclude this report, the total possible estimated yearly savings is $4450. The estimated costs of
these measures is at least $2675 but could be as high as $4525. These numbers are very coarse
estimates and should only be used as a basis of what real life savings could be, and a professional should
be consulted for more accurate results. However, if these measures were to be implemented and these
numbers be accurate, Sigma Nu would nearly break even in the first year, or in other words, the initial
investment would be regained in just over a year. It is up to the residents and administrators of the
house to choose which measures should be considered, and this paper should help with those decisions.

These measures do more than just save the house money. By implementing these measures, Sigma Nu
shows they are dedicated to becoming more sustainable and protecting the environment and could set
themselves apart from other houses as the first to work towards sustainability. Sigma Nu could become
leaders in sustainability initiatives on campus by adopting these measures and set an example to all
others at the University of Idaho that Sigma Nu cares about sustainability. As well, this is a great
opportunity to educate members and send them out into the world with sustainability and conservation
in their minds as they solve the world’s problems. Climate Change is a danger that affects us all, and
Sigma Nu should be the first Greek house to address it directly and fight it head-on. We hope this paper
provides the initial ideas and steps towards combating climate change and increasing sustainability.

References
1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A Guide to Energy Audits. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. [Online] September
25, 2011. [Cited: April 5, 2019.] https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/pnnl-20956.pdf.

2. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Smarter House. [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.] https://smarterhouse.org/.

3. Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project. [Online] [Cited: April 9, 2019.] http://deepdecarbonization.org/ddpp-reports/.

4. Sense. Sense (Smart Meter). [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.] https://sense.com/.

5. Thermostat Center. How and How Much Thermostats Save You? Thermostat Center. [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.]
https://www.thermostatcenter.com/how-much-they-save/.

6. Department of Energy; Environmental Protectional Agency. Seal and Insulate with Energy Star. [Online] [Cited: April 5,
2019.] https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/seal_insulate/methodology.

7. U.S. Department of Energy. Air Sealing Your Home. [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.]
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/air-sealing-your-home.

8. LED Waves. LED Waves' LED Savings Calculator. [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.] https://www.ledwaves.com/pages/led-calc.

9. Mr. Electric. How Much Money Can You Save by Turning Off the Lights? Mr. Electric. [Online] [Cited: April 9, 2019.]
https://mrelectric.com/blog/turn-off-lights-save-money.

10. awarenessIDEAS. AI-edlite201-09 - 1 Color Please Turn Off The Lights. Help Save Energy. Energy Conservation Vinyl Decal,
Yellow and Black, 6" x 3". [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.] https://www.awarenessideas.com/AI-edlite201-09-1-Color-
Please-Turn-Off-The-Lig-p/ai-edlite201-09.htm.

11. Ketchum, Dan. How Much Money Can Taking Cold Showers Save You? the nest. [Online] [Cited: April 5, 2019.]
https://budgeting.thenest.com/much-money-can-taking-cold-showers-save-you-27557.html.

12. The World Bank. CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita). The World Bank Data. [Online] 2014. [Cited: April 5, 2019.]
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC.

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