University of Maryland Announces Energy Savings Project at IBBR Shady Grove Facility

The University of Maryland announces a new energy savings project at the Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research (IBBR) in Shady Grove. The project is designed to substantially improve the material condition of IBBR’s mechanical systems while subsequently reducing the energy and water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the facility.

Through modifications and targeted replacement of key HVAC, lighting and process control equipment with more efficient systems and components, this project will effectively reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 29% and save approximately $379,000 per year in energy and operational costs.

The project is a partnership facilitated by IBBR, the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) and the UMD Department of Engineering & Energy. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) provided $79,000 in grants to construct a mini Combined Heat and Power Plant as part of the project.

“This is an exciting project because the Maryland Energy Administration has indicated that this will be the first small scale, commercial application of a micro Combined Heat and Power Plant constructed in the state of Maryland,” said Jim Johnson, Director, Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research (IBBR) Facilities and Lab Services. “A successful outcome would provide a model for other small commercial applications across the State and help demonstrate how University of Maryland is leading the way.”

Scheduled to be complete by the spring of 2019, the $6,209,084 project will align the IBBR facility with the University President’s Energy Initiatives by 2020.

“This energy performance contract project will not only improve the efficiency at our IBBR facility but will also expand the use of demand-management measures to generate additional revenues for the facility via the installation of a mini Combined Heat and Power Plant,” said Mary-Ann Ibeziako, Director of Engineering & Energy.

The university will enter into a shared energy savings agreement and loan agreement with MCEC, who will enter into an energy performance contract with Siemens. The full energy performance contract has a 15-year performance period following a twelve-month construction period.

“MCEC is excited to help facilitate the financing and development of another university energy efficiency project,” said Wyatt Shiflett, Director of Finance Programs, Maryland Clean Energy Center. “Leveraging various financial resources, like grant funding from the Maryland Energy Administration, utility rebates and loan financing, were instrumental in developing a project that not only assists the university in meeting its sustainability goals but also makes great business sense.”

For more information, about University of Maryland sustainable energy efforts: sustainability.umd.edu/campus/energy