Research Campus Energy 

I2SL China

Otto Van Geet

Principal Engineer

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

July 30, 2018

NREL/PR-7A40-71978
NREL | 2

Key Elements of a Smart Lab

Key Element Approaches to Overcome Barriers

Optimized ventilation and exhaust 

systems

Partner with industrial hygiene to determine lowest safe 

ventilation rate for each lab space and exhaust stack discharge 

velocity 

Variable air volume Upgrade constant air volume systems to variable air volume

Minimized system fan energy Minimized system pressure drops and set duct static pressure to 

lowest adequate level 

Optimized fume hoods Partner with EHS/IH and lab staff to determine fume hood 

number, size, and containment requirements 

Continuous commissioning Use building control system and tools to optimize lab mechanical 

systems operations

Energy-efficient lighting Implement energy-efficiency lighting technologies and controls

Lab staff is engaged in sustainable 

practices

Provide sustainable best practices to lab staff

Consider demand-based ventilation 

controls (DBVC)

Partner with EHS/IH to determine if DBVC would allow reduced 

ventilation rate, especially for non-fume hood driven labs. 
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY 3

Determine 

Baseline Energy 

Consumption

Analyze Technology 

Options

Prepare a Plan & 

Set Priorities

Implement the 

Climate Action Plan

Measure & Evaluate 

Progress

Climate Neutral Research Campuses 

Research campuses consume more energy per 

square foot than most facilities. They also have 

greater opportunities to reduce energy 

consumption, implement renewable energy 

systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and 

set an example of climate neutrality.

The NREL Climate Neutral Research Campuses website 

provides research campuses a five-step process to 

develop and implement climate action plans.

See: nrel.gov/climate-neutral/

1

2

3

4

5

Focus of this 

presentation: 1-2
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY 4

Climate Neutral Research Campuses 

nrel.gov/climate-neutral
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1. Determine Baseline Energy Consumption

Scope 1: Direct combustion of fuels at 

your site

•Carbon emissions from direct combustion readily translate from fuel 

consumption data using standard engineering formulas.

Scope 2: Indirect impact from purchased 

electricity.

•Carbon emissions from electricity consumption can be obtained for your utility 

company, region, and state from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 

eGRID

Scope 3: Transportation impacts from 

commuters and business travel.

•Can be derived from surveys of commuter and business travel patterns.

Determine current energy 

consumption 

Determine resulting 

greenhouse gas emissions

Break down emissions by 

sector
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY 6

People and Policy

Formulate policies with a long-term effect on energy consumption and identify 

human behaviors that lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Buildings

Take a whole-building approach when evaluating campus buildings. Also, 

remember energy efficiency comes first. Maximize energy efficiency in both 

existing and new buildings before doing anything else. 

Transportation 

Reduce vehicle miles traveled, switch your fleets to alternative fuels, and offer 

transportation alternatives that reduce occupant dependency on single-passenger 

vehicle.

Energy Sources

Optimize the energy supply based on carbon fuels at the central power plant then 

add renewable energy systems wherever practicable.

Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates

Buy carbon offsets and green power as the last step in an overall strategy to meet 

long-term carbon reduction targets. You can also purchase offsets as a way to "top 

off" progress. 

2. Analyze Technology Options 
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY 7

• Consider available area:

o Vacant land

o Parking lots

o Roofs (with 20-year-plus life and able to accommodate solar weight)

o Shading

• Calculate energy use and cost, preferably by building

• Determine potential electrical interconnection points

• Research interconnection rules

• See: https://www.nrel.gov/technical-assistance/blog/posts/solar-ready-building- design-a-summary-of-technical-considerations.html

Energy Sources: Renewable Energy on Campus
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY 8

Energy Sources: Available Area for Renewable Energy on Campus

Potential Ground PV Area

897,083 ft2

Potential Roof PV Area

140,456 ft2

Potential Carport PV Area

118,722 ft2
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http://staging.unep.org/energy/districtenergyincities

District Energy
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY 10
NREL | 11

Questions?

720 KW

1,156 KW

524 KW

449 KW

408 KW 94 KW

50 KW

Otto VanGeet, 303-384-7369, otto.vangeet@nrel.gov

NREL PV Systems – South 

Table Mesa Campus
NREL | 12

Notice

This research was performed using computational resources sponsored by the 

U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy and located at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory under 

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the Federal Energy 

Management Program. The views expressed in the presentation do not 

necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government. 

The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the presentation 

for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, 

paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published 

form of this work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes.