Eastern Illinois University Renewable Energy Center

Project Summary

Hanson provided building commissioning, LEED® consulting and energy modeling services for the Renewable Energy Center (REC) project at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. The REC is part of the university’s $79 million, 20-year guaranteed energy savings contract. It will replace the university’s existing coal-fired steam plant and reduce air pollutants by approximately 85 percent.

Hanson’s services included commissioning on all non-plant aspects of the building and coordinating the LEED aspects of the project with the owner, design team, construction manager and contractors. Hanson also provided energy modeling services that compared proposed building systems to an established benchmark (ASHRAE 90.1) in support of LEED energy performance requirements. The project received LEED Platinum certification.

Hanson also provided retro-commissioning services in 11 campus facilities, including residence halls, classrooms, Lantz Fieldhouse and the University Union building.

The retro-commissioning scope encompassed the HVAC airside distribution and related temperature controls associated with the buildings, including 61 air-handling units. The project evaluated the air-handling systems’ present operation, control and maintenance strategies and practices to find cost-effective improvements that could be implemented primarily by the facilities’ staff or independent service contractors.

Hanson employed a formal, four-phase retro-commissioning methodology that included planning, investigation, implementation and report phases. This systematic process identified energy-saving opportunities while bringing the building’s systems back to the original design intent and meeting the operating requirements of the building owner and occupants.

The total square footage of all 14 buildings is approximately 500,000 to 600,000 square feet.