Case Study: Johnson Controls and Milwaukee Area Technical College
Contact: Jim Simpson, Director, Higher Education, james.m.simpson@jci.com
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Sustainability — A Strategic Plan for Fulfilling a Campus Commitment
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) is quickly becoming recognized as a national pioneer in sustainability efforts and green technology initiatives. For MATC, these efforts and initiatives go hand-in-hand with its goal to be the bridge to a better future for its students, graduates and community. These serve as the foundation of a sustainability contracting relationship with Johnson Controls that has resulted in annual energy and operational savings of more than $1.2 million, reduced CO2 emissions by over 8,355 metric tons, improvements in the campus environment, curriculum development and community enrichment.
Founded in 1912, MATC is the largest technical college in the state and a key driver of the economy in southeastern Wisconsin. MATC offers 200 degrees, diplomas, certificates and apprenticeships, plus nearly 400 transfer options. More than 50,000 students attend the college’s four campuses, numerous evening centers and community-based sites, or learn online.
Since MATC and Johnson Controls began working together in 2007, they have taken a holistic approach to improving the college’s four campuses from an energy, operational and sustainability standpoint. Improvements range from innovative mechanical and lighting upgrades to a first-of-its-kind Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory. By leveraging combined resources, MATC and Johnson Controls have also developed student engagement and community outreach programs that benefit both organizations and the community at large.
Pathway for Presidents’ Climate Commitment ››
When Dr. Michael L. Burke, MATC president, signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in April 2010, he formally committed to sharply reducing and eventually eliminating all of the college’s global warming carbon emissions as well as integrating sustainability into the college’s curriculum. The commitment decision was due in part to the college’s collaborative sustainability initiatives and planning with Johnson Controls.
“Johnson Controls has worked on a number of key initiatives, such as our Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing Center and the Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory, that uniquely position MATC in our state, region and nation. I was proud to sign the Presidents’ Climate Commitment because of our partnership with Johnson Controls. The company’s innovations and commitment have opened the doors to countless new opportunities for MATC and our students,” says Dr. Burke.
In fact, Johnson Controls was the recipient of the “Futuremakers Partner Award” from the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. The award recognizes organizations that partner with technical colleges in pursuit of strong futures through sustainable jobs.
A Longstanding Strategic Goal ››
Sustainability has long been one of MATC’s strategic goals, which is evident in the projects that have been implemented with Johnson Controls. The projects were designed not only to improve the college’s infrastructure and address deferred maintenance but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and operational costs while introducing sustainable practices and technologies. The sustainability contracts presented a guaranteed maximum price with no change orders while providing future energy and operational cost models.
Projects included upgrades to heating and cooling systems, and lighting retrofits in select facilities at multiple campuses along with solar initiatives that assist students and community members in learning about energy conservation and renewable energy. Johnson Controls designed and updated the ventilation and heating systems in science labs, and upgraded the central cooling plant at MATC’s downtown Milwaukee campus. An LED lighting project at the downtown campus parking structure involved replacing metal halide fixtures with LED fixtures, which has reduced electricity consumption in the facility by 55 percent. An innovative “off-grid” solution implemented at MATC’s West Allis campus parking lot uses solar powered LED lighting technology with battery storage.
District-wide improvements have included installation or expansion of the Johnson Controls Metasys® building management system. The system’s open architecture allowed for the integration of existing building automation systems. As a result, campus administrators can more accurately monitor and control districtwide systems from a single location or remotely via the Internet. This not only ensures student and staff comfort, it also optimizes equipment performance and return on investment, and saves energy. Closed circuit television systems were also upgraded and a mass notification system was added to all campuses, creating a safer and more secure learning environment.
MATC looks to Johnson Controls for strategic solutions to immediate problems too. For example, when there were indoor air quality issues in the President’s office, Johnson Controls was able to improve the air quality with a solution that provided the best lifecycle cost.
Similarly, when equipment added to Milwaukee Public Television’s datacenter created the potential to overheat computer systems, Johnson Controls delivered a better solution. An outside contractor proposed a traditional HVAC approach budgeted at approximately $750,000. At MATC’s request, Johnson Controls evaluated the situation and through use of variable refrigerant flow zoning technology, common in overseas markets, delivered a $250,000 solution. The strategic approach significantly reduced upfront costs, while providing a more flexible system with an excellent lifecycle cost.
Renewable Energy ››
Perhaps the most notable sustainability initiative is a 510kW Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory designed and built by Johnson Controls on a vacant 32-acre parcel owned by MATC. It is believed to be the first of its kind and became the largest solar installation in the state upon completion. Energy produced at the site is used to power the Milwaukee Public Television transmitter also located at the site. It is the first public television transmitter in the United States that will approximate neutrality to the energy grid. Energy production is estimated at more than $70,000 annually.
In addition to reducing MATC’s carbon footprint, the facility serves as a training center for students and professionals either entering or already working in renewable energy careers. As a commitment to urban growth, the entire laboratory is portable. Project coordinators from MATC and Johnson Controls recognized that other underutilized urban parcels could house the facility, eliminating the need to invest in expensive transmission systems to move the energy it produces.
“This is unlike any other solar facility or training center in the country. The project advances renewable energy to heights we have not seen before and we could not be more excited and proud to have worked with Johnson Controls to bring this project to life,” says Dr. Burke.
Sustainability Planning and Measurement ››
Developing a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality is a requirement of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment. To assist with this process, key stakeholders at MATC participated in a Johnson Controls Sustainability Navigator workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to accurately assess the college’s sustainability needs based on importance and satisfaction, and assess sustainability practices based on value and effectiveness. With the top sustainability needs mapped out, the college is in a better position to develop a plan to meet them and the requirements of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment.
As MATC and Johnson Controls continue to implement sustainability initiatives, the Johnson Controls Energy and Emissions Management System (E2MS) is in place to help measure their success. After establishing a baseline of the college’s greenhouse gas emissions, the system automates the greenhouse gas inventory accounting process using information gathered from sub-meters installed on the campuses. The system’s software allows MATC and Johnson Controls to track progress, prepare reports and uncover new opportunities for reducing emissions.
Johnson Controls also developed a highly interactive software application that brings disparate systems and data together at a single user interface or “dashboard”. Combined data from the Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory, the Metasys system and E2MS can be viewed in a user-friendly way from the dashboard, allowing authorized users to quickly identify trends across the systems. The software’s open architecture allows new monitoring points to be added in a short period of time and for the information to be easily displayed on portals, desktops, kiosks and in classrooms. This allows for things like executive views of carbon accounting and energy consumption district-wide, but also provides an educational resource for students and the community who can interact with kiosks at each of MATC’s four campuses.
Incorporating Sustainability Into Curriculum and Community Development ››
Education and community development are key components of the relationship between MATC and Johnson Controls. MATC leverage’s Johnson Controls expertise in energy efficiency, renewable energy and facility management to shape and enhance its technical curriculum to best prepare students for their new careers. By leveraging MATC classes, Johnson Controls employees strengthen and broaden their knowledge to further their own careers.
The Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory is just one example of this collaborative effort to help develop the next generation of renewable energy engineers and technicians. A classroom-based geothermal heat pump system and solar thermal water heating system is used for sustainability courses at MATC’s Oak Creek campus. Any energy in the form of conditioned air or hot water produced by the systems will be used to offset campus energy needs.
In addition, student engagement programs developed or supported by Johnson Controls are in place to build interest in HVAC, energy and other skilled trades among youth. In addition, Johnson Control assists MATC in grant proposals for educational programs, and together with MATC is a sponsor of the Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit. The Summit is a gathering of students, industry professionals and sustainability advocates. They come together to discuss opportunities in renewable energy, energy efficiency and other environmental issues, and conduct educational demonstrations and training seminars to expand public awareness.
Numerous programs have been developed with the combined resources of MATC and Johnson Controls that are designed to benefit the local community. For example, Johnson Controls supports the MATC Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing, which offers degree and certificate programs featuring the latest in green building technology. And, develops the skills of manufacturing employees in the face of a growing labor shortage in the community.
Together, MATC and Johnson Controls will continue working to reduce the college’s impact on the environment. Over a dozen sustainability efforts and green technology initiatives have already saved MATC more than $1.2 million annually and reduced CO2 emissions by more than 8,355 metric tons. All while helping develop a sustainable pipeline of leaders and practitioners focused on stabilizing the earth’s environment.
