Project Description

The Illini Energy Dashboard provides clearly visible understandable information data and information to students and staff of selected University buildings describing energy consumption rate (electrical, chilled water and steam) so that users can make educated choices about the way they can affect energy consumption and conservation. The biggest challenge in successfully creating a campus-wide goal of energy reduction is being able to evoke a behavioral change resulting in energy conservation and sustainability efforts. This project aims to achieve such a change by showing energy consumers at the University how they're consuming energy in a clear way.

The Energy Dashboard Project is a multi-part project that includes implementation of a website, connection of existing real-time energy meters, and installations of additional real-time energy meters throughout campus.  With support from the Student Sustainability Committee, this project funded the purchase of the website module for the campus' energy data historian program, through Insight.  F&S staff oversaw the implementation of the module, and ECI staff developed the look and reference content of the site.  The website went live in early 2012, and existing real-time meters have been connected.  At this time, additional metering is underway.

Project Background

The conversion factors used in the dashboard display are:

•     Average US Household: 901 kWh/month, 30.03 kWh/day
•     CFL light bulb: 15 watts, 360 Wh/day, 0.360 kWh/day
•     Refrigerator: 180 watts, 4320 Wh/day, 4.320 kWh/day
•     22" LED TV: 30 watts, 720 Wh/day, 0.720 kWh/day

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