University of New Mexico

The University of New Mexico (UNM) transformed how it approaches utility management, data transparency, and campus-wide sustainability. Faced with aging infrastructure, surging utility costs, and increasing pressure to decarbonize, UNM launched a long-term vision to cut energy waste, modernize systems, and engage the entire campus community in the effort. EnergyCAP emerged as a foundational tool in making this vision a reality.

$170M+

in cost avoidance

37%

reduction in consumption

27%

avoided usage vs baseline

Services Provided

EnergyCAP Utility Management
Emissions
Interval Data
Bill Capture
Reports and dashboards
Interval data
Cost avoidance
Greenhouse gas accounting

A campus-wide strategy for smarter energy management

By the late 1990s, UNM’s utility infrastructure was failing. The university was dealing with:

Escalating utility bills
Aging equipment across dozens of facilities
Lack of a centralized view of energy consumption

To solve these issues, UNM established Lobo Energy, Inc., a 501(c)(3) created under the New Mexico Research Park Act, designed to execute utility and infrastructure projects and to manage strategic energy initiatives on behalf of the university.

The solution: A data-driven conservation model

UNM’s approach began with production infrastructure improvements—new distribution lines, cogeneration units, a chilled water plant, and SMART metering. But the real evolution came when attention turned to consumption, powered by EnergyCAP.

Core Components of the Strategy:

EnergyCAP Utility Management as the data foundation: Initially used alongside a third-party consulting firm, EnergyCAP quickly proved indispensable. Even after the third-party contract ended, Lobo Energy retained EnergyCAP Utility Management to drive its in-house Measurement & Verification (M&V) and conservation program.
Robust data collection: With over 160 utility accounts, interval data is now collected via nightly FTP transfers. EnergyCAP’s Bill Capture service automated tedious data entry and helped eliminate inconsistencies across billing systems statewide.
Interval Data for real-time insights: UNM implemented EnergyCAP Interval Data to uncover inefficiencies and anomalies—like chilled water spikes or steam leaks—far sooner than traditional monthly reviews would allow.
Scalable reporting: From campus-level trends to meter-specific anomalies, EnergyCAP’s layered reporting structure gives energy conservation specialists the ability to drill down, prioritize audits, and communicate findings clearly to various stakeholders.

“We used to enter everything manually. Now, everyone’s looking at the same data. We can spot issues faster and act immediately.”

Matthew Cherrin // Vice President of Lobo Energy

Continuous commissioning in action

UNM’s six Energy Conservation Specialists now lead a continuous commissioning program that includes:

ASHRAE Level I & II audits
Preventative maintenance collaboration
Behavioral changes across campus (e.g., building schedules, occupant education)

EnergyCAP allows these specialists to tell a full story—from identifying abnormal usage to quantifying post-fix performance and avoided costs. One notable discovery using Smart Analytics helped identify a broken chilled water valve, saving tens of thousands of dollars monthly once addressed.

Transformative results

Since 2008, UNM has achieved:

27.3% cumulative reduction in total energy use
Over $170 million in cost avoidance
Carbon tracking and streamlined Scope 1 and 2 emissions reporting through the EnergyCAP Emissions module
More than 3 million square feet of additional space added with no increase in energy usage

“We’re just the storytellers. It’s the engineers and the maintenance teams doing the hard work, but EnergyCAP helps us show the impact—and that's what drives buy-in.”

Matthew Cherrin // Vice President of Lobo Energy

Beyond the numbers: Building a culture of sustainability

UNM’s sustainability journey is also about communication and community:

Tailored presentations for students, staff, facilities, and board members
Awards and certifications like Tree Campus USA and AASHE STARS
A new Sustainability Director and forthcoming institutional sustainability plan

UNM continues to invest in renewable strategies, including a prospective large-scale geothermal project—made viable in part because of efficiency improvements already achieved.

Through a highly-iterative process that consists of detailed monitoring, analysis, and communication, the Specialists—self-proclaimed “storytellers of the energy conservation program”—have been able to change the culture at the University of New Mexico. They’ve created an awareness of wasteful habits and implemented processes that continue to produce substantial energy savings year after year.

> Check out Lobo Energy’s Public UNM Energy Conservation Dashboard, featuring EnergyCAP dashboards: https://lei.unm.edu/conservation-dashboard.html

With EnergyCAP, UNM was able to:

Streamline utility data collection and validation
Enable building-level and meter-level performance visibility
Automate reporting and cost avoidance tracking
Support greenhouse gas accounting via Emissions
Power smarter decisions around infrastructure, renewables, and conservation

“We now have the tools to not only find issues but to measure and prove our solutions. And we can show our stakeholders exactly what we’re avoiding in cost, carbon, and waste.”

Matthew Cherrin // Vice President of Lobo Energy