Energy Use Reduced 22% at Federal Complex in Philadelphia
GSA has experienced a 22% reduction in energy use at the recently modernized James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse and William J. Green, Jr. Federal Building Complex in Philadelphia. The reduction is attributed to a combination of energy-saving mechanical system improvements and close collaboration between GSA and a new operations and maintenance service contractor.
GSA completed a modernization project at the Complex in 2011. Upgrades in the Green Federal Building featured the replacement of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning components with high performance equipment; the installation of a sustainable roofing system; and lighting upgrades with energy efficient fixtures and occupancy sensors. In the Courthouse, work included renovations of the public restrooms including installation of water conservation fixtures; lighting upgrades with energy efficient fixtures and occupancy sensors; and the installation of solar panels on the rooftops to generate electricity.
GSA and Raven Services, the new operations and maintenance contractor at the Complex, met in late 2011 to establish energy conservation priorities for the upcoming year. The intent of this prioritization strategy was to build upon the energy savings expected from the sustainable upgrades. GSA and Raven Services made systematic and calculated changes to the daily equipment operation at the Complex throughout 2012.
As a result of these combined activities, electricity consumed at the Complex decreased by more than 31% in 2012, and natural gas consumption decreased by more than 27%. Combined, the electric and natural gas savings in 2012 amounted to $995,212. This contributed to an overall 22% reduction in total energy usage at the Complex.
"Efficiency in operations cannot be attributed to one single investment, person, or decision,” says GSA East Philadelphia Field Office Operations Manager Melissa Condran. “It takes a collaborative effort of strategic planning and design, capital investment, and dedicated operations and maintenance staff to ensure that all facets of new equipment and operations work well together. As evidenced by the 22% reduction in energy usage, the combination of having newly installed equipment operated to maintain peak performance, and the staff at both GSA and Raven to monitor and impact that performance, demonstrates the successful collaboration!"
Making a more sustainable government continues to be one of GSA’s top priorities. As a whole, GSA has reduced energy consumption nationwide by over 19% since 2003.
This article is part of the Spring 2013 issue of the FOCUS newsletter. Please visit the Focus Newsletter page to read our newsletter. To subscribe to FOCUS, complete the online subscription form.
