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Region 6 frees up $575K in taxpayer money by conserving energy, water

By Alison Kohler

Just when it seems impossible to save money as costs always seem to creep up with time, GSA Heartland Region saved nearly $575,000 of taxpayer money compared to the year prior by cutting usage of energy and water at GSA-owned properties in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

“What a wonderful year,” said GSA Region 6 Energy Program Manager Linda Baschnagel. “Region 6 is the #1 region for fiscal year 2019 energy reduction (usage down by 6.23%) and has been #1 for 10 months in a row.”

Since 2007, the energy team in GSA Region 6 has pursued multiple successful strategies to reduce building energy usage including:

  • Building retro-commissioning projects (RCx).
  • Developing targeted E4 (Energy Efficiency Expert Evaluation) building assessments, a model strategy that other GSA regions and the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program have adopted for wider use.
  • Analyzing and monitoring regional buildings using Monitoring Based Commissioning (MBCx).
  • Tracking and reporting monthly energy and water usage by building.

“Region 6 is recognized as the agency leader in the implementation of targeted E4 re-tuning, RCx and MBCx projects,” Baschnagel said.

Although energy and water savings are federal mandates, energy conservation saves taxpayers money and moves the United States toward greater energy independence, Baschnagel said.

The regional energy team manages the measurement and reporting of the region’s energy conservation. “There is a saying, ‘You can’t control what you don’t measure,’” Baschnagel said.

The energy team’s monthly report is just one tool to assist building managers and field offices to make a difference. “They continue to make energy savings a priority in their day-to-day operations, and it shows,” Baschnagel said.

The energy program relies on collaboration among the energy team, building managers and field office staff to focus on energy and water reduction practices. The hard work and dedication over the years has paid off, Baschnagel said.

As GSA Regional Division Director of Facilities Management Cy Houston put it, “We're flat out killing it this year with energy.”

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Last updated: Nov 9, 2020
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