
Advanced Metering Ensures Cost Effective and Efficient Federal Facilities
|In the same way advanced degrees help the workforce improve their value, GSA’s advanced metering systems create value for the federal government, by making federal facilities cost-effective and energy efficient. In line with GSA Acting Administrator’s new mission and priorities for the agency, we are implementing building operations that meet energy and water reduction goals while getting the most value for government and the American taxpayer.

The above picture shows Boston’s Captain John F. Williams Coast Building operating on the Christmas holiday. The building operator was notified of this oversight and found the correct dates were not loaded into the building automation system. This was corrected in time to realize energy savings on the New Year ’s Day holiday.
Advanced metering systems are designed to monitor and/or store energy consumption data for specific building systems or the entire building. This data can be used to monitor energy use and allow building operators to take corrective action immediately. These systems also comply with programs sponsored by local power companies, enabling utilities to reduce power to participating buildings when demand on the power grid is high, ultimately saving the New England region $316k annually in taxpayer dollars.
In the New England region, 26 buildings have systems monitoring electricity and water consumption, 11 buildings monitor natural gas, 5 monitor steam and 3 monitor oil. By the end of 2013 there will be an additional 17 buildings, 23 chiller plants, and 30 cooling towers and condensers with advanced metering systems installed. Early success for the program came from identifying buildings that were operating on holidays and weekends, which allowed building operators to take corrective action.