Energy Efficiency Upgrades at City Facilities

Achieving Energy Efficiency in City Buildings
The Facilities and Asset Management (FAM) division continuously evaluates strategies to meet the energy needs of the city organization at the lowest cost, including conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy. FAM's general policy is to complete energy-saving projects that have a payback of five years or less and to purchase hybrid and high-efficiency vehicles, where possible.

Since 2000, FAM has completed more than $2 million worth of energy efficiency improvements for city facilities.These improvements have included replacing old heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units with newer, more efficient units, adding insulation, and replacing windows. FAM is actively pursuing methods to reduce energy costs for all city departments.

The city also purchases renewable power, including both solar and wind, which makes up 3 percent of the city's total electrical load.

Energy Performance Contract (EPC)

In June 2009, the City of Boulder partnered with the Colorado Energy Office on an Energy Performance Contract (EPC), which has enabled the city to make significant energy efficiency upgrades to 66 city facilities. 

The EPC allowed the City of Boulder to enter into a 2009 lease purchase agreement with McKinstry to implement efficiency upgrades that will be paid off over time using the guaranteed savings from reduced energy and water bills. The upgrades do not cost Boulder taxpayers any additional money and the community will benefit from reduced operations and maintenance costs.

The city's strategic investments in energy efficiency, renewable technologies and water-saving devices will be offset by decreased utility bills and maintenance costs. 

The EPC project is a prime example of city programs that are both environmentally and fiscally responsible. 

• City's Energy Performance Contract earns "exemplary" award for saving both energy and water

Timeline

The Energy Performance Contract (EPC) is a three-phase project. 
For the most part, work will be scheduled when the impacted facility is closed to the public; however, some community impacts will occur.

Phase III 

Work began in 2012 and will be completed in 2013.

• $3.1 million in retrofits in city buildings, including:
  • solar photovoltaic installations at the Municipal Services Center, the FAM-Fleet offices, and the Open Space  and Mountain Parks Annex;
  • building automation systems and SmartBuilding controls in 28 city buildings;
  • HVAC upgrades at the water treatment plants;
  • lighting upgrades and additional bike path lighting;
  • other miscellaneous work, such as converting electric heat systems to natural gas.
• Approximately 336 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic installations, totaling $1.8 million.
• SmartBuildings and employee education efforts.
• Approximately 2,000 metric tons of additional carbon dioxide emission reductions. The additional 6 percent of carbon dioxide emissions reductions, combined with 17 percent reductions from Phases I and II, will help the city accomplish its goal of a 20 percent overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

New to the EPC will be the inclusion of tenants' improvements to The Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Dushanbe Teahouse , Boulder Municipal Airport hangars and other facilities.

On Dec. 6, 2011, City Council approved the lease-purchase financing for Phase III. Construction began in 2012 and features the roll-out of an educational and outreach campaign, which will include a public website (dashboard) that displays the city's progress on energy-use reductions in its operations. 

Phase II

Work was completed in 2011 and included:

• solar thermal installations at the East Boulder Community Center and the South Boulder Recreation Center;
• lighting upgrades and water conservation measures at certain city facilities;
• solar photovoltaic systems at the Betasso and 63rd Street water treatment plants, Municipal Services Center, Open Space and Mountain Parks Cherryvale offices and the Facilities and Asset Management facility; and
• various HVAC upgrades and controls. 

Phase I

Work was completed in 2010 and included:

• solar photovoltaic installations at the Main Boulder Public Library and at all three recreation centers;
• re-lamping of the Mapleton Ballfields; and
• HVAC controls and lighting improvements at the Park Central Building, Meadows Library, North Boulder Recreation Center and the West Senior Center. 

Accomplishments and Energy Savings

Phase I Improvements

• Reduced city carbon emissions by 1,340 metric tons per year.
• Electricity use reduced by 25.5 percent.
• Natural gas use reduced by 31 percent.

Phase II Improvements

• Reduced city carbon emissions by 4,364 metric tons per year.
• Reduced average energy consumption by 20 to 25 percent.

Totals

• The cumulative reductions represent 18 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions from city operations.
• A total reduction of 5,740,000 kilowatt-hours.
• A total reduction of 163,576 therms.
• A total reduction of 2,796 kilo-gallons of water.

Water Conservation
Water conservation measures at certain city facilities, such as the replacement of existing water fixtures with low-flow devices, has resulted in a total reduction of 2,796 kilo-gallons. These improvements help to preserve Boulder's invaluable water supply while simultaneously reducing energy use.  Learn more about the inherent connection between water and energy consumption on the Watts in the Water? website.

Maintenance
The city's facility maintenance backlog will also be reduced by $1.8 million due to the installation of newer, more efficient and longer-lasting equipment.

Other, Less Visible Improvements
• Installing variable frequency drives that will adjust circulation automatically to meet needs versus running 24 hours a day for items like pool pumps and HVAC fan motors.
• Replacing chillers and boilers and adding controls that address building comfort levels.
• Weatherizing 43 buildings.
• Replacing existing water fixtures with low-flow devices.

Solar Power Systems

As part of the EPC, more than one megawatt of solar power is generating renewable energy and reducing operation costs at City of Boulder facilities. Learn more about the solar power systems funded by the EPC.

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Project Costs

With the EPC, energy improvements are completed in city facilities and paid for over time with guaranteed savings from electricity, gas and water bills. Once the city pays off the lease agreement, it will continue to save money on its annual energy bills and maintenance costs.

By leveraging rebates and grants associated with the planned upgrades, the city will be receiving more than $11 million worth of upgrades at a cost of $7.8 million. The $7.8 million is paid for over 13 to 15 years with the money that would have gone to pay utility bills if the upgrades had not been made.

Essentially, the city is not spending additional taxpayer money on this project.

Phase I and II Financing

In total, more than $11 million in work (Phases I and II) will be paid for with $2.3 million in rebates and grants, with about 21 percent of the cost using leveraged funds.

Phase I's total cost to the city was paid for using:

• $1.5 million from a Qualified Energy Conservation Bond (QECB);
• $213,500 from an Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG); and
• $462,261 in city capital.

Phase II's total cost to the city was paid for using:

• $6,398,033 in financing;
• $146,499 from an EECBG; 
• $50,000 from the Colorado Carbon Fund; and
• $398,337 in city capital. 

Climate Commitment

With the adoption of the Climate Action Plan, it is important that the city leads by example and does its part to reduce the community's energy consumption and GHG emissions. The EPC included energy-efficient indoor and outdoor lighting, occupancy sensors that control lighting, and HVAC system upgrades. The new HVAC and lighting systems use less energy and are designed to last longer.

City-controlled Sources of Emissions

Inventory Boundary: All facilities and vehicles operated by the City of Boulder, not including those leased to others or jointly-owned facilities or vehicles.

• Stationary sources
  • Buildings and facilities
  • Public lighting- streetlights, traffic signals
  • Water treatment and transport – pumps, irrigation
  • Refrigerants
• Mobile emissions
  • Vehicle fleet
  • Mobile equipment
  • Refrigerants
  • Wells-to-pump (Scope 3)
• Materials production
  • Asphalt and cement
  • Copy paper
  • Computers and hardware
  • Fertilizer
  • Food
  • Solid waste from government operations
  • Employee commuting
  • Business travel

Employee Awareness and Engagement - powerED Program

The powerED program is an employee behavior change campaign intended to reduce energy consumption in city facilities by at least 10 percent. The program will begin in 2013, and its main focus points are:

• People: engage occupants and increase awareness;
• Process: engage operators and optimize systems; and
• Performance: energy savings progress tracking and reporting (using a dashboard).

For more information about the powerED program, visit powered.mckinstry.com.

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Contact

For more information about the Energy Performance Contract, contact Joe Castro, FAM and Fleet Manager, at 303-441-3163 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Last Updated on Monday, 25 February 2013 11:32