Energy Conservation
Introduction
For the Facilities Management Group, resource conservation involves focus on the City’s electricity, natural gas and water usage. Concern for resource conservation issues has been a particular priority of the City since the energy crises of the 1970’s. The City first published an Energy Management Plan in 1981.
Recent resource management programs have been fashioned in response to Texas Senate Bill 5 (SB5). SB5 looks to improve environmental air quality through demand-side energy conservation. The City is currently focused on meeting its commitment to achieve SB5’s goal of reducing City electricity consumption by 5 percent per year for the 5-year period, 2001 through 2006.
Progress-to-Date
Through its 2005 fiscal year (FY05), the City has reported a 22 percent reduction in electricity usage to the Texas StateEnergy Conservation Office (SECO). While indicating that the City is “on track” to achieve the committed SB5 goal, this figure is even more impressive given the 5 percent increase in City facility area to 8.7-million square feet.
The City’s FY05 resources bill totaled approximately $28-million ($23M electricity + $1.7M natural gas + $3.0M water/wastewater). The City’s current retail electricity provider (REP) is Reliant Energy Solutions while TXU Electric Delivery is its transmission/distribution utility (TDU). The City’s natural gas utility provider is Atmos Energy while it is its own water utility provider.
Recent energy market volatility, resulting in sharp price increases, has raised the visibility of these energy resource management issues in particular. Given the resultant cost increases to the City, the Facilities Management Group is drafting a comprehensive sustainable resource management plan to programmatically address these utility concerns.
Current Program
The City’s resource conservation program is the responsibility of the Facilities Management Group’s Conservation Specialist. Program development, implementation and tracking starts with the compilation and analysis of utility consumption and cost data for City facilities. All program elements will be part of the aforementioned sustainable resource management plan.
In 2002, the City competitively selected Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) as its Energy Services Company (ESCo). Subsequently, the City entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with JCI to reduce facility energy and water resource consumption and to provide guaranteed cost savings from these reductions to the City. Completed and planned ESPC phases to-date include:
- Phase 1 FY03 City Hall, City Hall Annex, Public Safety Bldg, Meacham AP Terminal
- Phase 2 FY06 Central Library, Will Rogers Memorial Center
- Phase 3 FY06 Central Library, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth Convention Center
- Phase 4 FY07 Parks & Community Services, Regional & Branch Libraries, Fire Stations
ESPC facility improvement measures (FIMs) focusing on energy conservation include lighting, air-conditioning and control systems. Water conservation FIMs involve restroom flush-valves, faucets and controls. ESPCs include quarterly measurement & verification (M&V) reports to the City based on International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocols (IPMVP).
Current Plans
The City’s current plan is to maintain progress with the ESPC and other such program elements. Other than the ESPC, the City is in the process of securing a best-value bid contract to convert all existing incandescent traffic signal lamps to utilize light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. This project is projected to save approximately 90 percent of the energy currently used by traffic signals.
In addition to the development and implementation of the above projects, City focus is centered on finalizing the aforementioned sustainable resource management plan (Plan). This plan is designed to track five (5) basic elements: Data Management, Supply-side Management, Demand-side Management, Operations & Maintenance (O&M), and Organizational Integration.
As on on-going element of the Plan, the City will continue development of the Facility Management Group’s Design Guidelines. This document is provided to all City consultants and contractors at the start of a given project. The Group’s Architectural Services Division manages this document, incorporating regular conservation-based review and updates.
Other plans include the development and implementation of a Systems’ Re-commissioning Program to improve facility system performance for efficiency and effectiveness. In concert with this, an Energy Awareness Program is planned. These two (2) programs will help raise the awareness of City staff to concerns for resource conservation efforts and issues.
Financing/Budget
Resource conservation projects are funded through various low-interest State loans, tax-exempt municipal leases and an environmental reserve fund as available. Loan and lease payments are made from accumulated utility saving resulting in net-neutral cash flow for the City. Utility incentive payments to the City have also been secured to help defray project costs.
The City continues to participate fully with available no-cost State and federal programs. SECO has provided both low-interest loans through its LoanSTAR Program and development assistance through Preliminary Energy Assessment (PEA) services. DOE’s Rebuild America Program provided review and comment of the City’s sustainable resource management plan.
Codes & Standards
State and local codes are always followed in conservation project development. The primary code effecting energy is the International Code Council’s International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Other locally adopted building construction codes include architectural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing system requirements effecting resource consumption.
City conservation project development also includes following accepted industry standards. These accepted standards include the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) for lighting and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) also provides valuable assistance.
Ultimately, resource conservation involves reducing consumption without compromising staff and system productivity. Focus is placed on improving staff comfort and health through careful consideration of temperature, humidity, lighting and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Best-practice O&M standards are critical to achieving both these goals and system efficiencies.
Finally, the City is evaluating participation in a recent federal program addressing sustainably efficient building performance: the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. LEED was developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) under contract for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Contact Information
Samuel C. Steele, C.E.M., LEED-AP
Conservation Specialist
City of Fort Worth
Facilities Management
908 Monroe Street, Suite 800
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817-392-1276 (Office)
817-392-8488 (Facsimile)
817-944-8688 (Mobile)