Buildings need regular updates to run smoothly, reduce energy costs, and cut carbon emissions. One creative tool the City uses to make these improvements is Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA). This allows future savings to pay for the cost of upgrades.

In the City’s new Quadplex Plus Community Health GESA Project, the Office of Sustainability (OOS) and its partners will bring almost $35 million in energy and capital improvements to 14 municipal buildings, including the Quadplex, health centers, and homeless services facilities.

City GESA Projects

The GESA model allows the City to use future energy and operational savings to pay for building upgrades. This makes it easier to fund various improvements to City facilities.

GESA also bundles planning, design, construction, and performance tracking under one contract. The City can move from planning to construction more efficiently, so building improvements can happen sooner.

The City has completed three GESA projects to date. These have delivered over $114 million in improvements to lighting, HVAC, water fixtures, and more. Completed projects include the:

Together, these projects save the City over $10 million in annual operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 21,500 metric tons of CO2e each year.

Quadplex Plus Community Health Project

The City will continue to build on the success of completed GESA projects and invest in energy-saving upgrades through its latest GESA project, the Quadplex Plus Community Health Project. Led by the Office of Sustainability and the Philadelphia Energy Authority, in partnership with the Department of Public Property, the Department of Public Health, and the Office of Homeless Services, the project will bring critical upgrades to 14 City facilities that provide essential services to Philadelphia residents.

The $34.7 million project will include nearly $31 million in energy improvements that pay for themselves in under 20 years, using future savings and available utility rebates. It is funded by a green bond, which supports projects that provide clear environmental benefits. In addition, $4 million in capital funding will support other critical improvements, including roof replacements at three City health centers and window replacements at Stenton Family Manor.

Once complete, the Quadplex Plus Community Health Project is expected to:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 9,290 metric tons of CO2e annually.
  • Generate more than $1.5 million in utility savings each year.
  • Create an estimated 300 jobs, with more than 52% of work performed by local contractors.
  • Support workforce development with up to 15 Green Residential Construction Immersive Training (GRIT) internships, helping to prepare the next generation of Philadelphia’s green building professionals.

The improvements will help buildings stay comfortable year-round while improving reliability during extreme weather. They will support safer, higher-quality services for the public.

This project is an important step for Philadelphia as the City works toward its 2030 goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its built environment by 50 percent and built energy use by 20 percent.

Construction began in June 2026 and is expected to be completed by Fall 2027. The project will cover the following buildings:

  • The Quadplex (City Hall, One Parkway Building, Municipal Services Building, Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice)
  • Health Center #3
  • Health Center #4
  • Health Center #5
  • Health Center #6
  • Mattie L. Humphrey Health Center (Health Center #9)
  • Health Center #10
  • Strawberry Mansion Health Center
  • Our Brother’s Place
  • Stenton Family Manor
  • Woodstock Family Center
Learn how the Office of Sustainability is leading projects to improve energy efficiency in City buildings.