The Energy Office leads and implements projects that improve energy efficiency throughout City buildings.
Energy performance contracting
What is it?
Energy performance contracting helps City-owned large facilities find:
- Efficiency retrofit projects.
- Renewable energy projects.
- More efficient central utility plants for new buildings.
Energy Office staff work across departments to install the project improvements. Most performance contracts pay for the upgrades using the cost savings that they generate.
Implementation
Quadplex GESA Project
From FY11 through FY15, the Energy Office managed the City’s first performance contract for an energy savings project that included:
- City Hall;
- The Criminal Justice Center;
- The Municipal Services Building; and
- The One Parkway Building.
The $12.2 million project, called the Quadplex GESA Project, included new lighting and HVAC updates that help save large amounts of energy and water.
Philadelphia Museum of Art Energy Project
The most recent energy performance contract is with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Energy conservation measures, such as lighting upgrades and building controls, are part of the Museum’s core project. The savings from the energy improvements will cover the cost of the $11.3 million project.
Results
These two large performance contracts have saved an annual cost of $2.2 million and annual Greenhouse Gas Reductions of over 10,000 MTCO2e.
Greenworks Sustainability Fund
What is it?
The Office of Sustainability created the Greenworks Sustainability Fund (GSF) to encourage City agencies to reduce energy consumption. The Energy Office provides funding to departments through the GSF for energy efficiency projects in City-owned facilities.
Implementation
Example GSF projects can be found on this GIS Story Map.
Results
GSF investments have saved over $2 million in energy costs over the life of the program.