County Agencies Save Money By Designing For Energy-Efficiency And Cooperatively Purchasing Electricity

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Ann Elsen, 240-777-7700

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2001

County Agencies Save Money By Designing For
Energy-Efficiency And Cooperatively Purchasing Electricity

The Department of Public Works and Transportation’s Division of Facilities Services (DFS) announced annual energy cost savings of more than $900,000, achieved by following more efficient energy design guidelines; completing major lighting retrofits; and monitoring energy controls in major facilities.

Agencies belonging to the Electricity Deregulation Task Force have achieved energy savings of more than $2 million dollars, resulting from competitive and cooperative purchases of electricity. Several agencies are also considering entering into long term contracts for natural gas that will help protect them from price volatility in the natural gas market.

The Energy Design Guidelines implemented by DFS over the last several years for new facilities encourage the use of energy-efficient designs. By instituting these measures in new buildings, DFS was able to reduce energy use by 40 percent without any increase in initial costs. New energy monitoring systems, installed in 48 buildings with a total of two million square feet of floor space now save the County more than $400,000 per year in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning costs. A comprehensive lighting retrofit program that converted lighting in all County facilities in 1999 to new technology lamps, ballasts and automatic controls is also having a significant impact.

In March, members of the Interagency Committee on Energy on Energy and Utility Management (ICEUM) presented their annual Resource Conservation Plans, that could save the County millions of dollars in avoided utility costs, to the County Council. ICEUM members include the County Department of Public Works and Transportation, Montgomery County Public Schools, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and Montgomery College. County agencies belonging to ICEUM work together to manage their energy resources and conduct strategic planning.

Highlights of this year’s plans include projects that generate significant energy cost savings, while protecting the environment from harmful emissions and greenhouse gases.

For more information, call Ann Elsen at 240-777-7700.

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