Environmental Services
Energy Management
Energy Management in Arlington County
In FY2001 the Office of Support Services launched an energy management program in county government facilities. This effort enhances existing energy and environmental practices in Facilities Maintenance, Facilities Planning, and the Department of Environmental Services.
The County government’s total energy bill is about $7 million each year. Most of that expense is electricity, used to provide air conditioning and power the lights, computers, printers, fans, vending machines, refrigerators, and many other appliances in every building. Several County buildings are also heated with electricity. In addition, the County has over 10,000 streetlights, and 240 intersections have traffic signals. The water pollution control plant on S. Glebe Road uses a great deal of energy to clean our wastewater. Natural gas is used in many buildings for space heating and water heating, and the County operates over 800 vehicles, including a car pool fleet, public safety vehicles, and heavy equipment.
In addition to costing a lot of money, energy use places a burden on the environment, and therefore, our health. Emissions from electric power plants, and burning oil, gasoline, and natural gas at our facilities contributes to local air pollution, regional smog, and acid rain. Carbon dioxide, the leading contributor to global climate change, is also a result of our energy use. Energy use at County facilities results in over 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, which is equivalent to about 12,500 autos driven 12,000 miles each year.
What is the County Doing?
The County’s Energy Management program involves many different activities, including:
- analyzing energy bills and taking inventory of energy-using equipment,
- educating employees about energy efficiency and conservation,
- evaluating energy-saving alternatives, including renewable energy options,
- replacing inefficient equipment, lights, and appliances with new, energy-efficient models,
- tuning systems to operate more efficiently, including the use of improved insulation,
- installing energy-saving devices and/or controls on equipment and lighting,
- monitoring energy performance and results.
Examples of Energy Saving Techniques
Our example:
We replaced incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout the Madison Community Center, saving 2,000 kWh (and $130) each month.
Your opportunity:
A 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb produces as much light as a conventional 60-watt light bulb, and a 20-watt compact fluorescent produces as much light as a 75-watt bulb. When used in a fixture that is "on" 4 hours a day, a compact fluorescent bulb will save at least $5 a year, and compact fluorescent lights last ten times longer than traditional light bulbs. High quality, energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights are available for as little as $5 at major hardware stores (e.g. Home Depot), and also by mail order.
Our example:
We insulated hot water tanks and pipes in the Madison Community Center, and the amount of natural gas we are saving each year from this measure could heat a typical Arlington home through a cold winter.
Your opportunity:
Put an insulating blanket around your hot water tank. Insulate your hot water pipes using inexpensive foam pipe insulation, available at hardware stores. In addition to saving the energy to heat the water, you will waste less water, since you will get warm water quicker at the faucet or shower through insulated pipes.
Our example:
We now save over 400,000 kWh of electricity each year (worth $20,000) at the Central Library, a 14% reduction from prior years, after improved thermostat scheduling and fine-tuning the ventilation and air conditioning system. Here is a graph of energy savings at the Central Library:
Your opportunity:
Get your furnace (or boiler) and central air conditioner tuned by a professional technician each year. In addition to operating more efficiently after a tune-up, the annual inspection is a good safety check. Consider a clock thermostat, to control heating and cooling when your home is unoccupied and/or overnight when everyone is sleeping.
Additional Resources
Find out more about Arlington County's Green Building program, which provides incentives to developers to build environmentally friendly, energy efficient buildings in Arlington.
The Department of Energy web site has a lot of useful information on saving energy.
Check out EPA’s Energy Star Products if you are considering a major appliance purchase. These energy saving appliances will save you money on your energy and water bills!
Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
