HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-07-2011 - 9aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 7, 2011
Action Agenda
Item No. Q - a
SUBJECT: Orange County Utility and Fuel Conservation Initiatives & Performance
DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
A- Orange County Utility and Fuel Use
and Conservation Initiatives Report
B- Presentation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeff Thompson, (919) 245-2658
Wayne Fenton, (919) 245-2628
Alan Dorman, (919) 245-2627
Pam Jones, (919) 245-2652
PURPOSE: To receive a report regarding 1) the purpose of the Energy Conservation Team; 2)
the County's historical use of energy, water and fuel use; and 3) the work plan for conservation
and efficiency.
BACKGROUND: Regardless of the underlying reasons, worldwide energy, water and fuel
resources are becoming increasingly limited while the demand for these resources is rising.
This is leading to higher costs, the need for investment in new, more efficient, and cleaner
technologies, and, most importantly, the need for conservation and efficiency.
Orange County has always been a leader in conservation and efficiency. Initiatives have
included:
• Energy, Water and Fuel Conservation policies adopted by the BOCC in late 2005
(included as attachment to report)
• Use of the "Triangle J High Performance Guidelines" for the design and construction of
new and renovated facilities
• Establishment of Environmental Stewardship Action Committee
• Use of alternatively fueled and fuel efficient vehicles
Over the past several months, Asset Management Services staff has refocused attention on
monitoring and management practices for energy, water and fuel, including:
1) Analysis and verification of energy, water and fuel use data;
2) Identification of best practices for resource conservation and efficiency;
3) Recommendations for investments in conservation technologies and systems for new
construction, renovations, and on-going maintenance;
4) A continuing education program to ensure awareness by County employees of the
impact that individual employees can have on the success of the County's conservation
efforts;
5) Properly tuning and monitoring County facilities to maximize utility efficiency;
6) Performing on-going maintenance of facilities' systems and equipment to ensure
operation at maximum efficiency; and
7) Development of a "score card" for conservation practices in use, as well as an annual
work plan to the BOCC for recommended improvements.
The attached "Orange County Utility and Fuel Use and Conservation Initiatives" report provides
the background, methodology, and an initial score card for Orange County's conservation
programs. This scorecard will be updated and presented as part of the annual budget process
to the BOCC and will serve as a tool for reporting progress in meeting the recommended goal of
30 percent reduction in energy by 2017 (corresponding goals for water and fuel reduction are
also included).
Asset Management staff will return to the BOCC in the Fall of 2011 to recommend updates to
the County's energy, water, and fuel use policies that were adopted in December 2005, to
report on the performance of County facilities and systems that were designed in keeping with
the Triangle J High Performance Guidelines, and to report on how facilities and fleet
conservation policies and practices integrate with the environmental responsibility goals
developed by the County's Environmental Stewardship Action Committee.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts directly associated with this report.
Reduced use of energy, water and fuel will result in avoided costs for utilities and fuels. Costs
and associated savings for larger conservation measures (such as the downtown community
geo-thermal project) will be brought to Board as part of the annual budget process. The Energy
Conservation Team will present conservation scorecard results to the Board of County
Commissioners on a yearly basis as part of the annual budget process.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that Board receive the "Orange County
Utility and Fuel Use and Conservation Initiatives" report and provide feedback to staff.
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Attachment `A'
~~~
ac~+t
Orange County Utility and Fuel Use and
Conservation Initiatives -
Inaugural Report
Prepared by Asset Management Services
Pam Jones -Director
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Table of Contents:
A. Executive Summary
B. Background
C. Orange County Energy, Water, Fuel Usage Summary
Appendices
A. Definition of Terms
B. Energy Conservation Policy
C. Water Conservation Policy
D. Vehicle Fuel Conservation Policy
E. Changes in Facility Use and Occupancy
F. Score Card for Conservation Goals
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A. Executive Summary
Regardless of the underlying reasons, worldwide energy, water and fuel
resources are becoming increasingly limited while the demand for these
resources is rising. Simultaneously, global economic growth, (driven especially
by emerging developing countries) and carbon emissions are negatively affecting
much of the world's climate and ecosystems. The confluence of these realities
means higher resource costs in the future, the need for investment in cleaner
energy technologies, and, most importantly, the need for conservation and
energy efficiency.
Orange County will continue to be a leader in this conservation and efficiency
effort across its necessary use of energy, water and fuels. Actions taken will be
reasonable, smart, and consistently achievable.
A re-established Orange County Energy Conservation Team ("ECT") intends to
actively manage Orange County's energy, water and fuel conservation policies
and to ensure their alignment with Orange County's interests in conservation,
minimization of environmental impact and fiscal responsibility. The energy
conservation team strives to:
i. Provide recommendations to update and manage the County's existing
energy, water and fuel conservation policies and to ensure their
alignment with Orange County's interests;
2. Record, analyze, and report energy, water and fuel use information to
County stakeholders (Board, County staff, court-system staff, County
taxpayers) on an annual basis;
3. Educate County stakeholders about energy, water and fuel use and
conservation practices;
4. Recommend and use energy and water efficient/conserving building
systems, maintenance procedures, and equipment to achieve optimal
and consistent reductions in use of energy and water at County
facilities;
s. Recommend and use fuel efficient/conserving vehicles, maintenance
procedures, and equipment to achieve optimal and consistent
reductions in use of fuel for County vehicles and equipment.
6. Manage these collective systems to achieve conservation goals of:
a. 20% cumulative energy reduction from the FY 10 baseline, as
measured in millions of BTUs per 1,000 sq. Ft. of occupied
space by FY 15; and an additional 10% cumulative energy
reduction by FY 17;
b. 5% cumulative water savings as measured by gallons used per
square foot of occupied space against the FY 10 baseline by FY
17;
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~. 70% cumulative fuel savings as measured by total fuel usage
against the FY10 baseline by FY 15, and an additional 5% by
FY 17.
A summary of the County's trends in energy, water and fuel usage between
FY05 and FY10~ are as follows.
• Total energy usage as measured in millions of BTUs (MMBTU) per
1,000 square foot of occupied space2 in FY10 decreased by 0.8%,
when compared to weather normalized figures for FY05 energy
usage;
• Total water usage per square foot of occupied space decreased
significantly, reaching 16.5 gallons/ sq. ft. in FY 10, or 18% less than
in FY 05;
• Total fuel usage was only 1 % greater in FY 10 than in FY 05.
The composition and occupancy of County buildings and facilities changed so
significantly between FY 08 and FY 10, that going forward FY 10 would provide a
much more suitable baseline for future comparisons. There have also been
changes in the composition of the County's vehicle fleet, including the addition of
more alternative fuel vehicles3. For these reasons, the ECT intends to report
future fiscal years' usage compared to the FY 10 "baseline" usage.
Most of the County's newest buildings, which are much more efficient than older
buildings, have been online for less than two years. Going forward, energy use
as measured by MMBTU/ 1,000 square feet will continue to decrease because of
this efficiency. For example, comparing the following new buildings to Southern
Human Services' energy use per sq. ft. finds
• The Main Library uses 32% less energy
• The West Campus Office Building uses 35% less energy
• The Justice Facility uses 57 % less energy
The ECT intends to report the County's energy use and progress on
conservation on an annual basis. This is the inaugural report. Future reports will
be presented as part of the annual budget process to allow appropriate
consideration of items with financial implications.
The existing Energy, Water and Fuel use policies (originally adopted by the
Board of County Commissioners in December 2005, effective January 1, 2006)
are included as Appendices B, C and D.
1 The Animal Services Center provides significantly different service then typical County buildings and has therefore been
excluded from County-wide energy usage figures.
2 "Occupied" square footage is the actual portion of grosss space that is actually occupied at a given point in time. There
were a variety of methods use in the calcuation of the occupied square footage figures.
a Refers to alternatives to traditional vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel only. See Appendix 'A' for a more detailed
explanation.
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B. Background
In December 2005, the Board of County Commissioners adopted three
conservation policies designed to conserve and reduce the County's use of
energy (electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and propane gas) and water used in
County buildings, and fuel used in County vehicles and equipment. The "Energy
Conservation Policy," the "Water Conservation Policy for County Facilities," and
the "Fuel Conservation Policy,° went into effect January 1, 2006.
These policies identified a key role for the County's Public Works Department. In
2009, the Purchasing and Central Services Department, which had primary
responsibility for capital projects, was combined with the Public Works
Department, which had primary responsibility for facility and vehicle
maintenance. Combining these departments meant that "cradle to grave"
responsibility for facilities and vehicles was, for the first time, contained within a
single department. Apart of the new "Asset Management Services (AMS)
Department" has included reconstitution of the Energy Conservation Team
("ECT"), originally established and introduced as part of the 2006 Energy, Fuel
and Water conservation policies. The purpose of the ECT is to provide
leadership, management, and technical expertise in meeting the County's
objective to conserve and reduce the use of energy, water and fuel.
ECT Objectives
ECT objectives include:
1) Updating and implementing Orange County's energy, fuel, and
water use policies;
2) Putting into practice the elements of Orange County's energy,
water and fuel conservation policies and to ensure alignment with
Orange County's overall interests;
3) Recording, analyzing, and reporting energy usage information to
County stakeholders on a periodic basis and against reasonable
performance goals;
4) Educating County stakeholders in energy, water and fuel
conservation practices;
5) Recommending and utilizing energy and water efficient building
systems, maintenance procedures, and equipment to achieve
optimal and consistent energy savings.
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6) Recommending and utilizing fuel efficient vehicles and
equipment, maintenance procedures, and equipment to achieve
optimal and consistent fuel savings.
These initiatives will be staffed and managed by AMS. AMS is responsible for
managing all County capital projects and related fiscal activity, space needs
analysis and planning, facilities and vehicle management and maintenance, risk
management, and energy management activities.4
The AMS team is fully qualified to manage and optimize these systems within the
overall energy management and sustainable practices strategy of Orange
County. AMS works as a team to ensure that these systems are optimally
designed, purchased, installed, and maintained.
Team members include Pam Jones, the Director of Asset Management Services;
Wayne Fenton, Sustainability Officer; Jeff Thompson, Value Engineer; and Alan
Dorman, Management Analyst.
Facilities
At the time of this report, Orange County's Asset Management Services
department maintained approximately 645,000 gross square feet5 of space in
approximately fifty buildings. The profile and composition of County facilities has
changed (and continues to change) significantly over the past several years, with
almost 50% of the square footage being new or newly renovated since 2006.
The new and newly renovated facilities include a number of devices and systems
designed to reduce the consumption of energy and water. All of the facilities
constructed or renovated since 2006 have incorporated elements of the Triangle
`J' Council of Government's "High Performance Guidelines for Public Facilities."
The High Performance Guidelines included many elements of Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") designed buildings, but did not
include the often-costly monitoring procedures required for LEED certification.
Version 1.0 0# the High Performance Guidelines was released in January 2001.
A revised point system- was introduced with version 2.0, which was released- in
September 2001.6
One of the first major systems designed to reduce energy use in County facilities
was the inclusion of digital climate controls as part of the 2003-2004 heating,
ventilation, & air conditioning ("HVAC") system replacement at the Whiffed
Human Services Center, located at 300 S. Tryon Street, Hillsborough. Digital
controls allow for computerized control over all aspects of the HVAC system,
4 Excluding Solid Waste and Parks facilities.
b Includes entire footprint of building, measured by outside walls. See Appendix 'A' for more detailed explantion
~/ersion 2.0 of the guidelines added weighting to provide higher point values for initiatives that had greater impacts on
reductions in energy, water, GHG, etc.
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including large pieces of equipment, notification of equipment failures, remote
access and monitoring capabilities to set temperatures,. during both occupied and
unoccupied periods. Digital control systems are now in place in seven County
facilities, and programmable thermostats are in place in virtually all other
locations. Lighting control systems and devices have also been installed in a
number of new and existing facilities to reduce energy use.
Water conserving initiatives in place at County facilities include motion-controlled
faucets and flush valves, low flow fixtures and .valves, routine inspections of
plumbing equipment for leaks, etc. Two of the County's newest buildings also
include systems designed to reduce the amount of potable water consumed.
The Animal Services Center located at 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill included
a "non-potable water system" to capture rainwater, for non-potable uses within
the building, including animal holding area wash down water. For periods when
rainwater is not available, an on-site well provides backup. This system has
experienced the expected challenges of leading-edge systems and has been out
of operation periodically for necessary adjustments and modifications. As such,
complete and consistent information is not available for determining the impact
on reduction of potable water usage.
The West Campus Office Building includes a gray water system that captures
water from kitchen sinks and restroom hand washing basins. This "gray water" is
filtered, chlorinated and dyed, then used for flushing of toilets and urinals in the
building. This system has also been out of service periodically since it was
constructed for needed service and modifications. As with the non-potable
system at Animal Services, complete and consistent information is not yet
available to assess the impact of the gray water system.
Vehicles and Equipment
The composition of the County's fleet has also changed over the past number of
years, although not as dramatically as its facilities. In addition to traditional gas
and diesel powered vehicles, the fleet now has vehicles that use bio-diesel,
ethanol blended fuel, and hybrid gas-electric vehicles. The County is also
developing electric charging stations for, and the purchase of, all-electric
powered vehicles. Grant funding has been secured to help offset the cost of this
project.
Monitoring and Verification
A key component of any good process for implementing change with desired
outcomes is the monitoring and verification of results. Meticulous utility records
have been maintained since 2004 for all facilities managed by Asset
Management Services. Initial performance reports were prepared in 2005-2006,
but the rapid changes in use and composition of the County's facilities meant that
reliable analysis was challenging, if not impossible, for many locations.
Explained in greater detail elsewhere in this report, the measurement of energy
and water consumption is essentially compared from year-to-year, with
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adjustments for the different demands created by seasonal temperature
variations. These comparisons do not provide reliable indicators of changes in
energy or water use for newly constructed facilities, as they lack any
performance history, nor do they provide reliable indicators of changes in use for
renovated buildings- or buildings with significant changes in occupancy and/or
use. Between 2005 to early 2010 almost all County facilities have experienced
one or more changes due to renovations and relocations. A summary of facility
additions, modifications and departmental relocations, all of which have impacted
energy and water use at County facilities has been included as Appendix `E'.
Energy Conservation Team Work plan
The Energy Conservation Team, with support from other AMS staff, continues to
maintain detailed records of energy and water consumption in maintained
facilities. These data form the basis for measurement and verification of utility
use, and reductions in utility use.
The Team's work plan for 2010/11 included:
• identification of projects and initiatives as part of the budget process that
will directly impact utility reduction, if funded;
• systematic communication and education for staff that occupy County
facilities (both County staff and outside agencies) to heighten awareness
of systems and components in County facilities and of opportunities for
occupants to make a difference through small changes to their every day
habits.
The team's 2011/12 work plan includes:
1. Utility and fuel reduction initiatives:
The utility and fuel reduction work plan is composed of two sections:
a) Lower cost initiatives that can be developed and implemented
with little or no funding (primarily staff time)
"Know Your Building" Program - An individual building
awareness program designed to continuously familiarize
building occupants and maintenance personnel with key
building_ systems, safety, security, and conservation topics.
Each building is thoroughly reviewed at least once every two
years.
ii. New Employee Orientation -Will participate in the Human
Resource Department's scheduled training of new
employees; providing information on building safety, security
and conservation topics for buildings and vehicles.
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iii. Vehicle Use Reporting - Provide departments with a
quarterly report on the fuel used, miles driven, and the
overall efficiency of each vehicle assigned to their
department.
iv. Employee Consortium Presentations - 2 per year
b) Initiatives that require funding, either through operating or capital
project budgets.
i. Geothermal HVAC system' design and installation (Link
Center, first floor)
ii. Retro-Commissioning Efforts
Lighting upgrades
Work plan Goals
The ECT will measure the County's performance in energy, fuel and water usage
through several means. The report of these measures will be presented to the
BOCC, the general public and other stakeholders on an annual basis.
Energy Reduction Goals: ECT will use a version of the State's published energy
savings goals for State owned facilities.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/PDF/S668v6 pdf The
County will strive fora 20% reduction from FY10 in overall BTU usage by the end
of FY15. An additional 10% reduction will be the Team's work plan through FY17.
-Fuel Use Measure and Goal: ECT will reduce fuel consumption and increase fuel
efficiency (MPG) by 10% by FY 15 as compared to FY 10. By FY 17, fuel usage
will have decreased and efficiency increased by another 5%, for a cumulative
change of 15% over FY 10 baseline levels.
Water Use Measure and Goal: ECT will reduce water usage per sq ft. by 5% by
FY 17.
"Know Your Building" - 100% participation with occupying County Employees and
individuals at every building review. Each facility will be reviewed at a minimum
of once every two years.
Employee Consortium Presentations - 2 presentations per year
' Geothermal/round source heat pumps use the earth as a heat sink in the cooling season and a heat source during the
heating season to increase efficiency and reduce operating demand for energy.
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C. Orange County Energy, Water, and Fuel Use Summary
County facilities use electricity, natural gas, propane, and fuel oil to heat, cool
and provide power for County owned and leased buildings. This report includes
energy used by all County buildings in the graphs and charts below, excluding
Animal Services Centers. The unique qualities of the Animal Services' facility
and the services they provide require energy well beyond a typical County
building. AMS -staff is working with the Animal Services design team and
departmental staff on a thorough analysis comparing the modeled energy usage
of this facility with the actual energy use and will report on the results of this
analysis in Fall of 2011.
Reporting on the County's total energy usage is easy; reporting on the County's
total energy usage in a way that clearly communicates the County's energy
performance from one year to the next, given changes in weather conditions and
the changing inventory and composition of maintained facilities, is more difficult.
Explaining the necessary steps and reasoning behind going from reporting raw
total energy usage to weather normalized usage by square foot provides the
reader with an understanding of the direct impact that weather conditions and
occupied square footage play in affecting energy usage.
Energy Usage
In order to show the combined energy used by all County facilities, each energy
source (electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil) has been converted into
MMBTUs in the graphs and charts of this report9. As Figure 1 shows, total
energy used by the County has grown significantly over the last 6 fiscal years,
from 39,021 MMBTUs in FY 05 to 56,084 in FY 10, a 43.7% increase.
Figure 1: County Wide Energy Usage (MMBTU)
70,000
60, 000
50,000
m 40,000
~ 30,000
20, 000
10, 000
39,021- 37,590 38,493
FY OS (Base FY 06 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10
Year)
Fiscal Years
$ This report includes energy used by County buildings that are managed by AMS. DEAPR manages parks facilities and
the Solid Waste Department, as an enterprise fund, manages solid waste and recycling related facilities.
s MMBTU stands for one million BTUs. Since the conversion of energy to BTUs is such a large multiplier, (eg 1 KW =
3,412 BTUs) BTUS are typically displayed in units of a million. See Aappendix 'A' for a more detailed explanation.
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This increase in energy usage primarily reflects the growth in the County's
occupied square footage10 (sq. ft.). As seen in Table 1, the County's occupied
square footage has increased by 30.8% since FY 05: Square footage
significantly impacts a building's energy use, both in terms of heating and cooling
demand, but also as an indirect measure of other drivers of electricity usage;
including staffing, visitors, and. equipment. Therefore when comparing energy
use between different time periods, energy use per 1,000 sq. ft" is a standard
measure used to show building energy performance. As seen in Figure 2,
energy use per sq. ft has increased from 100 (MMBTU/1,000 SQ.FT) in FY 05 to
110 (MBTU/1,000 SQ.FT) In FY 10, a 9.9% increase.
Figure 2: MMBTU/ Occupied Sq. Ft.
120
~{ 100 100 96 98 101 102
~i - -
'$ 80
60
40
~ 20
~ 0 - -
FY 05 (Base FY 06 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09
Year)
Fiscal Year
FY 10
Table 1: County Wide Energy Use and Occupied Sq. Ft. by Fiscal Year
Difference Avg. Sq. Ft % Difference MMBTU/7,000 % Diff. from Base
Fiscal Year MMBTUs from Base Year Occupied from Base Year ~cr~~nierl m Fr ve,.
FY OS Base Yea 39,021 390,172 l 100
FY 06 37,590 -3.7% 390,172 0.0% 96 -3.7%
FY 07 38,493 -1.4% 394,635 1.1% 98 -2
5%
FY 08 42,139 8.0% 417,263 6.9°h 101 .
1.0%
FY 09 45,665 17.0% 447,270 14.6% 102 21
FY 10 56,084 43.7% 510,294 30.8% 110 9.9%
Even using energy usage per square foot to demonstrate the County's energy
performance across fiscal years is not an accurate comparison due to the direct
impact of weather on energy use. The variation in weather from year to year
may be seen in Figure 3, which shows a measure of "hot" and "cold" weather
experienced in each fiscal year, expressed as total "heating" and "cooling degree
1 ° Occupied sq. ft., unlike gross sq. ft, refers to just space that is being actively used by staff. For instance, during the
renovation of Link Center, certain portions of the building were un-occupied. By not inGuding the sq. ft. of the space
undergoing renovations, the energy use per sq. ft, doesn't decrease dramatically because half the staff was not using the
space. See Appendix 'A' for a more detailed explanation.
1 In order to show energy use per sq. ft. in an easily presentable form, the tables and graphs below use square footage
figures in units of 1,000.
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dayss12. The combined demand for heating and cooling in FY 10 was 10%
greater than the demand in FY 09 due to temperature differences between the
two years.
Figure 3: Total HDD and CDD Per Fiscal Year
5, 000
u
D 4,000
U
a
m 3,000
O
= 2,000
1,000
4,668 4,761 4,869 q,g~
4 816 5 327
3,165 3,~gp 3,310 3,954 3,123 3,518
FY 05 f-Y O6 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 Fl' 10
Fscal Year
s HDD
CDD
In order to remove weather as a factor when comparing energy use from one
year to the next, a process referred to as "weather normalization" is undertaken.
The first step in weather normalization is to determine how much of a building's
energy use is attributable to variations in weather conditions, specifically
temperature. Once this has been determined, the amount of energy a building
would use based on any set of weather conditions can be calculated. In other
words, it can be shown how much energy a building would have used in FY 05 if
it had experienced the weather conditions that occurred in FY 10. Figure 4
presents projected energy use that would have been used at County facilities in
FY 10, based on their FY 05 energy performance. By using weather
normalization, the difference in weather can be removed as a possible
explanation for why a building used more or less energy in one period compared
to another period, leaving only human behavior or building modifications to
explain changes in energy use in a building. Such changes could include
increased or decreased staffing levels or the installation of more efficient lighting.
Since normalization requires at least one to two years of good quality data, most
new County buildings, comprising approximately 240,000 sq. ft - or .about half of
the total County occu-pied space, cannot yet show weather normalized usage. In
cases where projected figures can-'t be used for new buildings, projected usage is
calculated using actual usage figures.
As seen in Figure 4, total County energy use as measured in MMBTU/1000 sq.
ft., when compared to weather normalized figures for FY 05 energy use, shows a
0.8% decrease.
92 Heating degree day (HDD) is a measurement designed to reflect the demand for energy needed to heat a home or
business. It is derived from measurements of outside air temperature. The heating requirements for a given structure at a
specific location are considered to be directly proportional to the number of HDD at that location. A similar measurement,
cooling degree day' (CDD), reflects the amount of energy used to cool a home or business. A further explanation of the
terms CDD and HDD can be found in the definitions section of the report.
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Figure 4: Actual VS. Projected Energy Use
D Actual Energy Use ^ Projected Energy Use
r
LL
~ 120.0
N
~ 100.0
.~ 80.0
V
~ 60.0
O
°0 40.0
~ 20.0
~ 0.0
100.0100.0 96.3 101.6 97.5 98.1 1D1.0101.0 1021 103.7
FY 05 (Base FY 06 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10
Year) Fiscal Year
Table 2: Comparison of MMBTU/1,000 Sq. Ft. with Base Line Usage
(weather Normalized)
MMBTU Baseline
Usage(weather
normalized)/1000 % dill. from
Fiscal Year MMBTU/1,000 SQ. FT. Occupied Sq. FT. Baseline
FY 05 (Base Year) 100.0 100.0
FY 06 96.3 101.6 -5.2%
FY 07 97.5 98.1 -0.5%
FY 08 101.0 101.0 0.0%
FY 09 102.1 103.7 -1.6%
FY 10 109.9 110.8 -0.8%
Energy Star
The best measure for determining the results of the County's new energy
management and monitoring program will be the reduction in energy use per
square foot; normalized for weather. However, the County also strives to
compare the energy use of its buildings to similar facilities across the nation. The
EPA established the Energy Star Program13 as a way to allow consumers to
select more energy efficient appliances based on a rating systems devised by the
agency and listed on most large home appliances and equipment. The most
efficient appliances are given an "Energy Star" rating by the program. In the
same way that appliances can be rated, so can buildings. The EPA conducts a
survey every 3 years to collect energy use data from thousands of business and
institutions across the nation. Organizations interested in seeing how their
buildings compare to other similar buildings, may enter their building's energy
13 See the definitions section for further details about the Energy Star Program and the methodology it uses to rate
buildings on their energy use.
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data in the Energy Star web-based energy management program, Portfolio
Manager. Portfolio Manager allows comparison of a building's energy
performance from year to year, as well as against similar buildings across the
country. As part of that process, each building that meets certain criteria is given
a rating from a low of 1 to the highest rating, 100, that describes how a building
compares to similar buildings in using energy. The County has participated in
the Energy Star program since 2008. However, for a variety of reasons, Energy
Star does not provide a rating, or the rating is not valid, for many County
buildings. A list of criteria that a facility must meet in order to receive an Energy
Star rating and have that rating be valid is presented below.
The building:
• Must be over 5,000 Sq. Ft.
Have at least 1 year of valid energy data
Have no significant changes in use
Must be a common building type (excludes the Jail, Animal Services)
The criteria eliminated all but a small sub-set of County buildings. For those
buildings that have a rating, it is based on data from FY 10. In the following
years, this report will include more buildings as they meet the above criteria to
get an Energy Star rating and will also show how current buildings' ratings have
changed from year to year.
Table 3: EPA's Energy Star Rating - FY 10
Facility Name Rating
U H RNH M I
HISTORIC COURTHOUSE 24
SOUTHERN ORANGE SENIOR CENTER 31
RWHS COMPLEX 31
GOVERNMENT SERVICES ANNEX 33
LINK CENTER 36
MEADOWLANDS ANNEX 38
ANN 42
GATEWAY CENTER 64
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER 64
ENVIR. & AG. CENTER 74
Fuel Use
Orange County provides fuel to over 300 vehicles and 100 pieces of equipment;
including passenger cars, buses, pursuit vehicles, dump trucks, generators,
tractors, and many other vehicle and equipment types. Currently the fuel station
located at AMS north campus dispenses E10 unleaded gasoline and B5 diesel.
The figures and tables that follow represent all fuel (E10, Diesel, CNG)
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dispensed by the County into County vehicles and equipment over the last 6
fiscal yearsla
In the past, vehicles that were stationed or driven primarily on the south side of
the County also got fuel from the Town of Chapel. Hill or UNC. The County has
now switched to the Gogas fuel card system which allows County drivers who
have been issued a fuel card to get fuel at any location that accepts the card.
The Gogas card will save money and time by allowing drivers to fuel up at many
retail locations in North Carolina.
The cost for fuel has risen dramatically during the period covered by this report,
going from $1.29 in July of 2004, to a height of $4.19 in September of 200815,
and ending at $2.11 in June 2010. Over the last 6 fiscal years, the County's
fleet has stayed fairly stable in size, with a little over 300 vehicles active at any
given time. The fleet, however, has added 12 hybrid vehicles over that time
period, which can reach as high as 50 miles per gallon. However the County's
use of fuel has trended up and then down over the last 6 fiscal years as seen in
figure 5. Fuel usage reached its height in FY 2008 at 270,025 gallons, a 13%
increase from the FY 05 usage. Starting in FY 08, with the extra attention paid to
the cost of fuel, County departments made a conscious effort to drive less and be
more fuel efficient, causing fuel usage to drop by 11 % between FY 08 and FY 10,
reaching almost the same level of usage as in FY 05.
Figure 5: Miles Traveled by Fiscal Year
~.~
7d] FM.
zso,ooo
zoo,ooo
iso,ooo
ioo,ooo
so,ooo
LJtf,l D4 ~ '- - ~--- cw,o io ~
FY OS (Base) FY 06 FY 07 FY OB hY 09 FY 10
Rseal Years
The miles traveled by the County's fleet have remained flat when comparing the
FY 05 figure of 2,936,379 miles to the FY 10 figure of 3,026,441, an increase of
only 3%. Both fuel consumed and miles driven by the County's fleet peaked in
FY 08, with fuel usage 13% higher then in FY 05. Since FY 08, miles driven by
14 In the past the County provided fuel at cost to outside agencies; including the Town of Hillsborough, the ABC Board,
Orange Enterprises, and OPC Mental Health. However, due to a change in IRS regulations, it was deemed no longer
permissible to provide fuel to outside entities. The last outside agency to fuel at the County fueling station, the Town of
Hillsborough, stopped getting fuel on Jan. 24"' 2011. Also not included in these figures is fuel used by the Sanitation
Division when it was managed by the former Public Works Department and funded through the general fund. This
ensures that the figures are comparable from year to year. The compressed natural gas (CNG) facility is no longer in
o~eration due to high repairs costs and difficulty in obtaining replacement parts.
' Fuel prices were affected both by global demand and speculation in the oil market but also by the shutdown of the Gulf
oil pipeline in August of 2008.
15
19
County departments has decreased by 14% due to conservation efforts and
economic conditions.
Figure 6: Miles Traveled by Fiscal Year
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
°m 2,500,000
d
F 2,000.000
m 1.500,000
s
1,000.000
soo,ooo
,6.00
14.00
12.00
c
° 10.00
m
`m 8.00
a
°° 6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
3 3,506,510
2,936,379 ~ ~ 3,026,441
FY 05 (Base) FY O6 FY 07 FY OB FY 09 FY 10
Fscal Years
Figure 7: Miles Traveled by Fiscal Year
13.46 13.48
12.33 1257
_~
FY OS (Base) FY O6 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10
Fs eal Years
Table 4: County Fuel Usage, Miles Traveled, and MPG per Fiscal Year
Change from °/a Change from Miles Per
Fiscal Year: Fuel Usage Base Year Miles Traveled Base Year Gallon
FY 05 Base 238,154 2,936,379 12.33
FY 06 245,127 2.9% 3,298,993 12.3% 13.46
FY 07 246,657 3.6% 3,325,461 13.3% 13.48
FY 08 270,025 13.4% 3,506,510 19.4% 12.99
FY 09 247 686 4.0% 3,234,855 10.2% 13.06
FY 10 240,813 1.1% 3,026,441 3.1% 12.57
Water Use
Total water used at County facilities has increased by about 12% since FY 05.
Water usage in facilities, unlike energy, is impacted mostly by the number of staff
and visitors; therefore as County staff levels have increased slowly over the
reporting period, water use has increased with it. Employed FTEs have
16
20
increased from 825 in FY 05 to 901 by FY 09, before decreasing to 832 in FY 10..
Indeed, water usage also slightly decreased in FY 10, as compared to FY 09.
Water usage per square foot of occupied space has decreased significantly
during the same time period, reaching 16.5 gallons/ sq. ft. in FY 10 or 18% less
than FY 05 figure (figure 9). The decrease in water usage per sq. ft merely
reflects the fact the while the County's occupied sq. ft. has increased significantly
over the last 6 fiscal years, the County's staffing level has not.
Figure 8: Water Usage (Gallons) by Fiscal Year
10,000,000
s,ooo,ooo
s,ooo,ooo
7,000,000
~, s,ooo,ooo
° 5,000,000
m
~ 4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
30.0
25.0
20.0
a
uJ
w 15.0
c
0
a 10.0
Lt
5.0
0.0
i
7,622,fioo
1'05 (Base Year) FY 06 FY07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10
FscalYears
Figure 9: Water Usage (Gallons)/Occupied SQ. FT.
23.5
20.0 ~ 20
0
.
_-_ _ T
FY 05 (Base Year) FY 06 FY 07- FY 08 FY 09 FY 10
Fiscal Years
Table 5: Water Usage (Gallons) and Usage per Sq. FT.
17
21
Gallons/ % Change
Change from Occupied Sq. from Base
GALLONS Base Year Ft Year
FY 05 Base Year) 7,822,800 20.0
FY 06 8,620,770 10% 22.1 10%
FY 07 9,289,766 19% 23.5 17%
FY 08 9,160,608 17% 22.0 9%
FY 09 9,045,384 16% 20.0 0%
FY 10 8,786,491 12% 16.5 -18%
18
22
Appendices
Appendix A - Definition of Terms
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Alternative fuels: identifies "non-traditional° alternatives to gasoline and regular diesel fuel. The
designation typically includes bio-diesel (i.e., B-5, B-100), alcohols (ethanol blends, i.e., E-10, E-85,
methanol), compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum as (LPG),
electricity/hybrid vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles, hydrogen. Orange County currently uses the following fuel
types for vehicles: bio-diesel (B-5), ethanol blend (E-10), compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid
gas/electric vehicles.
BTU usage: In North America, the term "BTU" is used to describe the heat value (energy content) of
fuels, and also to describe the power of heating and cooling systems, such as furnaces, stoves, and air
conditioners. The rate of heat transfer can be described by adding the dimension of time, for example,
BTU/hr or Btuh.
When measuring and comparing energy use between devices, systems or buildings, it is common to
convert all forms of energy to BTUs. Converting all forms of energy used in a facility to BTUs, allows
comparisons of BTUs per square foot between different buildings and energy-using systems.
MBTU is occasionally used as a standard unit of measurement for natural gas and provides a convenient
basis for comparing the energy content of various grades of natural gas and other fuels. One cubic foot of
natural gas produces approximately 1,000 BTUs, so 1,000 cu.ft. of gas is comparable to 1 MBTU. MBTU
is occasionally expressed as MMBTU, which is intended to represent a thousand thousand BTUs. 16
The table below provides a summary of conversions for the energy forms used in Orange County
buildings.
Energy Forms Converted to BTUs
Ener form Measured in E uivalent BTUs
Electrici Kilowatts k 3,412
Natural as Therms 100,000
Pro ane as Gallons 91,330
Fuel oil Gallons 139,000
Building envelope: refers to those building components that enclose conditioned spaces and through
which thermal energy is transferred to or from the outdoor environment.
Carbon footprint: is "the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event,
product or person". For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon
dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted. 17
Commissioning (includes new building commissioning re-commissioning and retro-commissioning of
existing buildings): is the process of verifying, in new construction, that all the subsystems for HVAC,
plumbing, Electrical, fire/Gfe safety, building envelopes, interior systems (example laboratory units),
sustainable systems, lighting, wastewater, controls, and building security achieve the owner's project
requirements as intended by the building owner and as designed by the building architects and
engineers. 18
16 htta://www.enerawortex.com/eneravdictionarv/british thermal unit (btu) mbtu mmbtu html
17 http://en.wikipedia.ore/wiki/Carbon footprint
23
18 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New construction Building commissioning
24
Appendix A - Definition of Terms
Commissioning for new buildings, "focuses on verifying and documenting the facility and all of its systems
and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's
project requirements.„19
Commissioning for existing buildings identifies causes and recommends solutions to typical problem
areas such as high energy costs and poor comfort or indoor air quality.20
Commissioning is applicable throughout the lifecycle of a building to assure that the building is built and
operates as intended. This assurance is needed not only at the beginning of a buildings life (i.e. design
and construction) but also when any renovation work occurs as well as periodically during the on-going
operation of a building.
New construction activities follow the construction process from pre-design planning through design,
construction and acceptance. The commissioning provider becomes an integral part of the building team.
New construction commissioning may include review and testing of all building systems (security, fire, life
and safety, HVAC, lighting, electrical, etc.). Commissioning ends with assuring the operators are trained
and O&M manuals are available and accurate.
Re-commissioning: No improvements made to systems should be considered one-time, permanent
improvements. Systems require on-going inspection and maintenance to ensure proper operation of
components. In general, 10-30 percent of energy usage can be saved in systems just by implementing
good maintenance practices.
Existing building commissioning/retro-commissioning is a periodic event in the life of an existing building
that applies a systematic investigation process for improving and optimizing a building's O&M. Much of
the service is similar to that for new-construction commissioning. The O&M staff work alongside the
commissioning authority as they check equipment and make adjustments. Retro-commissioning usually
focuses on energy-using equipment such as mechanical equipment, lighting, and related controls with the
goal of reducing energy waste, obtaining energy cost savings for the owner, and identifying and fixing
existing problems, using diagnostic testing and O&M tune-up activities.
Degree days: includes Heating Degree Days (HDD) and Cooling Degree Days (CDD). A degree day is
a measure of heating or cooling. Totalized degree days from an appropriate starting date are used within
energy monitoring and targeting to monitor the heating and cooling costs of climate controlled buildings,
while annual figures can be used for estimating future costs.
A zero-degree-day in Energy monitoring and targeting is when either heating or cooling consumption is at
a minimum, which is useful with power utility companies in predicting seasonal low points in energy
demand.21 Degree-day figures quantify how cold (or hot) the weather has been in a given region,
expressing the result as a single index number for each month or week.
Degree day calculations are necessary when comparing energy use for two- different time periods. For
example, the amount of energy required to cool the same building will be very different during a moderate
summer with average temperatures than it will be for a summer such as was experienced in 2010 with
record high temperatures. Similarly, more energy will be required to heat a building during periods with
below average temperatures. 2010 brought periods of record low temperatures as well, requiring more
energy to heat facilities than for the comparable time period in previous years.
Heating and cooling degree days are calculated by using the average temperature for the day (the high temperature
added to the low temperature and the sum divided by two) and then subtracting the average temperature from the
number 65 for heating degree days or subtracting 65 from the average temperature for cooling degree days. The
number 65 is used as the base number because most buildings and homes would be most comfortable and energy
efficient at our around 65 degrees.
19 ASHRAE Draft Guideline 0-2003
20 WA Department of General Administration
21 httn://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De~ee day
25
Appendix A - Definition of Terms
Example: On a summer day the high was 90 degrees and the low was 70 degrees. The average temperature was 80
degrees (90 + 70 = 160 / 2 = 80). The average temperature of 80 minus the base temperature of 65 yields 15 cooling
degree days (80 - 65 = 15). Cooling degree days can be used to calculate the amount of energy needed to cool
homes or businesses.
Example: On a winter day the high was 40 degrees and the low was 20 degrees. The average temperature was 30
degrees (40 + 20 = 60 / 2 = 30). The base temperature of 65 minus the average temperature of 20 yields 45 heating
degree days (65 - 20 = 40). Heating degree days can be used to calculate the amount of energy needed to heat
homes or businesses.22
Energy audit: An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy
conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system
without negatively affecting the output(s). Beyond simply identifying the sources of energy use, an
energy audit seeks to prioritize the energy uses according to the greatest to least cost effective
opportunities for energy savings.23
Common typesllevels of energy audits are distinguished below, although the actual tasks performed and
level of effort may vary with the consultant providing services under these broad headings.
Generally, four levels of analysis can be outlined (ASHRAE):
• Level 0 -Benchmarking: This first analysis consists of a preliminary Whole Building Energy Use
(WBEU) analysis based on the analysis of the historic utility use and costs and the comparison of
the performances of the buildings to those of similar buildings. This benchmarking of the studied
installation allows determining if further analysis is required;
Level I -Walk-through audit: Preliminary analysis made to assess building energy efficiency to
identify simple and low-cost improvements but also a list of energy conservation measures
(ECMs, or energy conservation opportunities, ECOs) to orient the future detailed audit. This
inspection is based on visual verifications, study of installed equipment and operating data and
detailed analysis of recorded energy consumption collected during the benchmarking phase;
• Level.ll -Detailed/General energy audit: Based on the results of the pre-audit, this type of energy
audit consists in energy use survey in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the studied
installation, a more detailed analysis of the facility, a breakdown of the energy use and a first
quantitative evaluation of the ECOs/ECMs selected to correct the defects or improve the existing
installation. This level of analysis can involve advanced on-site measurements and sophisticated
computer based simulation tools to evaluate precisely the selected energy retrofits;
• Level III -Investment-Grade audit: Detailed Analysis of Capital-Intensive Modifications focusing
on potential costly ECOs requiring rigorous engineering study.
Benchmarking: The impossibility of describing all possible situations that might be encountered during an
audit means that it is necessary to find a way of describing what constitutes good, average and bad
energy performance across a range of situations. The aim of benchmarking is to answer this question.
Benchmarking mainly consists in comparing the measured consumption with reference consumption ofi
other similar buildings or generated by simulation tools to identify excessive or unacceptable running
costs. As mentioned- before, benchmarking is also necessary to identify buildings presenting interesting
energy saving potential. An important issue in benchmarking is the use of performance indexes to
characterize the building.
These indexes can be:
• Comfort indexes, comparing the actual comfort conditions to the comfort requirements;
• Energy indexes, consisting in energy demands divided by heated/conditioned area, allowing
comparison with reference values of the indexes coming from regulation or similar buildings;
22 http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/faq/
23
26
Appendix A - Definition of Terms
• Energy demands, directly compared to "reference" energy demands generated by means of
simulation tools.
Walk-through or preliminary audit: The preliminary audit (altematively called a simple audit, screening
audit orwalk-through audit) is the simplest and quickest type of audit. It involves minimal interviews with
site-operating personnel, a brief review of facility utility bills and other operating data, and awalk-through
of the facility to become familiar with the building operation and to identify any glaring areas of energy
waste or inefficiency.
Typically, only major problem areas will be covered during this type of audit. Corrective measures are
briefly described, and quick estimates of implementation cost, potential operating cost savings, and
simple payback periods are provided. A list of energy conservation measures (ECMs, or energy
conservation opportunities, ECOs) requiring further consideration is also provided. This level of detail,
while not sufficient for reaching a final decision on implementing proposed measure, is adequate to
prioritize energy-efficiency projects and to determine the need for a more detailed audit.
General Audit: The general audit (alternatively called amini-audit, site energy audit or detailed energy
audit or complete site energy audit) expands on the preliminary audit described above by collecting more
detailed information about facility operation and by performing a more detailed evaluation of energy
conservation measures. Utility bills are collected fora 12 to 36 month period to allow the auditor to
evaluate the facility's energy/demand rate structures and energy usage profiles. If interval meter data is
available, the detailed energy profiles that such data makes possible will typically be analyzed for signs of
energy waste. Additional metering of specific energy-consuming systems is often performed to
supplement utility data. In-depth interviews with facility operating personnel are conducted to provide a
better understanding of major energy consuming systems and to gain insight into short and longer term
energy consumption patterns. This type of audit will be able to identify all energy-conservation measures
appropriate for the facility, given its operating parameters. A detailed financial analysis is performed for
each measure based on detailed implementation cost estimates, site-specific operating cost savings, and
the customer's investment criteria. Sufficient detail is provided to justify project implementation.
Investment-grade audit: In most corporate settings, upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure must
compete for capital funding with non~nergy-related investments. Both energy and non-energy
investments are rated on a single set of financial criteria that generally stress the expected return on
investment (ROI). The projected operating savings -from the implementation of energy projects must be
developed such that they provide a high level of confidence. In fact, investors often demand guaranteed
savings. The investment-grade audit expands on the detailed audit described above and relies on a
complete engineering study in order to detail technical and economical issues necessary to justify the
investment related to the transformations.2a
Energv reduction: Reductions in the amount of energy' (electricity, natural gas, etc.) used by a piece of
equipment or an entire system of facility may or may not lead to a reduction in energy billings. Increases
in the unit cost of energy (kWh, therms) over time may outweigh savings from reduced energy use.
However, billing increase would have been substantially greater had reduction measures not been taken.
Energv Star ~ Portfolio Manager: Energy Star offers a proven energy management strategy that helps
in measuring current energy performance, setting goals, tracking savings, and rewarding improvements.
EPA provides an innovative energy performance rating system which businesses have already used for
more than 130,000 buildings across the country. EPA also recognizes top performing buildings with the
ENERGY STAR designation.
Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy
and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Portfolio
Manager can help you set priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements,
and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance.
24 http://en.wikiyedia.orQ/wiki/Ener~y audit
27
Appendix A - Definition of Terms
For many facilities, you can rate their energy performance on a scale of 1-100 relative to similar buildings
nationwide. Your building is not compared to the other buildings entered into Portfolio Manager to
determine your ENERGY STAR rating. Instead, statistically representative models are used to compare
your building against similar buildings from a national survey conducted by the Department of Energy's
Energy Information Administration. This national survey, known as the Commercial Building Energy
Consumption Survey (CBECS), is conducted every four years, and gathers data on building
characteristics and energy use from thousands of buildings across the United States. Your building's peer
group of comparison is those buildings in the CBECS survey that have similar building and operating
characteristics. Arating of 50 indicates that the building, from an energy consumption standpoint,
performs better than 50% of all similar buildings nationwide, while a rating of 75 indicates that the building
performs better than 75% of all similar buildings nationwide.
EPA's energv performance ratinq,system, based on source energv, accounts for the impact of weather
variations (see °Degree Days.") as well as changes in key physical and operating characteristics of each
building. Buildings rating 75 or greater may qualify for the ENERGY STAR label.
EPA's Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey includes several different types of facilities, not
all of which are easily comparable with local government facilities, especially those that have mixed
usage.
Orange County's use of Portfolio Manager, and the Energy Star program are discussed in the "Energy
Use: Reporting and Methodology" section of this report, which presents the data analysis procedures for
County facilities.
Geo-thermal HVAC systems (ground source heat pumps): A geothermal heat pump, ground source
heat pump (GSHP), or ground heat pump is a central heating and/or cooling system that pumps heat to or
from the ground. It uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer). This
design takes advantage of the moderate temperatures in the ground to boost efficiency and reduce the
operational costs of heating and cooling systems.
Depending on latitude, the upper 3 meters (9.8 ft) of Earth's surface maintains a nearly constant
temperature between 10 and 16 °C (50 and 60 °F) ~ Like a refrigerator or air conditioner, these systems
use a heat pump to force the transfer of heat from there. Heat pumps can transfer heat from a cool space
to a warm space, against the natural direction of flow, or they can enhance the natural flow of heat from a
warm area to a cool one.
Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are among the most energy efficient technologies for providing
HVAC and water heatingzs
Green buildings/~EED/TJCOG High Performance Guidelines: LEED (Leadership in Energy &
Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-
party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies intended to
improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, COZ emissions reduction,
improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is intended to provide building owners
and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green
building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving
green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green
building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and
25 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal heat~ump
28
Appendix A - Definition of Terms
affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public
policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.
The aim of the TJCOG High Performance Guidelines is to provide a roadmap for the design and
construction of efficient, cost-effective, durable, and environmentally sound buildings and landscapes. Its
intended audience is local governments and schools in the region served by Triangle J Council of
Governments. This region includes the 3,300 square miles in North Carolina that lie within the counties of
Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Orange, and Wake, an area with a population of just over one million.
The Guidelines are designed to be an expandable document in which future case studies and technology
examples can be added.
Gross Square Footage (GSF)/Occupiable/occuaied square footage: Unit of measurement of a
building from outside the exterior walls. Example: An office building that was 100 feet by 100 feet as
measured by outside walls has an area of 10,000 gross square feet. This is greater than the Usable Area.
zs
The occupiable part of an office or a building floor; generally measured from "paint to paint" inside the
permanent walls and to the middle of partitions separating one tenant's space from
that of other tenants on the same floor. There is no deduction for interior beams or columns. 27
The occupied part of a building is the portion of the occupiable square footage actually in use at a given
time. For example, the first floor of the Whiffed Human Services Center, although in occupiable condition,
was unoccupied from December 2009 to the time of this report and the basement and second floors ere
unoccupied from January 2010 to the time of this report.. As such, the occupied square footage of the
building was significantly less than the occupiable square footage.
Life cycle cost analvsis: All costs over the life of a project are considered, including owning, operating,
maintaining and eventually disposing of a system over the useful life of the system. All costs are adjusted
or discounted to reflect the time-value of money.
Payback analvsis: Payback analysis focuses on how quickly the initial investment can be recovered and
is therefore not a measure of long-term economic performance.
26
httn://www. answers.com/topic/gross-square-foot
27 http://www.answers.com/topic/usable-area
Appendix B -Energy Policy
Energy Conservation Policy
A. General
Orange County's "Environmental Responsibility in County Government" goal
includes the objective: Initiate policies and programs that conserve energy, reduce
fuel/utility/resource consumption..." In support of this goal, the County has adopted
this Energy Conservation Policy.
Energy cost for electricity, natural gas, propane and fuel oil for County facilities is a
significant County cost. Beyond this, energy consumption has significant
environmental impacts. As a result, it is both necessary and beneficial for the
County to adopt a policy of energy conservation and efficiency.
Water conservation and vehicle fuel conservation will be addressed in separate
policies.
B. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to reduce the County government's energy
consumption, wherever possible, and improve energy efficiency for that energy that
must be used throughout Orange County government buildings, consistent with the
need for safe and secure County facilities.
C. Policy Goals
The policy addresses both short and long term goals.
1. Short Term (One to Two Years)
• Establish the policy foundation of responsibilities, planning, programs,
standards, performance measures and the like to manage the County
government's energy use and conserve energy.
• Manage energy and other utility consumption to minimize use to the greatest
extent possible while maintaining safe and acceptable work conditions.
• Achieve a reduction in average energy consumption per square foot annually.
2. Long Term (Three Years or More)
29
• Incorporate energy conservation and efficiency systems, techniques and
design in all major renovations, system replacements and new construction.
30
Appendix B - Energy Policy
• Support change to State utility budgeting and public utility commission policy
that fosters monetary incentives to make energy conservation and efficiency
efforts economically attractive and streamline program justification
requirements so that projects can be executed within a timely interval and
savings quickly realized.
D. Scope
1. Facilities
This policy applies to County owned and leased buildings, whether occupied by
the County, the courts or other agencies.
2. Equipment
This policy applies to County owned or leased equipment, including computer
equipment.
3. Energy Sources
This policy applies to use of electricity, natural gas, propane and fuel oil.
E. Responsibilities
1. Energy Conservation Task Group
The Manager appoints an Energy Conservation Task Group that includes the:
• County Manager
• One County Commissioner
• Assistant County Managers
• Chief Information Officer
• Cooperative Extension Director
• County Engineer
• Energy Conservation Manager
• Environment and Resource Conservation Director
• Personnel Director
• Public Works Director
• Purchasing and Central Services Director
• Others as appointed by the Manager.
The Task Group provides direction, counsel and oversight as to implementation
of the Energy Conservation Policy. As necessary, the Task Group addresses
questions of policy interpretation and adherence.
Appendix B - Energy Policy
2. Energy Conservation Manager
The Manager appoints an Energy Conservation Manager who provides
leadership, analytical, monitoring, coordination and communication support to the
energy conservation initiative. Among other things, the Energy Conservation
Manager:
• Coordinates development and implementation of the County's annual energy
conservation action plan.
• Tracks and assesses the County's energy conservation performance and
progress, including building data collection and analytical tools.
• Working through the departments involved, identifies and appoints a volunteer
Building Energy Representative for each County facility.
• Conducts spot check energy audits after normal business hours to assess the
County's adherence to policies and standards.
3. Building Energy~Representatives
The appointed volunteer Building Energy Representatives serve as:
• A resource to building occupants about policies and responsibilities.
• "Energy conservation champions" to support awareness of energy conservation
and goal achievement.
• Field representatives to the Energy Conservation Manager, observing and
reporting to the Conservation Manager on building conformity during normal
business hours with energy conservation standards such as those for heating
and air conditioning thermostat settings.
4. Public Works Department
The Public Works Department is responsible for:
• Up fitting as authorized and maintaining County facilities in accordance with the
requirements of this policy, including installation of energy conservation
equipment and verification of correct equipment settings and operation.
31
• Identifying situations above and beyond those envisioned in this policy that may
require individual analysis and action to provide a comfortable, functional work
environment.
Appendix B - Energy Policy
5. Department Heads
Department heads are responsible for:
• Communicating the County's energy conservation goals and policies to staff,
providing guidance and promoting adherence.
• Working with the Public Works Department and Energy Conservation Manager
to identify energy reduction techniques or systems that can be implemented
without affecting service delivery to the department's customers as well as
bringing to their attention any areas that require further action to address.
6. Employees
County employees are responsible for:
• Becoming knowledgeable about the County's energy conservation policies and
initiatives and complying with these policies.
• Advising the supervisor of any circumstance that prevents adherence to the
County's policies.
• Bringing forward ideas and suggestions for energy conservation and efficiency
that may not have been identified to them.
F. Energy Conservation Action Plan
1. The Energy Conservation Manager, in conjunction with the Energy Task Group,
Public Works Department and others involved coordinates the development of an
annual "Energy Conservation Action Plan."
2. This annual plan identifies specific actions to be implemented, proposed or
estimated time lines and responsibilities for implementation.
3. The action plan is submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for review
and approval, in coordination with the annual budget process.
4. The action plan is reviewed and updated annually along with evaluation of the
previous year's performance, during the annual budget process.
G. Reporting, Benchmarking and Performance Measurement
1. Reporting
32
In conjunction with the Public Works department, the Energy Conservation
33
Appendix B - Energy Policy
Manager:
• Obtains information for all billing periods for each energy utility (electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil and propane gas) to provide reports on a monthly/quarterly
and annual basis assessing progress, by building and/or department where
feasible as well as for the County as a whole, in reducing energy demand. This
includes analysis of the information and assessment of trends.
• Presents reports to department heads and the County Manager to aid in
determining if conservation efforts are meeting goals or additional efforts are
required.
• Presents reports to the Board of County Commissioners to advise them of
progress in conserving energy.
2. Benchmarking/Performance Measurement
The Energy Conservation Manager uses reporting information to benchmark and
measure performance:
• From year-to-year (aggregate and by individual building) adjusted for heat
and cooling degree days, humidity levels, and the like in keeping with
accepted industry practices, and
• Compared to results for organizations located in similar geographic areas.
H. Energy Use Standards
1. General
The intent of the energy conservation policy and program is to achieve
reductions in energy consumption while maintaining reasonable comfort levels
for building occupants.
Initial temperature set points were based upon ASHRAE comfort chart for 50
percent relative humidity, and employees at light work.
2. Heating and Air Conditioning Standards
Except as otherwise noted, temperature set points are based on the standards
(Attachment) of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and are as follows:
Cooling Season Set Points 75° F - 78° F
Heating Season Set Points 68° F - 72° F
34
Appendix B - Energy Policy
Occupied air conditioning temperature settings are not set below .75 degrees and
heating settings are not set above 72 degree, except for operations which require
other settings based on function such as Health Department examination rooms,
medical laboratories, computer equipment rooms, library stacks, recreation
rooms, animal quarters or the like.
3. Use of Windows
Windows are to be kept closed, unless specifically authorized such as when the
HVAC system is disengaged, because open windows throw the HVAC system off
balance, and interfere with providing uniform heating or cooling in large buildings.
4. Auxiliary Heating and Cooling Sources
Personal portable space heaters are not allowed because of their excessive
energy
consumption, fire code and safety issues. If a room is not consistently within the
heating/air conditioning set-point range, Public Works should be notified so that
the problem can be addressed. If building conditions are such that acceptable
temperatures cannot be achieved by the HVAC system, Public works takes
necessary measures to resolve/rectify. If auxiliary heating or fans are required,
Public Works will provide these.
5. Night, Weekend and Holiday Temperature Set-backs
The heating temperatures are set to 60 degrees for all buildings for periods when
buildings are not normally occupied. The air conditioning temperatures. are set to
80 degrees when buildings are not normally occupied. Normal occupancy for
most buildings is from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This means that from 7:30 a.m.,
until 6:00 p.m., the temperature will be within. the set points defined in Item H2
above.
Note: Exceptions to the set backs are made for those functions that must remain
operational during these periods such as for night meetings, Emergency
Management or the Jail. Also some buildings have unique requirements for
longer startup times to reach heating or cooling. set points.
If a building has complete digital control, and individual zone or office
temperature control, occupants will be able to override the schedule to provide
heating/cooling for their office at any time, for a limited period (typically two hour
intervals).
I. Lighting Policy
35
Appendix B -Energy Policy
1. Office and conference room lights are to be turned off whenever rooms are likely
to be unoccupied for more than 15 minutes.
2. Each department or agency shall assign an employee to turn off common area
lighting other than corridor lights at the end of the business day. Lights are to be
turned off even if it is anticipated that custodial staff will soon be in the area.
3. Custodial staff are responsible for turning lights on as needed basis while
working; that is, turning on lights only while an office or room is being cleaned,
and turning lights off as soon as cleaning has been completed. Custodial staff
turns off corridor and related lighting prior to leaving the building at the
completion of cleaning.
4. Parking lot lights and streetlights located near buildings are typically owned by
power companies such as Duke Power and are controlled by photocells or
timers. Costs for this lighting are on a flat rate basis, and turning them off does
not result in cost savings regardless of usage.
5. Athletic Field lights are to be operated only as needed. They should not be in
operation during daylight hours. Lights generally will not be operated on
weekends, except for special events.
J. Refrigerators, Microwaves, and Similar Devices
As a longer-term goal, the County will assess the use of refrigerators, microwaves
and similar devices and possible replacement of less energy efficient equipment with
more energy efficient equipment and approaches.
K. Computer Equipment
The Chief Information Officer assesses energy consumption of personal computers,
printers and related devices and recommends to the County Manager guidelines for
turning on or off and setting the "sleep" modes that reflect the technology in place.
The County Manager issues guidelines for such equipment that apply to all County
departments. Later as experience is gained this will be issued as policy.
L. Programs
To support the Energy Conservation Policy and initiative, the County implements a
variety of programs including:
1. Employee Awareness
The County conducts communications programs to promote employee
awareness of the need for energy conservation. This includes such activities as
distribution of this Energy Conservation Policy, reminders via pamphlets, e-mails,
36
Appendix B -Energy Policy
Orange Alive, coverage in new employee orientation, and opportunities at
employee events to reinforce the conservation ethic.
2. Incentives
Incentive, programs will be developed to improve compliance and acceptance by
County employees and other building occupants. These may include building
versus building contests, department versus department contests, financial
incentives, preferred parking and the like.
3. Preventive Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance procedures are used to obtain optimal
energy-efficient operation of equipment.
4. Repairs
Repairs/replacement of equipment take- into consideration the most cost
effective solution over the life of the repair/equipment. Considerations shall
include future maintainability, improved operation, improvements to energy
efficiency, requirement for additional or reduced Preventive Maintenance, and
the like.
5. Energy Efficiency Retrofits
The County bases energy efficiency retrofitting project priorities upon the
availability of capital improvements plan funds and maintenance needs such as
the condition of the equipment. The County develops and maintains a priority list
of retrofit needs.
6. Renovations
Renovations to County facilities, whether major or minor, are to meet standards
for energy-efficient equipment and design.
7. New Construction
New construction is required to follow energy efficient standards as set forth by
the Guidelines for Sustainable Public Facility Design and Development. Life-
cycle cost analyses are required, and energy efficient designs, including Passive
and Active Solar systems, natural lighting, cogeneration and thermal storage, are
considered as feasible.
8. Equipment Selection
37
Appendix B - Energy Policy
The selection of all equipment procured for Orange County, to include computer
equipment, printers, copy machines, equipment, refrigerators, and so forth is to
consider carefully the anticipated energy use and available energy saving
devices.
9. Automation
With the direction and leadership of the Energy Task Group, each County
department pursues automation solutions, as feasible, to replace travel-intensive,
paper-intensive or other energy consuming activities.
Appendix B - Energy Policy
Attachment
From American Society of Heating, Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards
Thermal comfort is that condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the
thermal environment. There are large variations, both physiologically and
psychologically, from person to person, which makes it difficult to satisfy
everybody in a space. The environmental conditions required for comfort are
not the same for everyone. However, extensive laboratory and field data have
been collected that provide the necessary statistical data to define conditions
that a specified percentage of occupants will find thermally comfortable.
httg://industries.bnet.com/whitepaper aspx?scname=Plumbing+and+HVAC+E
guigment&docid=114190
2. This standard specifies the combinations of indoor space environment and
personal factors that will produce thermal environmental conditions
acceptable to 80% or more of the occupants within a space. The
environmental factors addressed are temperature, thermal radiation, humidity,
and air speed; the personal factors are those of activity and clothing.
http://www.constructionbook com/xa/ASP/ProductlD 3695/id 402/sublD 636/gx/
default2.htm
3. ASHRAE Standard 55-1992 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human
Occupancy, recommends the following acceptable temperature ranges at relative
humidity (RH) of 50% and air speed less than 0.15 m/sec. (30 fpm).
Acceptable Temperatures
Season Clothing ~~~~~~~ Temperature
Winter Heavy siacks, long sleeve shirt ~ 20-23.5°C
and/or sweater (68-75°F)
i µ € I
Summer ` Light slacks and short sleeve- 23-26°C
shirt (73-79°F)
38
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys agents/hot cold html
Appendix C- Water Conversation Policy
Water Conservation Policy For County Facilities
A. General
Orange County's "Environmental Responsibility in County Government" goal
includes the objective: Initiate policies and programs that conserve energy, reduce
fuel/utility/resource consumption..." In support of this goal, the County has adopted
this Water Conservation Policy.
The cost for water for County facilities is a significant County cost. Beyond this,
water consumption has significant environmental impacts, including direct local
impacts. As a result, it is both necessary and beneficial for the County to adopt a
policy of water conservation and efficiency for County government.
Energy conservation and vehicle fuel conservation are addressed in separate
policies.
B. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to reduce the County government's water consumption,
wherever possible, and improve the efficiency of use for that water that must be
used in Orange County government facilities.
C. Policy Goals
• Establish the policy foundation of responsibilities, planning, programs, standards,
performance measures and the like to manage the County government's water
use and conserve water.
• Manage water use to minimize use to the greatest extent possible while
maintaining safe and acceptable work conditions.
• Achieve a reduction in average water consumption per square foot annually.
• Incorporate water conservation systems, devices, and design in renovations,
replacements and new construction.
D. Scope
4. Facilities
39
This policy applies to County owned and leased buildings, whether occupied by
the County, the courts or other agencies.
40
Appendix C- Water Conversation Policy
5. Water Sources
This policy applies to use of water from municipal sources and wells.
E. Responsibilities
1. Energy Task Group
As provided in the County's energy conservation policy, the Manager appoints an
Energy Conservation Task Group. The Task Group provides direction, counsel,
and oversight as to implementation of the Water Conservation Policy. As
necessary the Task Group addresses questions of policy interpretation and
adherence. The Task Group also seeks input on innovative tools and techniques
to support water conservation in County facilities.
2. Public Works Department
The Public Works Department is responsible for:
• Up fitting as authorized and maintaining County facilities in accordance with the
requirements of this policy, including installation of water conserving devices
and verification of correct equipment settings and operation.
• Development of the annual Water Conservation Action Plan and identifying any
associated costs, as part of the annual budget process.
7. Department Heads
Department heads are responsible for:
• Communicating the County's water conservation goals and policies to staff,
providing guidance and promoting adherence.
8. Employees
County employees are responsible for:
• Becoming knowledgeable about the County's water conservation policies and
initiatives and complying with these policies.
• Advising the supervisor of any circumstance that prevents adherence to the
County's policies.
• Bringing forward ideas and suggestions for water conservation that may not
have been identified to them.
41
Appendix C- Water Conversation Policy
F. Water Conservation Action Plan
5. The Energy Task Group, Public Works Department and others involved
coordinate the development of an annual "Water Conservation Action Plan."
6. This annual plan identifies specific actions to be implemented or proposed and
estimated time lines and responsibilities for implementation.
7. The action plan is submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for review
and approval, in coordination with the annual budget process.
8. The action plan is reviewed and updated annually along with evaluation of the
previous year's performance, during the annual budget process.
G. Reporting, Benchmarking and Performance Measurement
3. Reporting
The Public Works department:
• Obtains information for all billing periods for each water billing to provide
reports on a monthly/quarterly and annual basis assessing progress, by
building and/or department where feasible as well as for the County as a whole,
in reducing water demand. This includes analysis of the information and
assessment of trends.
• Presents reports to department heads and the County Manager to aid in
determining if conservation efforts are meeting goals or additional efforts are
required.
• Presents reports to the Board of County Commissioners to advise them of
progress in conserving water.
4. Benchmarking/Performance .Measurement
Reporting information is used to benchmark and measure performance:
• From year-to-year (aggregate and by individual building) in keeping with
accepted industry practices, and
• Compared to results for organizations located in similar geographic areas.
H. Water Use Standards
2. General
42
Appendix C- Water Conversation Policy
The intent of the water conservation policy and program is to achieve reductions
in water consumption while maintaining reasonable comfort levels for building
occupants.
6. Waterless or low-flow fixtures are used for any replacement fixtures, unless
technically impractical.
7. The County gives preference to drought-tolerant plants when new or replacement
plants and/or trees are required for landscaping. Large areas of grass are
avoided in favor of alternative plantings and landscaping techniques, whenever
possible.
8. Irrigation is limited to critical needs to support survival of plants, and if allowed by
local watering restrictions. Permanently installed irrigation systems are preferred
to provide most efficient distribution of water.
9. Vehicle washing is performed only as permitted by local watering restrictions. If
performed, it is done only with water conserving spraying devices rather than an
open garden hose. Rain collection for vehicle washing is pursued as feasible.
I. Programs
To support the Water Conservation Policy and initiative, the County implements a
variety of programs including:
3. Employee Awareness/Public Awareness
The County conducts communications programs to promote employee
awareness of the need for water conservation. This includes such activities as
distribution of this Water Conservation Policy, reminders via pamphlets, e-mails,
Orange Alive, coverage in new employee orientation, and opportunities at
employee events to reinforce the conservation ethic.
As appropriate, the County also informs the public of water conservation
measures in use such in County restrooms or in grounds care activities.
4. Incentives
Incentive programs will be developed to improve compliance and acceptance by
County employees and other building occupants. These may include building
versus building contests, department versus department contests, financial
incentives, preferred parking, recognition of employees who demonstrate the
conservation ethic and the like.
10. Preventive Maintenance
43
Appendix C- Water Conversation Policy
Preventive maintenance procedures are used to eliminate water loss through
drips and leaks
11. Repairs
Repairs/replacement of equipment take into consideration the most cost
effective solution over the life of the repair/equipment. Such consideration
includes improvements to water efficiency.
12. Low Demand Retrofits
The County determines priority needs and pursues water conserving system
retrofitting, based on the availability of funds and maintenance needs such as the
condition of the equipment.
13. New Construction
New construction is required to follow water efficiency standards as set forth by
the Guidelines for Sustainable Public Facility Design and Development.
Consideration is given to the feasibility of rainwater collection for non-potable
uses
44
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
Vehicle Fuel Conservation Policy
A. General
Orange County's "Environmental Responsibility in County Government" goal
includes the objective: "Initiate policies and programs that conserve energy, reduce
fuellutility/resource consumption..." In support of this goal, the County has adopted
this Vehicle Fuel Conservation Policy.
Costs for gasoline and diesel fuel for County vehicles and motorized equipment are
significant. Beyond this, fuel consumption for vehicles and motorized equipment has
significant environmental impacts. As a result, it is both necessary and beneficial for
the County to adopt a policy of fuel conservation and efficiency.
Water conservation and energy conservation for County buildings are addressed in
separate policies.
B. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to reduce the County government's vehicle fuel
consumption, wherever possible; improve fuel efficiency; and maximize the use of
alternative fuels for that fuel that must be used to operate Orange County vehicles
and motorized equipment, consistent with the need for safe, and reliable County
vehicles and motorized equipment.
C. Policy Goals
• Establish the policy foundation of responsibilities, planning, programs, standards,
performance measures and the like to manage the County government's vehicle
fuel use and conserve fuel.
• Manage vehicle and motorized equipment fuel consumption to minimize use to
the greatest extent possible while maintaining safe and reliable vehicles and
motorized equipment.
• Provide for the use of alternative fuel (which- may include compressed natural
gas, bio-diesel, hybrid gas/electric, or the like) vehicles and motorized
equipment, unless service needs cannot be met with an alternative fuel vehicle or
motorized equipment - as determined by the County Manager.
• Purchase vehicles and motorized equipment that meet service delivery needs
with the greatest fuel efficiency possible whether alternative or traditional fuel.
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
• Achieve a reduction in average fuel consumption per mile annually for vehicles
and per hour of operation for motorized equipment.
• Support change to State agency policies that fosters monetary incentives to
make fuel efficiency and alternative fuel efforts economically attractive and to
streamline program justification requirements so that projects can be executed
within a timely interval, and savings quickly realized.
D. Scope
This policy applies to all County owned and leased vehicles and motorized
equipment and the operators of these vehicles and equipment.
E. Responsibilities
1. Energy Conservation Task Group
As provided in the County's Energy Conservation Policy, the Manager appoints
an Energy Conservation Task Group. The Task Group provides direction,
counsel and oversight as to implementation of the Vehicle Fuel Conservation
Policy. As necessary, the Task Group addresses questions of policy
interpretation and adherence.
2. Purchasing and Central Services Director
The Purchasing and Central Services Director manages the vehicle acquisition or
replacement process as provided in this policy.
3. County Manager
The County Manager's advance approval is required for purchase of any new or
replacement vehicle or motorized equipment.
4. Public Works Department
The Public Works Department is responsible for:
• Performing preventive and corrective maintenance for County vehicles and
motorized equipment to ensure maximum fuel efficiency is achieved.
• Preparing the annual vehicle replacement report.
5. Department Heads
45
Department Heads are responsible for:
46
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
• Communicating the County's fuel conservation goals and policies to staff,
providing guidance and promoting adherence.
• The assignment of departmental vehicles to departmental staff.
• For vehicles not assigned to a single individual, designating one operator and
one backup operator to monitor use and schedule preventive maintenance
service as needed.
• Communicating and justifying any request for new and replacement vehicles
and motorized equipment as part of the annual budget process.
• Monitoring employee conformance with requirements for vehicle and motorized
equipment maintenance, including scheduling of preventive maintenance
service.
6. Employees
Employees who operate County vehicles and motorized equipment are
responsible for ensuring that:
• Tire and fluid inspections for vehicles are performed (by self, or by Motor Pool
staff) according to published directions from the Public Works Department.
• The assigned vehicle is scheduled and delivered to Public Works for
preventive maintenance service within time and/or mileage intervals identified
by Public Works.
• Corrective maintenance is scheduled with Public Works as soon as possible
when a problem with the vehicle is encountered or identified.
• Vehicles are operated according to all applicable laws and rules of the road.
This increases fuel conservation and safety.
• Information about fuel transactions other than those through the automated
fuel system are reported to Public Works as provided by Public Works
procedures.
F. Vehicle Operation
1. Vehicles are to be operated in keeping with manufacturers recommendations and
specifications, and applicable County policy.
2. To maximize fuel efficiency, vehicles are to be serviced at intervals identified by
the Public Works Department.
47
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
3. To meet department specific service levels while achieving the highest fuel
economy, departments, where applicable, use geographic information systems
(GIS) or other industry tools and standards to design and implement vehicular
routes/schedules and deployment strategies/schedules.
G. Fuel Conservation Action Plan
1. Public Works, in consultation with the Energy Task Group and others involved,
coordinates the development of an annual "Vehicle Fuel Conservation Action
Plan." The annual action plan includes recommended charge back rates to
departments for vehicle operation costs and recommendations for the annual
"Vehicle Replacement Report."
2. The annual plan identifies specific actions to be implemented, proposed and
estimated time lines and responsibilities for implementation.
3. The action plan is submitted to the Board of Commissioners for review and
approval, in coordination with the annual budget process.
4. The action plan is reviewed and updated annually along with evaluation of the
previous year's performance during the annual budget process.
H. Charge Back Rates
As part of the annual budget process, vehicle cost charge back rates to departments
are set each year. Among other things, these take account of fuel and repair costs
and are designed to promote the use of alternatively fueled and fuel efficient
vehicles.
I. Vehicle Acquisition
The Purchasing and Central Services Director develops, communicates and
maintains a written process for the systematic consideration of vehicle acquisition
needs (whether new or replacement) and the decision-making as to the type of
vehicle to be purchased, including whether it is an alternative fuel vehicle (which
may include compressed natural gas, bio-diesel, hybrid gas/electric, etc.).
Among other things, this process provides for the following:
• Determination as to whether the vehicle needs to be acquired or replaced.
• Determination as to whether an alternative fuel vehicle will meet the service
needs.
• Whether an alternative fuel vehicle that will meet the needs is available on
State contract; or if not available on State contract otherwise available; or
48
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
whether a retrofit of a standard fuel vehicle is an option.
• Analysis of the costs of the alternative vehicle versus standard fuel vehicle
• Report and recommendation to the County Manager on vehicle acquisition and
replacement.
• County Manager decision as to the specific vehicle to be acquired.
2. As part of the Item 11 process, Public Works prepares an annual "Vehicle
Replacement Report" which includes recommended priorities for vehicle
replacement. This report considers the following factors in prioritizing vehicle
replacements:
• Miles driven to date (odometer reading).
• Mileage (miles per gallon) compared to baseline/industry standards for
comparable vehicle.
• Repair and maintenance cost per mile for most recent 12 months, compared to
baseline/industry standards for comparable vehicles.
• Vehicle use (front-line emergency response vehicle versus Motor Pool fleet
vehicle).
• Overall mechanical assessment by Public Works staff.
3. Vehicles identified for replacement are removed from service within one month of
the replacement being placed in service, except with the written approval of the
County Manager for the vehicle to continue in service.
J. Monitoring and Reporting
The Public Works automated fuel system provides records of most fuel
transactions. Public Works obtains information regarding fuel received at other
locations (UNC Chapel Hill, Town of Chapel Hill, etc.) and adjusts the
transactions database accordingly. These data are used to create performance
feports.
2. Information is used to benchmark performance:
• From year-to-year for total miles driven and average miles per gallon.
49
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
• Compare to results for similar vehicles/vehicle use in other local
governments.
In addition to actual vehicle fuel performance, the County reviews other
benchmarks such as reducing reliance on fossil fuel vehicles.
K. Programs
To support the vehicle fuel conservation, the County implements a variety of
programs including:
1. Employee Awareness
The County conducts communications programs to promote employee
awareness of the need for fuel conservation. This includes activities such as
distribution of the Vehicle Fuel Conservation Policy, reminders via pamphlets, e-
mails, Orange Alive, coverage in new employee orientation, and opportunities at
employee events to reinforce the conservation ethic.
2. Incentives
Incentive programs will be developed to improve compliance and acceptance by
employees who operate County vehicles. These may include department versus
department contests, financial incentives, preferred parking and the like.
3. Preventive Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance procedures are used to obtain optimal
fuel-efficient operation of all equipment.
4. Repairs
Repairs/replacement of all vehicles and motorized equipment take into
consideration the most cost-effective solution over the life of the
repair/equipment. This includes future maintainability, improved operation,
improvements to fuel efficiency, requirement for additional or reduced preventive
maintenance, and the like.
5. Innovative Strategies
The County considers and pursues innovative strategies that may reduce the
need for gasoline consumption such as video conferencing, "smart travel" with
other departments and County car pooling, including educating employees about
these.
50
Appendix D- Vehicle Fuel Conversation Policy
Appedix E
Appedix E
UnitlD Nama of r Wore
BLDG007-2
COURTHOUSE -NEW BATTLE COURT ADDITION - 1997
1987
1997
3,885
3,885 NOIES
BLDG020 COURTS ANNEX 1960 1997 3,500 Facility unoccupied el time this report was prepared (03/2011)
BLDG024-3 JAIL ADDITION - 1997 1997 1997 17,536 17,536
BLDG040 501 WEST FRANKLIN 1997 7,408 7
408 InGudes three suites occupied by Visitor"a Bureau, two suites leased to Terra Dolta, Inc., and one suite to be occupied by Court
, system staff
BLDG041 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER 1997 13,232 13,232
BLDG023-1 SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER 1997 1998 28,612 28,612 Some DSS staff relocated to Hillsborough Commons, 2010
BLDG055 129 KING STREET 2001 7,060 7,060 B
ildi
f
BLDG u
ng
ormerly occupied by Purchasing 8 Central Services until their relocation to West Campus Office Building, 2009
057-400 CENTRAL ORANGE SENIOR CTR -STE 400 0 2001 2,000 Leased facility occupied by Dept on Aging until relocation to Central Orange Senior Center
2009
BLDG057-500 CENTRAL ORANGE SENIOR CTR -STE 500 0 2001 2,000 ,
Leased facility occupied by Dept on Aging until relocation to Central Orange Senior Center
2009
BLDG062 OPT MODULAR OFFICE BUILDING 2003 2,520 2,520 ,
Leased modular building, occupied by Orange Public Transportation
BLDG057-600 CENTRAL ORANGE SENIOR CTR -STE 600 0 2004 2,000 Leased facility occupied by Dept on Aging untN relocation to Central Orange Senior Center, 2009
362 017
BLDG067 EMERGENCY SERVICES (MEADOWLANDS 1989 2005 22,069 22,069 Emergency Services staff relocated to this facility from 1814 New Hope Church Road
BLDG068 ROBERT & PEARL SEYMOUR SENIOR CENTER 2006 2007 25,000 25,000 Department on Aging programs relocated to this facility from Gallerta location In 2007
BLDG078 GATEWAY CENTER 2007 2008 22,846 22,846 County occupies top two Boors of this facility
BLDG080 PUBLIC MARKET HOUSE 2007 2008 3,453 3,453 Fatality not maintained by AMS
BLDG082-1 HILLSBOROUGH COMMONS PHASE 1 1989 2006 56,000 56,000 Renovated 2009, occupied by DSS early 2010
BLDG069 CENTRAL ORANGE SENIOR CENTER (~ SPORTSPLEX) 2006 2009 15,000 15
000 Consolidated Hillsborough area senior programs and services from EBand CC, Northern Center and leased space in the
, Meadowlands complex
ADULT DAY TREATMENT 2008 2009 4,000 4,000
BLDG078 WEST CAMPUS OFFICE BUILDING 2009 2009 46,716 46,716
BLDG081 ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER 2008 2009 23,500 23,500 Consolidated Mimal Services programs from Revere Road in Hillsborough (Animal Control), 501 W Frenklin Street
(administration) and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chapel Hill (sheltering and adoption operations)
BLDG083 JUSTICE FACILITY 2006 2009 40,227 40,227 M
ddit
BLDG084
M ajor a
ion to the New Courthouse, included relocation of Sheriff Department operations from 144 E. Margaret Lene
AIN LIBRARY 2009 2009 23,454 23,454
pan n Became the new home of the Orane County Library following relocation from Whined Human Services Center in 2009
644,262
43.61078472
N
Appendix F
Facilities and Vehicle Energy Conservation Annual Performance Report
Baseline
Use (FY10) FY11 FY12
(;nal ~efiul l:nal
FY13 FY14 FY15
Ene Million BTUs er 1 000 S uare Feet
110.0 ---
105.6 - --
101.2
96
6 vim
92
4 nciua~ uoai
88
0 r~cmai
. . .
Fuel Consum lion Total Gallons 240,813 235,997 231
180 226
364 221
548 216
732
, , , ,
FuelEtflclenc Mlles erGallon 12.57 12.82 13.07 13
32 13
58 13
83
. . .
Water Consum lion Gallons er S uare Foot 16.5 16.38 16.27 16.15 16.03 15.91
FY 18
Goal Actual FY
Goal 17
Actual
82.5 77
210 711 204 691
14.14 14.46
15.79 15.68
CJ7
W
~~,
~ `~~~ t ~~~~f \
~~`~-~'
Utility and Fuel
Conservation
Inaugural Report
Board of County Commissioners ~'
June 7, 2011 ~.
c~
.~
~~,.~~G^~t ~O~
fix/ f~~~ta
Objectives
Purpose of Tea m
Utility & Fuel Use
Work Plan for Conservation and Efficiency
~,~,
;`~~
Background
Economics
Orange County Leadership
TJCOG High Performance Building Standards
Energy, Fuel and Water Use Policies
-~ Environmental Stewardship Action Committee
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
/ ~ti~ 4~~ ' ~ o~i
~,Xi~~ ~r~~.
~; tti `%
Current Energy, Water & Fuel
Use
FY 05 Through FY10
Energy use: 1 % less since FY05
Water use: 18% less since FY05
Fuel use: no change since FY05
Conservation initiatives focused on newer
buildings, which are not yet fully reflected in
the data.
4
~rQ s
~~
Current Energy, Water & Fuel
Use
Newer buildings beginning to demonstrate
results:
Compared to Southern Human Services Ctr:
=TZ~ West Campus Office Bldg - 35% less energy
Y~~ Justice Facility - 57% less energy (geothermal)
Future years will more fully reflect the impact
of investment in conservation technologies
Initiatives
rrh ~Atic~~
Analysis and verification of ener ,water
gy
and fuel use data;.
Work Play for Continuous Improvement;
Development of a performance "Score Card";
Detailed reporting on new facilities and fuel
technologies Fall 2011
i~ ~y Team Reduction
Goals
~orr~ ~RYQ`~~~
In line with North Carolina conservation ob'ectives
J
Energy use:
~~ 20% cumulative through FY15;
additional 10% cumulative through FY17
Water use:
Y-~ 5% cumulative through FY17
Fuel use:
~_ 70% cumulative through FY15;
~~~~ additional 5% cumulative through FY17
Success will be dependant on available funds
0
ry~~ f
f QG` ~7
kr
" ~ ~ ~~ For l~/Iore Infor .
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Orange County Utilit and Fuel Use and
Y
Conservation Initiatives -Inaugural Report
located at:
www.co.orange. nc. uslassetmgmtlenergyl1
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