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Energy Management Plan (Resource Efficiency Plan) for the State Finance Commission Building, 2601 North Lamar, Austin, Texas
1. Rules as Adopted by the State Energy Conservation OfficeSection 1 of HB 2278 (Codified as TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. sec. 447.002, as amended by Chapter 573, 77th Legislature) requires the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to adopt rules that require a state agency or institution of higher education to implement any energy conservation measure for which funding is available. This rule requires all agencies and institutions to develop and implement a Resource Efficiency Plan (REP) and to submit certain certifications to SECO concerning that plan and its implementation. The purpose of the rules that pertain to state facility energy and water management is to achieve all measurable cost effective utility and related operational efficiency improvements, and to reduce unnecessary consumption of natural resources by state agencies and institutions of higher education. The rules adopted by SECO state that any state agency that occupies space in a state-owned building to which a managing state agency provides the utility service shall develop an REP, tailored to the using agency's unique situation. The using agency shall assist and support the managing agency in the preparation and implementation of the managing agency's Resource Efficiency Plan. The using agency shall coordinate its REP with the managing agency. The using agency shall cooperate with SECO and the managing agency to address utility management in the building. The rules also state that a state agency that occupies a building that the state does not own shall develop an REP, tailored to the unique situation of the lessee, and shall cooperate with SECO in addressing the utility management of that leased space. This cooperation shall include taking actions to affect energy and water use and employee behavior to the extent that such actions can result in savings in utility related lease costs. A state agency that occupies non-state owned buildings shall prepare the Utility Awareness Plan that is described in §19.14(c)(5) of TAC, Title 34, Part 1, (relating to Utility Management Planning) and update the plan as required.
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Facility |
Address |
Yr. Built |
Facility Type |
Gross Sq. Footage |
Construct. Type |
FTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SFC Building |
2601 N. Lamar |
1968 |
Office |
32,000* |
Steel/Brick |
120 |
*Equipment rooms, warehouse space, file space, etc. is included in gross square footage of which 25,500 is net usable square footage
5. History of Utility Use and Expenditures
Beginning in March 2006, building utilities were billed directly to the TFC. As of September 2009, the Finance Commission agencies once again became responsible for all utility bills. Utility use data is currently being gathered, analyzed, and will be reflected on the next update.
6. Preliminary Energy Audit (PEA) / Utility Assessment Report
(UAR)
A Preliminary Utility Audit (PUA) is commonly called a Preliminary Energy Audit. Since state law now requires water conservation, the use of the term “utility” has been adopted. This audit is used as an initial feasibility study to determine if facilities have any viable utility conservation projects.
The following items are to be used as tools to determine the potential need for the acquisition and installation of utility conservation measures:
- Building data
- Major energy and water-using systems
- Energy and water use and cost data for twelve continuous months
- Energy and water use index
Information gathered should be used to identify and describe the following:
- Utility conservation measures
- Recommend systems changes
Finally, the following conclusions should be reached:
- Estimation of utility cost savings and description of system changes
- Estimation of the annual cost savings that can be realized by implementing the recommended utility conservation measures.
Once the PUA has been completed and analyzed, a Utility Assessment Report (UAR) will be written to detail recommendations for cost effective resource efficiency measures that could be implemented to reduce utility consumption and/or utility costs.
NOTE: An Austin Energy Business Energy Analysis was performed via the Austin Energy Web Site on February 11, 2003. Due to the installation of new energy efficient systems in the last few years, an updated analysis has not been performed.
7. Implementation Schedule of Goals and Measures for Cost
Reduction
This section describes how the REP Team plans to achieve the agency established goals and implement the recommended cost effective resource efficiency measures that are identified in the UAR or PEA, and a strategy for monitoring the status of implementation of the REP.
After completing the PUA and the Austin Energy Business Energy Analysis, several items may be identified as potential cost savings measures. Some items will have a cost associated with them and some will not. Other items will have a significant financial impact and will be implemented in the long term, pending budgetary approval.
Short Term
- Use automatic power save mode on electronic equipment
- Lower thermostat in winter
- Raise thermostat in summer
- Reduce heating/air conditioning load during unoccupied hours
- Install exterior shading devices
- Turn off equipment when not in use
- Turn off interior lighting when not in use
- Install photocell to control exterior lighting
- Decrease temperature of water heater
- Water exterior foliage on water conservation designated days
- Seal cracks around windows and doors
Long Term
- Replace elevator
- Replace hot water boiler
- Replace plumbing fixtures with low flow devices
Goals Met in Last 5 Years
- Replacement of a the SFC Building air conditioning system with a more energy efficient product (Capital Improvement
- Replacement of thermostats with programmable models
- Installation of blinds in the SML occupied space
- Replacement of T-12 fluorescent lighting with more efficient T-8 model (Capital Improvement) See Section 11
- Retrofit exit signs with energy efficient light sources See Section 11
- Replacement of the SFC Building roof with a product containing better insulating and reflection qualities (Capital Improvement) See Section 11
8. Finance Strategy
This section details the costs associated with the operations of the SFC Building, the financing of the projects identified in the UAR and the funding sources to be used. The following is a breakdown of the areas related to the energy management process and the corresponding object of expense:
Maintenance and Utilities: Normal building maintenance for the SFC Building falls under other operating expenses. All expenditures are paid from revenues generated by the FC agencies. General Revenue is not used.
Staff Salaries: The salaries of the staff associated with the maintenance of the building are all paid from the salary object of expense.
It should be noted that not all of the above operating expenses are limited strictly to the Energy Management Process, but cover the operations and maintenance of the SFC Building as a whole.
Capital Projects and/or Improvements: Items identified as capital projects or improvements ($25,000 or greater) are submitted as separate line items on the agencies annual budgets that are submitted to the Finance Commission for approval.
9. Utility Awareness Plan
This section describes how to make employees aware of utility conservation measures by using methods which directly effect changes in behavior.
The following will be used as tools to increase employee awareness and participation. These tools will be developed by the energy management team once the PEA has been completed and recommendations have been made.
Surveys: Surveys of staff members will be useful in a variety of ways. First, survey results will be used to assist in the implementation and monitoring of the energy plan. Staff members will be asked about their current energy-use practices (control of temperature settings, use of window coverings and fans, lighting, etc.) and actions they are already taking to be energy efficient. This information will then be used to help identify desired behaviors and actions to emphasize in the plan.
Second, surveys will be used to gather the same types of information you might otherwise gather through focus groups (see below), such as opinions on communications channels, logos and slogans, and possible incentives.
The third use of a survey is a “pretest”—a baseline for later comparison and evaluation with a post-survey. Using this approach, responses about energy-use behaviors can be compared both before and after the original surveys to help evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign in changing people’s values and habits. (This approach was used by SML in January 2008 to deal with lingering environmental issues related to the HVAC system installed in 2005. Air volume and temperature ranges were not properly set, resulting in employee discomfort and inefficient use of the HVAC system. After TFC analyzed the situation and adjusted the system, employees were resurveyed in April 2008 to assess whether or not the problem was resolved. These changes are expected to result in increased employee comfort and decreased energy consumption.)
A fourth use of the survey is to initiate and introduce the behaviors targeted for change. By asking people if they are already taking actions to save energy, you are also educating them about what those actions are and implying that some are better or more important than others.
Focus Groups: Small discussion groups or focus groups will be used to gather more detailed information and then disseminate to staff.
Interviews: Personal interviews will be used to obtain input from top management and facilities and maintenance managers. These people can help evaluate the plan and provide comments on what actions should and should not be taken by individual employees, what staff members are responsible for, and the responsibilities of different departments.
Delivery methods for the above mentioned utility awareness tools may include staff meetings, division meetings, email, etc.
By utilizing these methods of information gathering and dissemination on an on-going basis, energy saving actions realized may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Keep blinds or curtains drawn during a hot summer day; open them during the sunny part of a winter day.
- Make sure floor or wall vents are not blocked by furniture or other obstructions.
- Use daylight instead of electric light whenever possible.
- Turn out lights when you leave your office for more than a few minutes.
- Avoid using space heaters.
- Turn off office machines overnight.
- Share printers and fax machines instead of purchasing separate ones for each person.
- Turn off water taps when water is not being used; report all leaks promptly.
- Leave thermostats at pre-set temperatures
10. Savings Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
This plan will be developed by the energy management team after completion of the UAR(s). Monitoring and evaluation tools will be developed at that time.
11. Project Implementation Update
UPDATE December 2010
In October 2009, the entire SFC Building lighting system was replaced with more efficient equipment and bulbs including all emergency exit signs. In addition to this project, the main electrical switch gear and main building transformer were replaced with more energy efficient equipment.
In November 2009, the SFC Building roof was replaced with a more modern roofing system. This roof added insulation and sun reflection qualities which should reduce heating and air gains and losses.
12. Contact Information
REP Implementation Team
Vance Ivie
Staff Services Officer
(512) 475-1364
vance.ivie@dob.texas.gov
Dale McKenzie
Inventory Control Officer
(512) 475-1340
dale.mckenzie@dob.texas.gov
Bill Rison
Director of Administrative Services
(512) 475-1316
bill.rison@dob.texas.gov
Stephanie Newberg
Deputy Commissioner
(512) 475-1280
stephanie.newberg@dob.texas.gov
Antonia Antov
Director of Administration and Finance
(512) 475-1296
aantov@sml.texas.gov
Steven O’Shields
Director of Administration
(512) 936-7620
steven.o’shields@occc.state.tx.us
13. State Finance Commission Resource Efficiency Plan
As per Section 2, Overview, the rules adopted by SECO require a state agency or institution of higher education to implement any energy conservation measure for which funding is available. This rule requires all agencies and institutions to develop and implement a Resource Efficiency Plan and to submit certain certifications to SECO concerning that plan and its implementation. As occupants of the SFC Buildings, DOB, OCCC, and SML have developed this plan as a group and will jointly evaluate, implement, and monitor the energy savings measures that are recommended in the PEA.
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