FRAMINGHAM, Mass., and WASHINGTON — Ameresco Inc. announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has awarded the company an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), valued at $77 million over the 20-year term, for the implementation of energy efficiency and water conservation measures, and ongoing energy management services to the DOI headquarters building in Washington, District of Columbia.
“Ameresco is excited to serve the Department of the Interior in leading by example at its headquarters building in the nation’s capital,” said Nicole Bulgarino, vice president and general manager of Federal Solutions at Ameresco. “This project will support the department in meeting its sustainability goals through innovative water saving measures and ongoing services that are expected to save energy and optimize building operations for the next two decades.”
Through the comprehensive ESPC, Ameresco will install a combination of measures to reduce energy and water consumption within the seven-story, 1.3 million square foot headquarters building.
The energy efficiency measures are expected to reduce electricity consumption by 31 percent and reduce steam utilization by 12 percent. A new open-protocol direct digital control (DDC) system will be installed to optimize the overall energy performance of the building through building-wide control of the HVAC system. To improve the envelope of the building, Ameresco will install over 500 new windows with between-glass blinds to reduce heating and cooling losses to the outside environment.
Energy reduction will also be accomplished by the installation of over 9,400 LED lights. They will be controlled by a new advanced lighting control system that will be integrated into the building automation system to control space lighting in offices based upon occupancy.
Domestic water consumption is expected to be reduced by 70 percent through the installation of new plumbing fixtures and the harvesting of groundwater that is currently collected under the building and discharged to storm drains. Ameresco will treat and store the harvested groundwater in a re-purposed chilled water storage tank for non-potable uses including cooling tower makeup water supply, irrigation, and toilet and urinal flushing in bathrooms.
The ESPC is expected to result in first year savings of more than $3.2 million and to provide for $87 million in energy and cost savings during the 18-year performance period and two-year implementation period of the contract.
For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.
Publication date: 4/27/2015
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