Housing Authority of City of Bristol, CT: Energy performance

Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Bristol Housing Authority's portfolio consists of 9 properties and more than 500 thousand square feet. Since 2010, Bristol Housing Authority has improved energy performance by an average of 0.8% each year. This is equivalent to a cumulative improvement of 5%, accounting for the varying lengths of time properties were included in Bristol Housing Authority’s portfolio. Energy savings are being achieved by implementing energy saving standards for all new construction, in-house replacements, and major rehabs. These include solar electric arrays, LED lighting retrofits, Energy Star rated appliances, low flow water restrictors, passive energy reduction materials and techniques, triple-pane windows, added insulation, and building envelope air sealing. High-efficiency HVAC equipment replacements include boilers, split-system heat pumps, water heaters, and radiators. Other initiatives include power supplier purchase agreements locking in rates over years, promoting energy conscious habits for staff and residents, and an intensive preventative maintenance plan for all locations.  

Looking at the percent improvement in energy performance across all facilities can provide insight into how an organization is saving energy.  Bristol Housing Authority has achieved energy performance improvement of greater than 6% at 4 of its properties. There are 3 properties that have experienced an increase in Source EUI.  These properties have been targeted for future energy efficiency improvements.

Property-level energy performance metrics, including EUI and percent improvement to date, are critical to track progress over time and identify opportunities for additional energy savings. Bristol Housing Authority's portfolio consists of properties with a wide range of baseline EUI values, most of which are from 50 to 150 kBtu/sq. ft. Many of their properties have shown energy improvement since their baseline. The properties located near or below the 0% axis may present good opportunities for further savings.