Arlington County Equipment Bureau

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The project cost $720,000, with an estimated incremental cost of $50,000 over what would have been incurred without the energy efficiency measures. Arlington County implemented a number of high-priority measures including the HVAC system, lighting, and controls. With an HVAC system at the end of its life expectancy, the decision to replace the old equipment with an energy efficient Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system was consistent with county energy practices as outlined in the County Operations Energy Plan (COEP). Specifically, the COEP identifies a county objective to increase facility and infrastructure energy productivity through continuous improvements in energy efficiency, and to be a leader in early adoption and promotion of innovative technology. The more efficient HVAC system also helped the county meet its Better Buildings Challenge goal to reduce energy use 20 percent by 2022. The HVAC system for the office area cost $680,000, an estimated $10,000 more than the cost of replacing the end-of-life system with a similar less efficient system.

After the HVAC and lighting replacement, a lighting control system was installed to schedule and dim LED lighting in the 2^nd floor office space. This opportunity arose from an on-going relationship between the County and researchers at Virginia Tech. LED lights, which replaced all of the previous fluorescent fixtures, cost $35,000. The lighting control system cost $5,000.

Savings Measure	Cost	Notes
HVAC system	$680,000*	The existing system, at the end of its useful life, was replaced with a Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system. This system can provide simultaneous heating and cooling to different zones. A dedicated outdoor air unit (DOAS) uses a plate heat exchanger for energy recovery and reduces the amount of ductwork needed to provide ventilation for a healthy work environment.
LED lights	$35,000	Ceiling lights in the office space were upgraded to LEDs. Previous retrofits had replaced outdoor lighting at this facility with LEDs, also providing significant savings.
BEMOSS lighting controls	$5,000	Using Building Energy Monitoring Open Source Software (BEMOSS), a Virginia Tech project funded by the Department of Energy Building Technologies Office, Arlington added scheduling and dimming capabilities to the new LED lighting. This software allows lighting to be scheduled and dimmed in individual spaces through an online account. The portal also provides historical reports and tracks energy use of the lighting. This system helps small buildings have more control over HVAC and lighting systems when a traditional building automation system might be too expensive.

Other Benefits

Beyond the energy components of this project, upgrades to two equipment bays give the county the capability to maintain Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.

To ensure worker comfort and safety, the renovation improved air quality with additional fresh ventilation, while improving insulation and air sealing between the shop environment and administrative offices. Occupant comfort also improved by way of individual zones for HVAC, eliminating the need for space heaters. The roof top units allow for a more efficient and less noisy operation, diminishing complaints from neighbors. The BEMOSS system allows lights to be dimmed in zones throughout the office, meeting the needs of each individual space at different times of operation.

ANNUAL ENERGY USE

ANNUAL ENERGY COST

ANNUAL WATER USE

ANNUAL WATER COST

ANNUAL PLANT ELECTRICITY USE

ANNUAL PLANT ELECTRICITY COST

IN BUILDING ENERGY USE

IN BUILDING ENERGY COST

ACROSS NETWORK USE

ACROSS NETWORK COST

ANNUAL EMISSIONS

USE

COST

Equipment Bureau, Rooftop Units

Equipment Bureau, Entrance

Arlington County Equipment Bureau

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Equipment Bureau, Rooftop Units

Equipment Bureau, Entrance