Title
Special Recognition -- Resource Conservation Management Program - Year One Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive the update. Briefing only; no action requested
Report
Issue:
Update City Council on year one results of the City’s participation in Puget Sound Energy’s Resource Conservation Management Program.
Staff Contact:
Danelle MacEwen, Senior Program Specialist, Public Works General Services, 360.753.8211
Presenter(s):
Danelle MacEwen, Public Works General Services
Background and Analysis:
In September 2015, the City completed its first year in Puget Sound Energy’s (“PSE”) Resource Conservation Management (“RCM”) Program. The RCM Program helps organizations reduce the use and cost of energy, primarily electricity and natural gas, as well as other resources. The Program requires a dedicated Resource Conservation Manager who works directly with PSE to track energy use and costs in facilities and to identify and implement energy efficiency measures. Danelle MacEwen is the City’s appointed Resource Conservation Manager.
The RCM Program is incentive-based and requires a three-year commitment from the City. The energy reduction target for the first year is three percent and five percent for years two and three. The City has an opportunity to earn grant funding from PSE of $70,200 over the three-year period. The City’s RCM portfolio consists of thirteen City buildings and ten Water Resources’ pump stations.
Staff dedicated the first year to program development and meeting PSE’s requirements. The requirements include maintaining energy accounting for all facilities, drafting an Energy Management Plan, and completing site checklists and actions plans. Additionally, staff assembled Energy Advisory Teams for City Hall and the Maintenance Center, and a Technical Advisory Team to address operation and maintenance issues that affect energy consumption.
During the first year the City’s electrical use decreased by 8.3 percent and natural gas decreased by 2.7 percent. Staff accomplished the electricity reduction by reviewing and adjusting heating and cooling system schedules at larger buildings, adjusting lighting schedules, replacing lights with LED technology, adding solar panels to City Hall and upgrading software and equipment in City Hall’s data center.
City buildings primarily use natural gas for heating. Overall, the City does not consume a significant amount of natural gas and it is more difficult to achieve savings in this area. Natural gas reduction for year one was 2.7 percent, narrowly missing the three percent target.
The RCM Program efforts resulted in in $13,571 in grant funds received from PSE, a savings of $31,000 in utility costs, and 171 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided. The City will use the grant funds for additional energy conservation projects throughout City operations.
Finally, PSE recently recognized the City’s conservation efforts at their RCM Program Annual Meeting. PSE honored the City with an award for outstanding performance in their first year of participation in the program and an award for achieving the highest electricity decrease amongst all fifty-one RCM participants.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
None
Options:
None - briefing only
Financial Impact:
None