Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
Description
Hennepin County was awarded $2.64 million dollars through a formula allocation from the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. Recommendations for the use of the dollars were prepared by the county’s most knowledgeable and experienced staff in energy policy and management.
The team based its recommendations on consideration of the following factors with regard to each authorized project:
- Quick implementation potential or “shovel ready”
- Jobs created/retained
- Energy saved/greenhouse gas reduction
- Future operating cost savings
- Financial leverage (utility rebates)
- Agency collaboration
- Ease of tracking and monitoring
Projects were evaluated first on whether they could be implemented quickly to create jobs and the potential for significant energy savings. Each recommended project pinpoints one or more of the criteria mentioned above and meets the intended goals of the EECBG grant.
All EECBG funding has been encumbered and projects are getting started.
$539,000 |
Central Library Recommissioning Implementation – Staff have nearly completed the recommissioning study for the Central Library. A contract has been awarded to Northern Air Corporation to implement the energy conservation opportunities identified in the study. Implementation will begin in the next month. Investing an estimated $539,000 in corrections and improvements recommended in the study will yield an annual savings of $102,000. Project payback is 5 years. |
$336,500 |
Hennepin County Energy Resource Center (HERC) – Lighting is one of the largest energy uses in any building. Installing energy efficient lighting can significantly reduce the energy use in the HERC plant therefore freeing up energy that can be sold back to the grid. The total cost of this project is $859,006 which includes additional safety and code upgrades. A contract has been awarded to APi Electric and work is to begin in the next two months. The estimated cost savings is $50,000 with a payback of 7 years. |
$854,100 |
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) Recommissioning – A recommissioning study of HCMC identified energy conservation opportunities. The contract to implement these energy conservation oppotunities has been awarded to Northern Air Corporation. Implementation is scheduled to start in the spring of 2011. Total energy savings of $104,482 annually is estimated for a payback of 8 years. |
$626,000 |
Property Services Lighting Retrofits – There are several opportunities to improve lighting in County buildings and reduce energy consumption. Phase I of the Lighting Retrofits has been completed. This project included relamping the Government Center with lower wattage lamps. The contract was awarded to the Retrofit Company and was completed in December 2010. The total cost of Phase I of the project was $115,000 and will save the county $50,000 annually in energy costs. New Lights in County Buildings Save Energy, Money – Property Services worked this fall to coordinate the relamping of the Government Center, providing jobs and cutting energy costs over the long term. |
$285,000 |
Transportation Lighting Retrofits– The Public Works Department is in the process of replacing existing incandescent traffic signal lighting with LED lights as funding is available. The traffic signals are owned and maintained by Hennepin County, but the electricity is paid for by the communities. Hennepin County would benefit by reducing the maintenance costs of replacing the lights since LED lights last considerably longer. The communities would benefit from the reduced electrical costs to operate the signals. LED traffic signals were purchased for 66 signals locations through a contract with Traffic Control Corporation for a total of $285,000. Annual estimated energy cost savings is $46,400. Payback is 5 years including Xcel rebates. |
$2,640,600 |
Total Allocated |
