What Gets Measured Gets Improved

If you want to lose weight, you need to know how much you weigh. If you want to run a race, you need to know how far to go. In order to measure anything, you start with a number.

It’s no different with reducing energy use in our county buildings. 

Energy efficiency is an immediate way we can address climate change and save taxpayers money. An energy dashboard can motivate behavioral changes to reduce carbon pollution that is trapping heat like a blanket around the earth and endangering our future. We believe there is a moral and spiritual responsibility to act now.

But when Fairfax County staff told the Supervisors it would cost a whopping $14.8 million to set up an energy dashboard to display the cost of utilities in 205 County-owned buildings, and over $3.5 million in annual maintenance, I was shocked.

It’s clear that county staff has not been in contact with other cities or counties or states or colleges that use money-saving energy dashboards and energy-saving programs. If they had, they would have learned that one of the most popular ways of measuring energy use is by getting the data directly from the utility.

Here’s how three nearby leaders do it:  

Build Smart DC – “The goal of Build Smart DC is clear: Create a transformational environment that drives unprecedented energy savings.” 

Arlington County -- “Buildings contribute a large part of the County’s overall energy use, but offer substantial opportunities for reductions, and therefore emissions reductions, without compromising essential services.” 

George Mason University – 40 energy improvement measures saved $2.5 million. Those savings were used to take additional steps that saved another $2.5 million. GMU has also cut carbon pollution by 20,505 metric tons.

So How Much Does an Energy Dashboard Really Cost? 

A fraction of the estimates that County provided. Here are the range of projections given to FACS by by three different vendors: 

• 60,100 - $120,000 for one-time installation
• 30,000 - $55,000 for annual maintenance.

And - get this! - these numbers include not only the 205 County buildings in theCounty's estimate but also Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPA) buildings. That's 450 buildings in all!

Two vendors, Wegowise and Energy Cap, project costs at under 1% of Fairfax County's numbers. The most expensive of the projects FACS obtained is $175,000. Energy Cap, already a Fairfax County vendor, could potentially be the least expensive at around $33,100 for both installation AND annual maintenance.

While these numbers are projections, the difference between them and Fairfax County estimates must be addressed. 

How Much Can Taxpayers Save? 

Budget savings that result from energy dashboards and a solid efficiency program can, in a few short years, add up to a 20% savings. Fairfax County’s FY2016 utilities cost estimate is $13.5 million. That could be a cool $2.7 million of taxpayer money saved.

I’ve asked the three vendors to submit proposals to the county. In a recent meeting with one Supervisor, we were told the county is required by law to evaluate unsolicited proposals.

Fairfax County government has the potential to become a leader in energy efficiency. But it takes vision and commitment.

It’s time to step up.

Eric Goplerud

Executive Director, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions