As we reported last May, hundreds of organizations have engaged in energy saving efforts that have resulted in a combined 240 trillion Btus and an estimated $1.9 billion in cumulative energy and cost savings. That’s according to the Better Buildings Progress Report, which tracks accomplishments across the broader Better Buildings Initiative.
More than 345 private and public sector organizations have committed to improving their energy efficiency across their entire building portfolio by at least 20 percent within a decade.
And now, the US Department of Energy (DOE)is recognizing two of the Better Buildings Challenge partners for their energy achievements: King County International Airport in Seattle and Shari’s Café & Pies in Lynnwood, WA.
According to facilityexecutive.com, King County Airport in Seattle performed an energy retrofit to its international terminal. To date, the airport has achieved 63% energy savings by adding advanced lighting controls and upgrading the mechanical and lighting systems located throughout the interior of the terminal, as well as installing LED lighting in the outdoor terminal parking lot.
Meanwhile, Shari’s, the first full-service restaurant to join the challenge, has replaced interior and exterior lights with LEDs and replaced five heated dipper wells with new manual wells. Because of these upgrades, the business has realized a 28% reduction in energy use and a 43% reduction in water use. Further water, sewer, and gas savings are captured through a smart irrigation system that uses precipitation data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to avoid watering when rain is in the forecast, according to the website.
Mark your calendars: The 3rd Annual Environmental Leader & Energy Manager Conference takes place May 15 – 17, 2018 in Denver. Learn more here.