The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized the City of Roanoke for surpassing a 20 percent energy reduction goal as a partner in the Better Buildings Challenge. Through their efforts, the City has achieved an energy savings of 23 percent due to greater efficiency efforts across their building portfolio. The Better Buildings Challenge is a DOE program that works with more than 360 partners to drive the acceleration of cost-effective and proven strategies to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s buildings, plants, and homes. Roanoke’s savings are now part of Better Buildings Challenge’s savings of $3.8 billion and 470 trillion BTUs since its launch in 2011, while financing commitments surpass $19 billion.
Roanoke focused on lighting retrofits, and HVAC and mechanical system replacements as an opportunity to save energy and improve efficiency across 1 million square feet of its building portfolio. For the last seven years, Roanoke’s Facilities staff has been dedicated to energy efficiency for all of the City’s buildings. The secret to the success is mechanical and lighting improvements using innovative technologies along with best practices for the operations and maintenance. In addition to the City’s organizational goal, the Berglund Center achieved an individual goal as a Better Buildings Challenge Showcase Project for a 30 percent energy reduction, contributing to the team’s success. More details on the strategies employed to achieve this goal can be found online in the redesigned Better Buildings Solution Center, along with 2,500 proven partner solutions.
City Manager Bob Cowell commented that, “Roanoke continues to be a leader in energy efficiency, saving the citizens more than $3 million over the course of the Better Buildings Challenge. We are proud of the City’s staff and the Berglund Center on a job well done!”
For more information, please contact the City’s Sustainability and Outreach Coordinator, Nell Boyle at 853-5430 or email her at [email protected].
About the Better Buildings Challenge
The Better Buildings Challenge is the cornerstone of the Better Buildings Initiative. The Better Buildings Initiative partners with public and private organizations that represent more than 12 billion square feet, more than 3,200 manufacturing plants, 120 cities and states and a diversity of building owners, manufacturing firms, municipalities, financial institutions, and utilities. Together, partners and financial allies are working collaboratively to create and share implementation models that can help the marketplace move more quickly to adopt energy efficiency measures.
###