Navigate to Homepage
Search
Main navigation
  

        
              Explore the Capitol Campus
                          Art
                            Buildings & Grounds
                            Capitol Hill Facts
                            Visitor Resources
                            Our Blog
                            What We Do
                          Areas of Expertise
                            Programs & Ceremonies
                            Projects
                            Publications
                            Strategic Objectives
                            About Us
                          Who We Are
                            History of the AOC
                            News & Notices
                            Organizational Structure
                            Partnerships & Recognition
                            Work With UsSearch Breadcrumb
    HomeExplore the Capitol CampusOur Blog
Energy Savings Performance Contracts Help AOC Exceed Energy Goal

Energy Savings Performance Contracts have assisted the Architect of the Capitol in completing several conservation measures around the U.S. Capitol, House office buildings and Senate office buildings. These ESPCs were an important element in our strategy to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent.
By erin courtney |April 18, 2016
        
                  Image

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 authorized the use of private sector financing to implement energy conservation methods and energy-efficiency technologies by federal entities. Congress provided a mechanism, through Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC), to accelerate investment in cost-effective energy conservation measures in buildings across the Capitol campus.

These contracts enabled the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to make significant upgrades to its infrastructure through energy savings projects with minimal capital investment. The AOC entered into three ESPCs – in the Capitol, House and Senate Jurisdictions – which was an important element in our strategy to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent within 10 years.

The ESPCs have helped the AOC complete conservation measures around the Capitol, House and Senate, including:

Converting from pneumatic to direct digital heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls and upgrading building automation systems.
	Retrofitting existing light fixtures with high-efficiency lamps, ballasts, controls and reflectors; installing LED lighting in hearing rooms and expanding the lighting control systems.
	Upgrading transformers to high-efficiency models.
	Performing additional HVAC testing, adjusting and balancing to optimize the HVAC system.
	Adding removable insulation covers to reduce heat loss from steam valves.
	Replacing aged Air Handling Units with new energy efficient units.
	Replacing failing and defective steam traps and valves to eliminate steam losses and waste.
	Installing new motion/occupancy sensors in areas with infrequent and low occupancy levels.Today, construction is complete and the projects have transitioned into training, implementation and performance phases.



ImageAOC staff play a crucial role in utilizing the equipment and system upgrades to maximize energy savings, increase occupant comfort and discover additional energy-saving opportunities.

These projects are exceeding their expected energy savings targets, and represent a substantial portion of the AOC's overall energy savings. The AOC continues to focus on streamlining operating procedures and sustaining the energy savings made possible through the ESPCs.
Add new comment
    Your name
Email Address
        The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Comment
About text formats
Plain text
  
  
      
          No HTML tags allowed.
                      Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
                      Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
          
    
      Recent Stories
Related Articles
            
          Behind the Scenes

  Embracing a Vintage Electric Cargo Tricycle for Greener Gardening

This innovative mode of transportation allows the dedicated gardening staff to move throughout the historic grounds of the U.S. Capitol with ease, all while carrying up to an impressive 300 pounds of gardening tools and horticultural materials.
    Behind the Scenes

  Leaves On, Leaves Off: Capitol Grounds Works Through the Winter

In the bleak winter, when most Washingtonians are looking to stay indoors, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team still spends a lot of time outside.
    Behind the Scenes

  Summer Interns Gain Experience for Future Seasons of Their Careers

From carpentry and photography to clerking and gardening, the AOC internship program exposes students to a host of opportunities within the federal government.
    Behind the Scenes

  A Career Fusing Art, Design and Plants

Nick Nelson combines diverse passions into a landscape architecture career.
    
                      More Stories Serve. Preserve. Inspire.

              Contact Us
                            Accountability
                            Hill Staff Resources
                            AOC Staff Resources
Utility
  

        
              Privacy Policy
                            Image Terms of Use
                            Inspector General
                            U.S. Botanic Garden
                            U.S. Capitol Visitor CenterFacebook
	Twitter
	Flickr
	YouTube
	Instagram
	Subscribe