#dc seu

[greeningdc]

                                     greening D.C. turned 3 today!  

greeningDC began as a photo blog to provide snapshots of the emerging trends focused on greening the built environment in the DC metropolitan region.  The initial April blog post announced the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU) Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Residential General and Energy Efficiency Contractors for the launch of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.  Blogs have covered DC SEU annual performance updates; benchmarking; “green” banks; USGBC LEED certified commercial projects; highlights from DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) annual Green Building Symposiums; and “green” practices and projects in the metropolitan region and beyond.

The Year 3 blog posts illustrate the advances resulting from Home Performance with ENERGY STAR with a link to a report by the Institute for Market Transformation - @IMT_speaks - indicating a demand for energy efficient homes and a call for Greening the Multiple Listing Service.

[greeningdc]

                         Advancing the Better Buildings Challenge

D.C.’s private sector -- developers, builders, property owners, and utility companies -- have been active partners in advancing the city’s sustainability goals and status as a Green Power Community.   Consider the following and above referenced example from the commercial sector:  the repositioned      815 Connecticut Avenue, a 45 year-old Class B office building, as a USGBC LEED™ Platinum Certified building.  Just steps from the White House, President Obama and Former President Bill Clinton toured the property in December 2011 as a part of the launch of the Better Buildings Challenge to accelerate private investment in making commercial properties more efficient.  Forrester Construction conducted the tour, pointing out the project’s energy improvements.  Construction included a full replacement of the building’s exterior façade, extensive interior renovations, and energy upgrades, estimated to provide an annual savings of more than $100,000 per year.  In line with the owner’s vision for a high-performance, sustainable property, 815 Connecticut came online in January 2013 as a trophy class office property.

The Project Team:

VOA Architects _ Now Stantec 

Forrester Construction

Loring Consulting Engineers 

KCE Structural Engineers 

Awards:

Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) National Excellence in Construction Award

ABC Metropolitan Washington Excellence in Construction Award

Associated General Contractors (AGC) Washington Contractor Award

Engineering News Record (ENR) Mid-Atlantic Best of 2012 Safety Project of the Year

Washington Building Congress (WBC) Craftsmanship Award

News Sources: 

Presidents Obama and Clinton Tour Forrester’s 815 Connecticut Avenue Project, December 2, 2011 

Obama Administration Expands Better Buildings Challenge to Multifamily Housing, Launches New Programs to Boost U.S. Energy Efficiency, Energy.gov, October 3, 2013

With overhaul completed, 815 Connecticut Ave. NW returns to market, By Daniel J. Sernovitz Washington Business Journal, January 14, 2013

Blackstone pays nearly $190M for poster child of Obama's Better Buildings Initiative, By Daniel J. Sernovitz, Washington Business Journal, Dec 6, 2016 

[greeningdc]

DC SEU Issues 2012 and 1st Annual Report

DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU) completed it first year with significant achievements in meeting Mayor Gray’s goals to make the city green, the centerpiece of which involves engaging homeowners, businesses, and institutions in making energy efficiency improvements.  The following are highlights from the 2012 Annual Report.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR - Selected contractors certified by the Building Performance Institute to conduct energy audits.  Involved two financial institutions to provide financing for energy improvements – low cost financing and a forgivable loan.  Completed 60 audits under the base low cost program and 75 audits completed for energy improvements to be funded with a forgivable loan.

Small Scale Solar Initiative – Completed 54 installations of solar systems to reduce the energy costs of low-income residents in Ward 7 and 8.

Retail Efficient Products - Established partnerships with 39 retailers to sell more than 43,000 energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to DC residents.

Low-Income Multifamily - Completed energy efficiency improvements at five multifamily properties serving low-income residents of 348 rental units.

Business Energy Rebates - Provided energy rebates to nineteen (19) small businesses and institutions for qualifying purchases of energy efficient equipment; completed 115 T12 lighting upgrades to fluorescent High Performance T8 (HPT8) lighting.

Commercial and Institutional - Provided technical advice and incentives to 39 commercial projects to install energy-efficient equipment to reduce energy consumption.

See DC SEU video highlights of 2012 and the DC SEU 2012 Annual Report, Creating a New Generation of Energy, Jobs, and Economic Opportunity, at www.dcseu.com.