Phoenix Convention Center • Phoenix, Arizona

Lessons Learned from ARRA Projects

Solution Showcase Lessions Learned from ARRA Projects

Walter Tersch, LEED AP (BD + C)US General Services Administration

August 13, 2015

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade2

Lessons Learned from ARRA Projects

Overview• What worked: process• What worked: technology and project case

studies• What worked less-well than planned

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade3

What worked: process

Methodical selection criteria

• GSA selected projects that met the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s criteria based on two overarching criteria: Ability of the project to put people back to work quickly, and transforming Federal buildings into high-performance green buildings.

• The complete list of selection criteria, in descending priority order is: – High-performance features concentrating on energy conservation and renewable energy generation. – Speed of construction start (creating jobs), with an emphasis on those projects that could begin within

120 days. – Execution Risk (ensuring that the projects will not fail due to unforeseen conditions) – Facility Condition. The Facility Condition Index is a standard real estate industry index that reflects the

cost of the repair and alteration backlog of a particular building relative to the building's replacement value.

– Improving Asset Utilization – Return on Investment – Avoiding Lease Costs – Historic Significance

• In any construction or modernization project, objectives go far beyond just saving energy. GSA has carefully implemented the objectives of the Recovery Act, and continues to deliver projects that combine different types of work to yield sound overall value.

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade4

What worked: process

Systematic data gathering

• GSA’s gBUILD project tracking tool – Collect and review high performance green building

project information, including scope details and performance projections

– Verify compliance with the Guiding Principles• “On Green” performance measure– GSA’s Minimum Performance Criteria

• Recurring dashboards and reports for unprecedented transparency

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade5

What worked: technologies and project case studies

• Dayton Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse • Completion Date: FY2012 • Project Cost: $4,701,240 • Actual Energy Reduction: 32%• The Dayton Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in

Dayton, OH, invested Recovery Act funding for daylight harvesting and occupancy sensors, the installation of high performance heating ventilation and air conditioning components, a new rooftop air handling unit, building pressurization, and low-flow restroom fixtures with lavatory sensors.

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade6

What worked: technologies and project case studies

• Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse • Completion Date: FY2013 • Project Cost: $43,743,451 • Actual Energy Reduction: 47% • The Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse in Spokane, Washington used

Recovery Act funding to turn an aging building into a modernized and operationally efficient high-performance green building. The project focused on upgrades and replacements of building systems including electrical, HVAC, and lighting systems. Resource efficiency improvements include system level submetering of lighting and plug loads, indoor lighting retrofits with LED lamps, occupant sensors, time scheduling and integration with building automation system (BAS), and outdoor lighting retrofits. Indoor environmental quality was also improved through task ambient conditioning systems that allow occupants to control thermal conditions in small, localized zones. Indoor water conservation measures include installation of new low-flow, sensor-controlled lavatory fixtures. This renovated U.S. Courthouse earned LEED Silver certification.

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade7

What worked less-well than planned

– Energy models can make unrealistic assumptions– Faulty commissioning– Insufficient training– Buildings with old, poorly-designed systems

(thermal loops upon loops, single-pane glass, etc.)– Insufficient recirculation of conditioned air

• Difficulty parsing out HPGB-specific cost• Burden of data gathering upon PMs

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade8

Next Steps

• Continue Light-Touch Measurement & Verification Review

• Implementation strategy for achieving 2025 goals set out in EO 13693

• Assessing performance of buildings meeting the Guiding Principles – Follow on to GSA’s post occupancy evaluation and

Green Building Performance reports