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10 <br /> BOCC <br /> Page 9 <br /> October 14, 1993 <br /> heating/air conditioning zone or building. There are some <br /> buildings where mandated thermostat settings would not work <br /> well. These are generally buildings with a) an inefficient <br /> insulating envelope generally having very cool or warm <br /> exterior areas and centrally located thermostats or b) an <br /> inefficient air distribution system with temperatures <br /> varying proportionately with distance from the central <br /> blower unit. Buildings with these or similar problems would <br /> have to have a temperature setting designed to accommodate a <br /> wide range of interior temperature levels. A policy should <br /> also be developed to regulate the use of individual space <br /> heaters. Each 1500 watt electric space heater can consume <br /> up to 252 kilowatt hours per month at a cost of nearly <br /> $20. 00. <br /> 5. Investigate replacement or modification of central heating <br /> and cooling systems. <br /> Determination of the efficiency of operation of central <br /> heating and cooling systems is beyond the current capability <br /> of County staff. It is probable that this process would <br /> have to be undertaken by a paid consultant. The replacement <br /> of a system could be very expensive, in some cases ranging <br /> to the tens of thousands of dollars. The 1976 Building <br /> Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Act set space heating <br /> and cooling performance guidelines with the mean consumption <br /> for office buildings at 64,000 BTU' s per square foot per <br /> year. There are five County owned buildings with average <br /> heat consumption rates that exceed the specified 64,000 BTU <br /> consumption rate for heating and cooling combined. There <br /> may be other buildings that, when cooling energy consumption <br /> is added to that for known heating energy consumption, which <br /> also exceed the specified combined rate. The County' s <br /> electrical metering system does not allow staff to make an <br /> accurate estimate of air conditioning electrical demand. <br /> 6. Specific projects <br /> There are a number of buildings which would serve as a top <br /> priority for investment of County capital funds meant for <br /> energy improvements. In general, some funds should be <br /> expended to provide individual electric meters for each <br /> building' s lighting system. The meters will allow staff to <br /> be better able to pinpoint sources of excessive electrical <br /> consumption. A specific lighting project that appears to be <br /> worthwhile is the re-lamping of the gymnasium portion of the <br /> Gym building. This area is currently lit with very high <br /> power and very expensive incandescent light bulbs. <br /> Replacement of these lights with metal halide lights and <br /> fixtures is expected to result in energy and bulb <br />