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,i <br />calculate energy use and cost if an item is left running evenings and/or <br />weekends. <br />Energy Conservation Planning Tool <br />Recognizing that consultants, including architects and design engineers, etc. <br />provide only the services for which they are contracted, and that each have their <br />own area(s) of expertise, the Energy Conservation Team is developing an <br />Energy Conservation Planning Tool to be used to ensure that key energy <br />conserving building systems and technologies are assessed for feasibility for <br />inclusion in renovation projects. The Planning Tool can be used to examine the <br />feasibility of specific energy (i.e., geothermal, solar collectors) and other (i.e., <br />rainwater collection) conservation options for County buildings. <br />The tool is not being designed to determine the economic feasibility of options, <br />only suitability for further consideration as part of a project. For example, during <br />a roof replacement, the tool could be used to check off technical considerations <br />for inclusion of solar collector panels (roof type, exposure, tree cover, etc.) <br />Re-commissioning/Retro-commissioning <br />Re-commissioining is identified by Energy Star as essentially the same process as <br />commissioning but applied to existing building's HVAC, controls <br />and electrical systems. When standardized maintenance and energy management procedures <br />fail to fix chronic building problems, re-commissioning provides a systematic approach for <br />discovering and solving them. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy <br />(ACEEE) describes Retro-commissioning as, "a systematic process for optimizing building <br />performance." Both processes are concerned with optimizing the performance of existing <br />buildings and systems, which typically contain older, less efficient equipment and <br />systems. <br />Public Works Department Energy Responsibilities <br />Infrastructure <br />The Public Works department is responsible for maintenance of most County <br />buildings, including related infrastructure (HVAC systems, electrical systems, <br />plumbing systems, etc.), as well as upgrades or improvements that are to be <br />made. In the recent past, the following projects have been completed: <br />• Replacement of original single-glazed windows at the Central Recreation <br />building with new, energy efficient windows <br />• Replacement of 500 watt quartz exterior lights at Northern Center with <br />compact fluorescent bulbs <br />• Replacement of approximately 1,200 T-12 fluorescent tubes with more <br />efficient and brighter T-8 fluorescent fixtures and bulbs at the John Link <br />Government Services Center, resulting in approximately $400 cost <br />savings per year <br />• Replacement of incandescent and interior and exterior lights with compact <br />fluorescent bulbs at Efland Community Center <br />• Installation of programmable thermostats at all compatible locations <br />• Installation of water heater insulating blankets <br />• Installation of timers on water heaters, where feasible <br />• Adjustment of water heater thermostats to minimum allowable settings <br />• Annual inspection of water heaters and thermostat settings <br />