BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio showcase project achieves 43 percent in energy savings
TOLEDO, Ohio, April 30, 2015 - The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio (BBNWO) program has completed its energy data results as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which targets 20 percent energy reduction in buildings by 2020. The Port Authority’s headquarters building located at One Maritime Plaza was selected as the showcase project for this challenge, which achieved an annual energy savings of 43 percent and reduced electricity demand by 2.5 megawatts.
Posted on Friday, May 1, 2015
“We’re very pleased with the annual energy savings of 43 percent on the One Maritime Plaza showcase project,” said Kevin Moyer, Executive Director of BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio. “This showcase project is a great demonstration on how implementing energy efficiency improvements can help businesses save money and energy.”
The Port Authority has also achieved an annual energy savings of 26 percent through energy efficiency improvements to its entire portfolio including One Maritime Plaza, Toledo Express Airport, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, and the Vistula, Port Lawrence and Superior parking garages in downtown Toledo. Overall, the Port Authority reports an annual energy cost savings of $200,000 as a result of energy upgrades to its building portfolio.
“The BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio program has enabled us to implement mechanical and lighting upgrades, as well as the installation of building automation systems to our buildings,” said Brian Perz, Director of Facilities and Development Services for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “The improvements not only reduced our energy bills and demand, but improved the overall comfort and aesthetics of our buildings.”
Energy efficiency project sizes range from $25,000 to over $5 million in project costs. To date, 109 projects have been completed representing a total investment of nearly $30 million. Projects have been completed on all types of buildings including auto dealerships, senior centers, office buildings, schools, parking garages, airport hangars, municipal buildings, water plants, sports complexes and manufacturing/industrial facilities. Equipment upgrades can include lighting, heating and cooling systems, chillers, boilers, windows, roofs, air exchange systems, compressors and building controls.
Projects and their financing have been facilitated through the Northwest Ohio Bond Fund and the Northwest Ohio Advanced Energy Improvement District, which offers Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing that allows property owners to pay back energy efficiency improvements through long-term fixed rate special assessments placed on the buildings.
Financing for the BBNWO program is available thanks to a $15 million start-up grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The funding was issued in 2010 through the Retrofit Ramp-Up Project, part of the $80 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio was one of 25 programs across the nation chosen for participation.
It is the mission of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to continuously focus on job creation by leveraging our strategic geographic position, resources and economic development proficiency to provide increased business opportunities—built upon and around our innovative transportation and logistics expertise—while promoting our community and region within the global marketplace. We will accomplish this through unmatched speed and efficiency of service, collaborative and strategic partnerships, community stewardship and the continued generation and execution of new ideas and innovations. www.toledoportauthority.org – 419.243.8251