Sustainable Climate & Energy Initiative
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)
Activities & Descriptions
EECBG Projects
(view EECBG Project Map) |
Activity Number(s)
(see descrip. below) |
| Airport Road Recycling & Transfer Station |
4 |
| Arlington ER&R Shop |
1 |
| Cathcart Campus |
4,5,8 |
| Correctional Facilities, County Campus |
1 |
| County Campus - Admin East Bldg. |
1,12 |
| County Campus - Admin West Bldg. |
1,2,8 |
| County Courthouse & Mission Bldg. |
1 |
| Denny Juvenile Detention Center |
1 |
| District Court - All Divisions |
1 |
| Evergreen State Fairgrounds |
3 |
| Medical Examiner's Building |
1 |
| Multi-Service Center |
1 |
| Puget Park Drive Corridor |
11 |
| Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station |
4 |
| 164th Ave. SE, 128th St. SW, 20th St. SE |
7 |
| Community-Wide Programs |
6,9,10 |
Activity #1 – Energy Efficiency Retrofits to County Facilities
The County is conducting energy efficiency and conservation retrofits to approximately 20 County facilities through EECBG funding and bond funding. Examples of these energy efficiency projects include: new energy efficient lighting fixtures, HVAC optimization and system controls engineering, and energy efficiency equipment upgrades. These retrofits are a cost-effective way to save taxpayers money and reduce the County’s energy consumption.
Activity #2 - Solar Panel Installation on Admin West
Nearly 100 solar panels have been installed on the roof of the Administration West building which will ultimately be used to power the County’s future fleet of electric vehicles. The system covers approximately 80 percent of the roof and will generate roughly 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough power for approximately 16 electric vehicle charging stations. This project is among the largest solar systems in Snohomish County and will prevent about 21,000 pounds of C02 from reaching the atmosphere each year.
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Activity #3 - Evergreen State Fairgrounds Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Evergreen State Fairgrounds buildings will be retrofitted for a variety of energy improvements, including replacement of outdated lighting and heating systems, installation of occupancy and daylight sensors and timers, addition of “smart” meters to buildings that are more heavily utilized, and installation of a central control system for remote operation of energy-driven systems.
Activity #4 - High Efficiency Lighting Upgrades at Solid Waste Transfer Stations
This project will replace existing T-5 fluorescent and metal halide lamp fixtures with new lamps and technology at the following recycling and transfer stations: Airport Road, Cathcart Way and Southwest. LED lighting will be tested at the Airport Road station to measure savings, effectiveness of LED lighting and ease of maintenance.
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Activity #5 - Energy Efficiency Improvements for Leachate Pre-Treatment Plant
The County’s Solid Waste Division operates a leachate pretreatment plant for wastewater at the Cathcart municipal landfill. The pretreatment facility manages leachate from the closed landfill, wastewater from the vactor grit de-watering facility, leachate from the solid waste transfer station, and pretreatment facility domestic wastewater. The water is aerated hourly to keep the sediments in solution, which is an energy intensive process. The County is working in conjunction with Snohomish County PUD on the following four energy efficiency measures:
- Installation of high efficiency T-5 lights in the shop, office and outdoor fixtures - including occupancy sensors.
- Installation of programmable thermostats in the occupied spaces and in the equipment shop to minimize heat loss.
- Identify ways to run the aeration pumps and equipment more efficiently to reduce demand and revolutions per minute (RPMs).
- Identify and install other energy efficiency measures to create the lowest possible energy footprint at this facility.
Activity #6 – Free Transit Passes for County Employees
- In 2011, the County expanded its existing Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program by offering free transit passes to all County employees.
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Activity #7 – Transportation Demand Management
The transportation demand management (TDM) program focuses on reducing congestion and vehicle trips and increasing mobility along arterial corridors by providing transportation alternatives to residents and employers. Through the use of incentives and transportation information, this program promotes transportation alternatives to driving alone during the peak commute periods. The TDM program will target residents and employers that are open to using commute alternatives where other viable transportation options exist. Target areas include occupied multi-family residences such as apartment buildings, condominiums and townhouses within the entire 164th, 128th and 20th street traffic sheds where transit is a viable option for commuting.
Activity #8 – Green Fleets (Solar Carports and Electric Vehicles)
A solar array has been installed on the roof of the County Administrative Building and will supply electricity to approximately 16 electrical charging stations to be installed in Level B of the County campus parking garage. A second solar array will be installed on the roof the Fleet Management building at Cathcart and will supply electricity to approximately four accompanying electrical charging stations in an adjacent parking lot. A smart Charging System will be installed at these facilities to allow for increased use of electric powered vehicles in the County, which will be available for public use and for County fleet vehicles. Fleet has purchased five new Nissan Leaf electric vehicles, which will be partially funded through grant monies and partially through County funds. This project also includes enhanced training for local technical students as interns to learn about the maintenance and repair of PHEV and hybrid equipment and vehicles using biodiesel.
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Activity #9 – Energy Audits and Conservation Education Program
This project will provide approximately 600 energy audits for residential and small commercial buildings through partnerships with Snohomish County PUD’s Community Power! program and nonprofit Sustainable Works. Audits will include a written summary of findings and recommendations for weatherization and energy efficiency measures. Homeowners and energy audit participants will also be given information on how to finance energy efficiency projects and retrofits, including low-interest loans provided through the County’s new residential energy efficiency loan program (Activity #10), as well as incentives and rebates offered through Snohomish County PUD.
Activity #10 – Loan and Grant Program for Energy Efficiency and Conservation
The County is developing a residential energy efficiency loan program that will provide long-term, low-interest loans to homeowners to conduct energy efficiency and conservation retrofits. The County will partner with a financial institution to develop a loan program that uses a loan loss reserve (LLR) model. Under the LLR model, the County is able to leverage the amount of grant money available for loans at ratios of 10:1-20:1, and therefore will be able to offer loans to more homeowners. This program will help homeowners achieve cost-effective energy savings.
The grant portion of this activity included EECBG subawards to six recipients at the end of 2010. Local jurisdictions, nonprofits and other agencies were given the opportunity to submit an application for EECBG subaward projects, and the County was able to award funding to all of the applicants.
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Activity #11 – Puget Park Drive LED Streetlamp Pilot Project
This pilot project will replace 37 high-pressure sodium lamps on Puget Park Drive with LED lamps, which are estimated to be 30 percent more energy efficient and last three times longer than the existing street light lamps.
Activity #12 – Energy and Sustainability Office
As part of the EECBG grant award, the County has opened a new Office of Energy and Sustainability with a full-time staff person dedicated to resource conservation, energy efficiency and best practices in sustainability. The Office of Sustainability works in collaboration with County government, residents, businesses, agencies and local groups to support sustainable, energy efficient and livable communities. The new office is committed to providing education, outreach and partnerships that foster sustainable action both in and outside of County government.
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(view Green Scene Map)