Federal buildings are energy hogs, using about 32% more energy per square foot than the average private sector building, while spending $4.2 billion annually for power and fuel.

Most affected will be the Defense Department, which accounts for 75% of energy used by the federal government.

Viron-Pepco contract

Viron Energy Services is a subsidiary of York International Corp., York, Pa. Pepco Energy Services is a subsidiary of Potomac Electric Power Co., Washington, D.C.

The 18-year, $200 million contract will implement energy-saving measures for the Military District of Washington (MDW). The MDW is a major Army command encompassing five Army posts. More than 2,100 buildings were examined for energy improvements.

Viron and Pepco Energy Services will provide energy engineering, equipment installation, construction supervision, maintenance, operations, and monitoring over the contract’s term to produce energy savings that will pay for these improvements.

The energy-saving measures will cover a range of technologies, including lighting, building envelope, building automation systems, chillers, controls, hvac, boilers, and water conservation. Some of the energy-saving measures will include the following.

• A total of 888 cooling units will be replaced or retrofitted, cutting energy use in 343 buildings and reducing associated energy costs by more than $1 million annually.

• Replacement and retrofitting of air-handling units in 126 buildings will reduce energy consumption by 14 million kWh. This will mean annual savings of $742,000.

• Two central steam plants will be replaced with new gas-fired boilers, saving $655,000 annually. And,

• A new absorption chiller and chilled-water distribution line will be installed at one site, saving approximately 270,000 kWh and $21,000 annually.