WASHINGTON — Lighting upgrades, new windows, solar water heating and new cooling and heating systems.
Those are just some of the improvements to Metro facilities that are planned to be made under this program that will save the transit agency millions of dollars in energy costs over the next ten years, official said.
Metro has hired Pepco Energy Services to evaluate at least five facilities to determine where the agency could reduce costs. The transit agency pays $26 million a year on average for electricity at its facilities, which does not include power for the trains.
After an initial assessment, the company estimated the entire system could save at least $4 million a year in energy costs if upgrades were made to lighting, heating, cooling and other energy consuming systems that serve Metro’s buildings, maintenance facilities, garages and stations.
Pepco Energy Services would design and install new lighting and heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems and water conservation measures. Metro would use money saved in energy and maintenance costs to pay for equipment upgrades during the 10 year contract.
“We will begin saving as soon as the first light fixture is replaced,” said Metro Chief Financial Officer Charles Woodruff. “There will be better working conditions from day one, as well as reductions in maintenance costs with new equipment.”
“As a retail energy supplier to Metro this project represents a great way to help an important and valued customer improve their energy infrastructure and reduce their energy costs even further,” said Pepco Energy Services President and Chief Operating Officer John Huffman.
A wholly owned subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), Pepco Energy Services has performed similar energy audits and implemented numerous energy performance contracts throughout the Washington metropolitan region, and Mid-Atlantic, including federal agencies, area school districts, municipal governments and universities.
— Special to Railfanning.org News Wire
