Annual Municipal Energy Consumption

Berkeley Climate Action Plan: Tracking our Progress
Building Energy Use - Municipal
Goal: Increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public buildings
Performance metric: Annual municipal energy (electricity and natural gas) consumption
Electricity and Natural Gas Consumption (MWh)
However, total energy
consumption (electricity and
natural gas) in City government
buildings increased 14% between
2000 and 2013, mainly due to a
28% increase in total building
square footage. Natural gas use
increased 4% and electricity use
increased 20% in that timeframe.
24.0
Annual Municipal Energy Use Intensity
(Consumption Per Square Foot)
Increasing Building Area
22.0
1,300,000
1,200,000
1,100,000
20.0
1,000,000
18.0
900,000
16.0
800,000
14.0
700,000
12.0
600,000
10.0
500,000
Year
Annual Municipal Energy Consumption
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
Actual - Natural Gas
10,000
Actual - Electricity
Target
5,000
Business As Usual
-
Total Municipal Building Square Footage
Status: City government facilities
are more energy efficient in 2013
than they were in 2000. Due to
ongoing energy upgrades,
energy consumption (electricity
and natural gas) decreased from
approximately 22 KWh per
square foot in 2000 to just under
20 KWh per square foot in 2013,
representing an 11% decrease in
consumption per square foot. i
Electricity & Natural Gas Consumption (KWh/sq ft)
Target: Achieve a 33% (2% per year) reduction below 2000 levels in municipal energy use and associated
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020.
Energy Use Intensity (KWh/sq ft)
Building Area (sq ft)
Current total municipal
building energy consumption
levels are not in line with
targeted reductions. A 41%
reduction from current
annual energy consumption
levels is required in order to
achieve the 2020 target.
As is illustrated in the
following chart, municipal
building GHG emissions are
17% below baseline levels
but 21% higher than
targeted reduction levels as
of 2013. The reduction
below baseline levels is
mainly due to PG&E’s
changing fuel mix for
electricity.
Year
City of Berkeley, Office of Energy & Sustainable Development www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable
Jan-15
GHG Emissions (Metric Tons CO2e)
7,000
Annual Municipal GHG Emissions
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
Actual GHG - Natural Gas
2,000
Actual GHG - Electricity
Target
1,000
Business As Usual
0
Year
The City has several efforts underway to achieve deep and sustained reductions in municipal energy use. For
example, between 2012 and 2014 the City upgraded all of its more than 8,000 streetlights and park lighting to
energy efficiency light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.
The City also recently upgraded both lighting and lighting controls at the South Berkeley Senior Center and the
Center St. Garage, resulting in a reduction of approximately 7,200 KWh per month and an estimated net
savings of nearly $13,000 per year These and other upgrades to building systems, lighting and HVAC controls
result in annual utility bill savings of approximately $380,000.
In addition to energy efficiency measures, the City‘s new West Branch Library uses solar electric and solar
thermal energy to provide most of its lighting, space conditioning (ventilation, heating and cooling) and
domestic hot water. The City also operates solar hot water systems to offset natural gas consumption at the
West Campus Swimming Pool for the showers, and at the Shorebird Park Nature Center, where it provides
space heating as well as hot tap water.
Why is this metric important?
This indicator illustrates the annual trend of electricity and natural gas consumption in City government
buildings. This trend is particularly important to track because the City is committed to playing a leadership role
in the effort to achieve Berkeley’s GHG reduction targets.
Resources and assistance for community members:
Visit the Office of Energy & Sustainable Development website to learn more about City government efforts to
reduce the GHG emissions that result from energy use in City-owned buildings.
Data sources and technical notes:
Annual energy use data and emissions coefficients are provided by PG&E. Square footage information is
obtained from City records. The baseline (year 2000) for the data for this indicator is an average of 1998 –
2001 consumption levels. Facilities include streetlights, traffic signals, buildings, pools, etc. Facilities no longer
operated by the City have been removed from the baseline.
Tracking our progress: Review Climate Action Plan performance metrics at www.cityofberkeley.info/climate.
i
Energy use from irrigation pumps, marina lighting, streetlights and traffic signals is included but there is no square footage
associated with these major uses.
City of Berkeley, Office of Energy & Sustainable Development www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable
Jan-15