by Shane Henson — November 7, 2011—In an effort to increase energy performance in federal buildings throughout the United States, the U.S. General Services Administration has launched a Net Zero Renovation Challenge that urges the private sector to improve the energy performance of federal buildings through the use of energy service performance contracts (ESPCs), aiming for net-zero energy use.
Under an ESPC, a private-sector energy services company develops and installs energy improvements such as energy-efficient lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and more efficient roofs, walls, doors and windows. The building owner then repays the energy company for the capital expenditure over a maximum 25-year period from the resulting energy savings. After the capital expenditure is repaid, the building’s owner then realizes the energy savings for the life of the building.
In the challenge recently unveiled, 16 energy services companies that already provide ESPCs to federal agencies will now present the best retrofit plans for approximately 30 federal buildings across the country. These projects will be evaluated by a panel of independent experts based on energy savings, financial and technical innovation and applicability to other federal buildings.
The winning entries will be awarded the ESPCs, as well as additional ESPCs in the future.
