Projects
Howard County (MD) Government
Columbia & Laurel, Maryland
Building Performance Tune-Up Implementation
Overview
Global Facility Solutions (GFS) provided building performance tune-up implementation services for Howard County Government, as part of an ongoing effort to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while reducing energy usage at county facilities.
The Howard County Recreation & Parks Headquarters and the North Laurel Community Center were the first county buildings to participate in the BGE Building Performance Tune-Up Program. GFS benchmarked the buildings, provided an ASHRAE Level II audit, implemented low-cost operational improvements.
Project Objectives
- Reduce unnecessary HVAC runtime
- Standardize occupied and unoccupied temperature setpoints
- Restore and optimize BAS functionality
- Improve mechanical system efficiency
- Verify energy savings and secure available incentives
Scope of Work
GFS performed comprehensive implementation services including:
- BAS schedule reprogramming and runtime optimization
- Occupied/unoccupied setpoint adjustments
- Evaporator coil cleaning and air filter replacement (North Laurel)
- HAP energy modeling and savings verification
- BAS trend analysis and documentation for program compliance
- Incentive application support
Solutions
HVAC Schedule Optimization
Rooftop units were operating beyond actual occupancy needs, including instances of continuous 24/7 occupied mode due to BAS communication issues. GFS restored control functionality and aligned schedules with building use, reducing runtime by up to 37.5 hours per week per unit.
Temperature Setpoint Adjustments
Heating and cooling setpoints were standardized across all zones to account for occupied and unoccupied cooling and heating conditions.
These adjustments reduced compressor cycling, stabilized comfort conditions, and lowered both electric and gas consumption.
Mechanical Efficiency Improvements
At North Laurel Community Center, field inspections identified airflow restrictions, leading to maintenance measures to improve airflow and system efficiency.GFS implemented coil cleaning and filter replacement to reduce pressure drop, improve fan efficiency, and restore cooling performance. Improvements were conservatively modeled in HAP to quantify verified savings.
Results
The implemented measures delivered measurable, verified savings:
Howard County Recreation & Parks Facility
- 68,734 kWh/year
- 1,045 therms/year
- $20,620 in approved BGE incentives
- $11,514 annual cost savings
- 54,133 kg CO₂e reduced annually
North Laurel Community Center
- 257,801 kWh/year
- 5,702 therms/year
- $38,845 in approved BGE incentives
- $27,695 annual cost savings
- 74, 928 kg CO₂e reduced annually
All savings were modeled using HAP software and verified through BAS trend data and site documentation in accordance with BGE program requirements.
Results By the Numbers
- 326,535 kWh Annual Electric Savings
- 6,747 Therms Annual Natural Gas Savings
- $39,000+ Annual Energy Cost Savings
- $59,465 Incentives Secured
- 128+ Metric Tons CO₂e Reduced Annually
