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City of Encinitas Print E-mail
Thursday, 07 February 2008 06:55

The city needed a new roof, wanted lower energy costs and hoped for a better view.  PE Consulting provided all that and more with their unique integrated approach.

Project Background:
Encinitas Civic CenterThe City of Encinitas first considered building improvements because their Civic Center roof was leaky and needed replacement. They also recognized that the building was not as efficient as it could be and expressed interest in reducing energy use and associated costs. With a new, modern library being built on the hill above to capture panoramic views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, the City also wanted to "clean up" the Civic Center rooftop below that was cluttered with air conditioning units, duct work and rusting gas lines.

PE Consulting's Role:
PE Consulting developed this project from the beginning. Our engineers provided a feasibility study and conceptual plans for management approval. An investment grade energy audit, maintenance assessment and financial analysis was then provided which resulted in overwhelming City Council approval to move forward with implementation through design/build/finance contracts. In summary, PE Consulting has provided: a feasibility study, building energy simulations, incentive and grant acquisitions, financial modeling, maintenance analysis and complete design. Commissioning and training, EPA Energy Star and USGBC LEED certification are underway.

Solution:
 5th Annual SANDEE Award Winner: City of Encinitas The clutter of packaged rooftop HVAC units were replaced with a small central plant and thermal energy storage with advanced energy management reducing energy costs by 43%. Skylights, advanced day lighting, and a 96 kW solar photovoltaic system was also designed into the new roof to further reduce energy costs by an additional 35%. Our creative design not only provided dramatic utility and maintenance cost savings for the City, it also resulted in: improved aesthetics for the public from the library and neighboring homes, great educational opportunities for the public, improved working conditions (and productivity) for city employees and civic pride as Encinitas leads the way with the first LEED (potentially Silver) certified Civic Center in Southern California. Take a virtual tour!

Environmental Benefits:

  • Annual Energy Savings: 218 kW; 345,634kWh, 999 Therms
  • Annual Emissions Savings: 312,019 lbs CO2 (GHG); 578 lbs NOx (smog); 650 lbs SO2 (acid rain)
  • Equivalent to planting 465 trees each year
  • Equivalent to not driving 341,301 miles in a car annually
  • Equivalent to powering 31 large homes with renewable energy

Awards:


"We were really pleased how PE Consulting educated us about energy efficiency, explored many options, came up with great out-of-the-box solutions, and then walked us through the whole process." Larry Watt, Public Works Director.


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