County government operations created 17,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions last year, and county courthouse buildings are the single largest source of energy use, according to an internal energy-use audit. By comparison, 1,447 homes use the same amount of energy over the course of a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The audit took place between February and May and looked at 2009 county energy statistics. Numbers were verified by the Climate Registry, a nonprofit agency that sets standards to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, said John Druelinger, a county assistant planner who performed the audit.
An $849,000 U.S. Department of Energy grant is paying for several county employees to work on the project, as well as the planned retrofits to county buildings, including new lighting in several county buildings.
“We’re trying to focus it on what can give us the most reasonable payback in a 10- to 15-year period of time,” Druelinger said.
The audit looked at emissions including electricity, natural gas, refrigerants, the landfill, employee commuting and the county’s fleet. Another key component to the audit was finding what needed to be measured and how to measure it, Druelinger said.
The Thurston County commission passed a resolution meant to bolster the path to zero greenhouse gas emissions. Goals include keeping up-to-date energy data available, conducting audits of county facilities and finding cost- and energy-efficient alternatives, analyzing fleet fuel consumption, and developing better online capabilities to promote telecommuting.
Audit results revealed two major factors for the county’s energy footprint: the courthouse and vehicles driven by county employees.
The courthouse buildings, which were built in the 1970s, make up 16 percent of the county government’s building space but account for 49 percent of its total emissions, Druelinger said. They also use 43 percent of the county’s natural gas and 37 percent of its electricity.
Because the courthouse has one of the largest footprints, the county plans to use DOE grant money for several on-site energy-efficient upgrades.
Installing energy-efficient lighting in buildings at the courthouse is expected to reduce annual energy costs by more than $15,000 and annual consumption by 270,000 kilowatt hours, according to the county. Last year, the courthouse buildings used $367,520 worth of electricity. Druelinger said Seattle-based McKinstry Co. will work with the county on the retrofits.
In an interview last week, county project manager Ed Burnett said the county plans to install lighting in several demonstration areas this week, at the request of the county commissioners.
Burnett added that a successful demonstration could usher in a full-scale retrofit of about 1,000 fixtures throughout the courthouse buildings this year.
Another priority for the county is sealing up attics, where both hot and cold air is entering the building and driving up energy costs. County officials say a lot of heat is being lost between the second floor and the ceiling.
The audit also found that commuting made up 26 percent of total county emissions. Reduction suggestions include telecommuting, building better Web infrastructure and creating a mobile office design plan that will encourage alternate commuting.
During Tuesday’s board meeting, County Commissioner Cathy Wolfe said that after looking at the effect of commuting, alternate work scheduling and telecommuting must be considered.
Gas and diesel consumption for both commuters and county vehicles last year totaled 6,568 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 537,000 gallons of fuel, according to audit findings. A future fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles would decrease carbon dioxide output.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476 nhulings@theolympian.com
