Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant

Last update: May 2, 2010

On March 9, 2010 the Larimer County Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Strategy was approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This approval allows Larimer County to proceed with the Activities outlined in the Strategy for the use of the $364,200.00 award.

Orientation to the Strategy: The EECBG program identified 14 eligible Activity areas for use of DOE funds. The Larimer County Strategy selected 5 Activity areas and specific projects within those Activity areas. Listed below are the 5 proposed Activity areas, specific projects (when there is more than one project inside a particular Activity area), and the funds to be allocated.

Activity #1: Development of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy - $165,705.00 - this includes wages, benefits, training and conferences, for hiring an Energy Conservation Specialist, as well as other administrative expenses, and office supplies (funds to cover a two-year period)
Activity #2: Technical Consultant Services - $5,000.00 - to hire technical consultant services to perform the first comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) inventory inclusive of all Larimer County Government operations (with coordination and assistance from the Energy Conservation Specialist)
Activity #6: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs for Buildings and Facilities
- Development of employee engagement programs for energy efficiency - task of the Energy Conservation Specialist
- Purchase energy management software - $10,000.00
- Establish an account with EPA Portfolio Manager - task of the Energy Conservation Specialist
- Expansion of the Virtual Server environment - $29,000.00 from EECBG and $46,000.00 from the Technology Services Department for a total project cost of $75,000.00
- Create Energy Policy and Energy Action Plan - task of the Energy Conservation Specialist
Activity #8: Building Codes and Inspections - $69,495.00 to be allocated to the Building Department to assist in the purchase (code books), training and adoption of 2009 IECC and IRC Building Codes as well as further development of a Larimer County voluntary Green Building Code.
Activity #13: Renewable Energy Technologies on Government Buildings - $85,000.00 for a solar photovoltaic array on the Larimer County Courthouse Office (LCCO) building located at 200 W. Oak Street, Fort Collins, CO. The EECBG funds will be combined with previous DOE grant funding to install a 26.82 kW array.

A few Activity status updates: Larimer County is now activity engaged in the execution of the projects proposed within the Strategy and the 5 corresponding Activity areas. Larimer County hired an Energy Conservation Specialist on August 3, 2009, who completed the Strategy and will continue to prepare quarterly reports, and implement and monitor the various projects outlined in the individual Activity worksheets. With the Strategy development 100% completed and approved other grant performance Activities are being planned or implemented and remain ongoing. The Larimer County EECBG performance period will run from September 2009 - September 2011.

Activity #6 - Expansion of the Virtual Server environment was 100% completed in Quarter 1, 2010. Expansion of the Larimer County Data Center Virtual Server environment included: compete the purchase, configuration and stand-up of the two new VMware Data Servers and EMC disk expansion; and start continued consolidation of single-service servers into the expanded Virtual Server farm. Estimated energy saving (server equipment only): 90,491 kWh annually. Actual costs to complete the project were: $28,990.89 of EECBG funds and $46,384.39 (as "leveraged" funds) from the Larimer County Technology Services Department for a total project cost of $75,375.28.
Activity #13 - Renewable Energy Technologies on Government Buildings. This project was constructed in April, 2010 and should be operational and delivering clean solar power to the LCCO beginning in May 2010. It is estimated that the system will generate 3252 kWh of electricity per month. On average, the LCCO consumes 238,555 kWh of electricity per month. The total projects costs of $158,529.30 are covered through 3 sources: EECBG funds, Renewable Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI) grant funds, and Larimer County Facilities Services Department. In addition, it is estimated that the system will help Larimer County eliminate 60,000 lbs of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere on an annual basis.

For additional information:

To learn about the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program visit: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/
To gain a broader perspective about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs, (the EECBG is just one of the programs and initiatives of the EERE), please visit: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/recovery/
The U.S. Governments official website providing easy access to data related to Recovery Act spending (since November 2009, Larimer County reports are searchable here): http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/home.aspx