Case Study: U.S. Department of the Interior achieves 70% water reduction and $87M in energy and cost savings with Ameresco

Efficiency Measures at DOI Headquarters Building Expected to Reduce Water Consumption by 70%

The U.S. Department of the Interior selected Ameresco to deliver a $77 million, 20-year Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) to modernize its 1.3 million sq. ft. headquarters in Washington, D.C. The goal was to meet federal sustainability requirements and dramatically reduce water, electricity and steam use while optimizing building operations through comprehensive water conservation and energy efficiency upgrades.

Ameresco installed building automation and ongoing energy management services, new plumbing fixtures and groundwater-harvesting systems, 9,400 LED fixtures with advanced lighting controls, over 500 windows with between-glass blinds, and an open-protocol DDC system. These measures are expected to reduce water consumption by 70%, electricity use by 31% and steam utilization by 12%, lower greenhouse gas emissions by 24%, realize $3.2M in first-year savings and approximately $87M in energy and cost savings over the contract term.

U.S. Department of the Interior