Item Number: {{item.number}}
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: April 16, 2024
Submitted By:
Donna Meester, Director of Community Services
Subject:
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Authorizing Resolution Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-029 authorizing the City Manager or his designee to submit an application for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and execute all grant related documents.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact at this time. If the grant funds are awarded, staff will bring back the item to accept the awarded grant funds.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Strategic Goal E - Investment in Infrastructure: Creating a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City's assets through investment in infrastructure and innovations.
Background:
The Department of Energy has established an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) which is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The IIJA provides $550 million for EECBG Programs until funds are expended. The EECBG awards funds through a set formula rather than a competitive grant process. The EECBG funds available and assigned to the City are $173,590.00 without a required match. In coordination with the Inland Regional Energy network (I-REN), a partner with San Bernardino Council of Governments (SBCOG), staff is seeking authorization to submit an application, due April 30, 2024, for the allocated funds.
The EECBG Program is designed to assist eligible local governments in implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy consumption, and improve energy efficiency in the transportation and building sectors. Staff intend to utilize grant 3 5
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funds to begin upgrades to the City’s Energy Management System (EMS). The EMS controls the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system at City Hall.
Installation of a new EMS will benefit the City by reducing utility costs and lowering our carbon footprint, as well as providing a return on investment.
One major benefit of implementing an energy management system is the reduction in operational costs for heating, cooling, lighting, and water services. An EMS continuously tracks energy usage and stores this data to provide historical energy performance, allowing calculated cost predictions for future usage. The carbon footprint of City property is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by the actions and is directly linked to the energy that it consumes. Having a system in place to continuously measure and control this, assists in highlighting deficiencies that can be improved upon to reduce the environmental impact.
Energy Management Systems often come with built-in cost-saving features such as emitting lower power during peak periods, offering revenue-generating programs, while also identifying if there are any possible energy leaks. These benefits alone are expected to expedite the return on investment after the initial installation cost of an EMS.
The City’s current EMS was installed during the City Hall Expansion Project in 2006.
Unfortunately, the system is obsolete as the software is no longer supported and replacement parts are no longer manufactured. In recent years, there have been control failures within the EMS due to malfunctioning components. Staff have been able to repair the failures so far but anticipate this will become more difficult in the future and could result in a shutdown of the City Hall HVAC system.
Discussion:
Modern EMS have new key features not found in our existing system. An “Activity Dashboard” allows users to quickly understand how efficiently they utilize energy in their facility by calculating and displaying their energy consumption. Email or text notifications may be sent when consumption values exceed pre-defined thresholds based on consumption or cost. Web-based systems provide real-time monitoring, data analysis, key performance indicator measurements, and visualization of energy consumption and savings from anywhere with internet or WiFi connectivity. Multiple site management is used to monitor and control multiple facilities within an organization with a single EMS.
An upgrade of the City’s EMS is estimated between $450,000 to $650,000. The receipt of the EECBG funds will enable staff to begin Phase I of replacing the EMS. Phase I will include purchase and installation of software, control modules, and associated work for a section of City Hall. Although no match is required, staff are planning to request $26,410.00 in the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 budget to supplement the grant and support this effort. As additional funds become available, staff will continue to phase out the existing EMS, and move equipment into the new system.
In accordance with V.M.C. 2.28.060 (e) (10), staff is seeking Council approval of Resolution No. 24-029 (Attachment A) authorizing the City Manager or his designee to 3 5
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proceed with the submittal of application for the EEGBG Program (Attachment B) enabling the City to receive $173,590.00 without a required match.
Staff is available for questions.
Attachments: A. Resolution No. 24-029
B. EECBG Application
C. Terms and Conditions