Virginia Beach is uniquely situated to become a major player in alternative energy resources research and development, including solar, biofuels, biomass power, geothermal, wind, and ocean power. More traditional energy development opportunities may also exist in offshore natural gas exploration and development. As these resources are further evaluated, special precautions need to be taken to ensure that energy resources are developed in a manner that protects natural resources and fosters sustainable energy management.
Energy Management
Energy Star Partnership
In April 2011, the City of Virginia Beach joined the ENERGY STAR program as an ENERGY STAR partner. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Through the many ENERGY STAR tools and resources, this program offers extensive energy conservation information that can be used at both home and work.
In partnership with ENERGY STAR, the City of Virginia Beach will continue its energy conservation efforts to include:
- Measuring and tracking the energy performance of our organization's facilities, where possible, by using tools such as those offered through ENERGY STAR;
- Developing and implementing a plan consistent with the ENERGY STAR Energy Management Guidelines to achieve energy savings;
- Spreading the word about the importance of energy efficiency to our staff and community.
Joint Energy Committee
The City of Virginia Beach’s Joint Energy
Committee (JEC) was created in the spring of 2007 in response to the City’s
rising energy costs and still exists today. The JEC includes
representatives from various City departments, the Virginia Beach City Public
schools, various vendors and our utility providers.
The JEC is the team that currently sets
energy goals for municipal operations. Focusing on energy efficiency and
conservation initiatives in municipal operations saves the taxpayer money and
is a positive step towards carbon neutrality. A commitment to green buildings
also adds great value as these buildings provide safe, affordable and healthy
environments for residents, students, and workers.
The Joint Energy Committee meets on the
first Thursday of every other month and agendas include vendor presentations on
cutting edge energy technology, study reports, energy goal updates and other information.
The Joint Energy Committee recognizes that
energy efficiency may be the cheapest and most underutilized resource for local
economic and community development. A key part of green building is energy
efficiency, which lowers operating costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions
without turning off any lights. The committee also recognizes the value
of properly managing energy for municipal operations. The City pays
approximately $20 million dollars in energy costs a year while maintaining
approximately three million square feet of building space. Virginia Beach
City Public Schools pays over $15 million to maintain almost 11 million square
feet of building space.
City of Virginia Beach Energy Office
Based on the energy management need
identified by the Joint Energy Committee, the energy office was created in July
2010 and provides a full-time Energy Management Office for the monitoring of
municipal energy management. This office is staffed by the Energy Management
Administrator and an Energy Specialist and is located in the Department of
Public Work’s Division of Facilities Management. Using energy/utility payment
software, the office processes bills and monitoring city energy usage while
looking for new ways to save City funds energy costs.
Energy Champion Training Program
The City recognizes that City employees are
a factor in energy conservation and actively engages them in its energy
reduction efforts. Since 2013, the City has
trained members on energy saving policies. Once members complete the course
material and pass a test, they are certified as "Energy Champions".
They then return to the work environment and assist with making our operations
more energy efficient. Annual energy
awards recognizes those who go above and beyond.
Energy Conservation - Space Heaters
Energy Conservation - Plug Load
City of Virginia Beach Energy Conservation for Employees – Driving To Meetings