Lighting

Houston is teaming up with Siemens Building Technologies and TAC Americas to undertake a major retrofit of the city’s buildings to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

The move is part of the city’s commitment to the C40/Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), which brings together energy companies, financial institutions and cities under the auspices of the Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit programme.

“We’re committed to making these changes and institutionalizing best sustainability practices in the way the city of Houston operates,” says Mayor Bill White. “It will improve our quality of life, protect the environment, save us money, and it’s simply the right thing to do.”

The first phase of the initiative will see Siemens Building Technologies and TAC Americas analyse the retrofit potential of over 0.5 km² of city facilities, finding ways to conserve energy and water through efficient lighting and HVAC. The city is seeking energy reductions of 20-30% in each building.

“Our first priority will be to consider what improvements can be made to the City of Houston’s 271 facilities, addressing energy efficiency, conservation and operational cost reductions,” says Issa Dadoush of the city’s General Services Department.

When implemented, the energy efficiency measures are expected to save the city millions of dollars a year and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are doing many things throughout the City to manage our costs and save energy,” says the mayor. “Our goal is to make Houston the energy conservation capital of the world.”

For further information:
www.buildingtechnologies.usa.siemens.com/
www.houstontx.gov/
www.tac.com/us/
www.c40cities.org/