Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy And Sustainability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District energy report shows rising EUI; staff to explore solar and federal incentives
Summary
Energy manager said district Energy Use Intensity (EUI) rose to about 40 this year, driven by increased ventilation, after-hours events and construction; staff and trustees discussed solar farm experience and the Inflation Reduction Act as options to reduce operating costs.
The operations committee heard Oct. 8 from JD Atkinson, the district’s energy-management coordinator, who summarized the district’s annual state energy report and a rise in Energy Use Intensity (EUI).
Atkinson said the district’s EUI moved to about 40 for the year and attributed the increase to higher outside-air ventilation since the pandemic, more after-hours events and a number of active construction projects that require systems to run during build-out. “This past year, we were at 40,” Atkinson said, adding that increased fresh-air ventilation and more event hours make equipment work harder in South Carolina’s hot, humid climate.
Board members questioned the cost implications. One trustee noted EUI rose about 10% while cost per square foot rose roughly 25%; Atkinson and staff said part of the cost increase includes a 7% utility-rate increase and the extra run time required for buildings under construction. The district also reported it operates a small solar installation at the district office; staff said that system returned about $14,000 this year and paid for itself in roughly five years when originally installed.
Discussion turned to potential solar expansion. Staff said modern panels are more efficient than older arrays and that the Inflation Reduction Act can cover a substantial share of installation costs (staff cited potential federal incentives around 30% or more), and pledged to investigate where solar could fit in next year’s capital-planning cycle.
What’s next: staff will include a solar-feasibility review in near-term capital planning and return with a payback analysis that factors Inflation Reduction Act incentives and available capital-fund uses.
