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Preliminary county energy and water audit shows a small number of buildings drive most use
Summary
Consultants from RDH Building Science presented preliminary findings showing roughly 8–10 county buildings account for about 80% of total energy use; the audit will evaluate low‑cost and capital measures and include payback analysis and recommended recommissioning cycles.
SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. — Consultants from RDH Building Science presented preliminary results of a countywide energy and water audit during the Dec. 15 commission meeting, telling commissioners that a relatively small subset of buildings account for the bulk of the county’s energy use and that a combination of low‑cost operational fixes and targeted capital upgrades will be evaluated for cost‑effectiveness.
Wojtek Grama of RDH said the project was funded primarily through a U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (about $78,000) with the San Juan County Commission supplying an additional $37,000. RDH examined nearly 50 buildings totaling roughly 800,000 square feet, modeled energy performance, and completed site visits to about 15 buildings, including the adult detention center.
Grama highlighted that “8 to 10 buildings out of the 50 in scope represent almost 80% of the total energy consumption” for the county portfolio and that some buildings have reduced energy use since the prior 2009 study while others have increased, in part because of added computing loads and changed occupancy. The consultants said they will run financial analyses that compare capital cost to energy savings to estimate payback periods and will recommend measures ranging from low‑cost behavioral changes (for example, adjusting kitchen exhaust schedules) to higher‑cost equipment replacements.
Commissioners asked about how building comparisons are normalized given different designs, and RDH said modeling plus on‑site visits allow them to adjust for differing HVAC types and occupancy. RDH also recommended periodic recommissioning — a control and systems review every few years — to prevent performance drift.
The audit is ongoing; consultants said additional analysis and final recommendations will be provided to county staff.
