Pierce County has reduced energy use by 12.4 percent since 2009, saving taxpayers $858,000. Staff in three Pierce County buildings have done exceptionally well with reducing energy and will receive the "Biggest Energy Loser" award for 2011. The award comes from Pierce County Facilities Management's Resource Conservation program, which is highlighting best practices in recognition of Sustainability Month. One of the buildings receiving the award is Pierce County's Main Jail, which replaced its 25-year-old HVAC system and updated inefficient lighting systems. These improvements reduced the building's energy use by 8 percent, which is saving $36,250 annually in energy costs. Three people will receive the award on behalf of staff: Bob Hamilton, maintenance supervisor; Steve Smith, maintenance foreman; and Deborah Anderson, construction project manager. The other award winners are Pierce County's Environmental Services Building, which has reduced energy consumption by 10 percent, and the Meridian Habitat Community Center, which has cut energy use by 29 percent. Those successes are the result of energy-efficient capital improvements, operational changes by building operators and proactive staff efforts. Brian Ruda and Tom Cornwall will receive the award on behalf of the Environmental Services Building, and Derald Randall and John Howard will receive the award on behalf of the Meridian Habitat Community Center. "This is a great example of how we can operate our government services more efficiently and reduce our impact on the environment," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. "Every member of the Pierce County staff is doing his or her part to save energy." In 2009 Pierce County set the goal to reduce energy use by 15 percent by 2015, and has been working to reach that goal ahead of schedule. This initiated efforts to establish benchmarks for buildings. The three "Biggest Energy Loser" buildings saved more than $43,000 in energy costs in 2011. This is just a portion of Pierce County's overall energy conservation savings, which is now totaling over $858,000 for the past two years. "We hope that competitions like the 'Biggest Energy Loser' will promote energy conservation throughout Pierce County," said Energy Conservation Coordinator Jessica Ludwig. "This is a competition with a serious goal: to implement energy-saving best practices and operational changes." CONTACT: Jessica Ludwig, energy conservation coordinator 253-798-6611 [email protected]