Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open to visitors by appointment only. Please call or email from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-7136 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 533
Fairfax, VA 22035
John Morrill
Director

Energy Performance Project Summaries

In 2020, Fairfax County entered into an agreement with an energy service company (ESCO) to improve the energy performance of facilities owned by Fairfax County Government, Fairfax County Park Authority, and Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Through this partnership, ESCOs provide comprehensive energy-saving solutions by assessing buildings, identifying and implementing cost-effective upgrades, guaranteeing energy savings, and verifying those savings over time. This performance-based model ensures that county investments are tied directly to proven strategies and that long-term efficiency goals are achieved.

This page showcases successful ESCO projects across county facilities, highlighting the energy, cost and environmental benefits realized through this work.

Project Background:

The Fairfax County Public Library's Great Falls Library underwent a comprehensive energy retrofit in 2025 aimed at improving energy efficiency and supporting Fairfax County’s climate action goals. The upgrades included replacing outdated boilers and pumps, enhancing building automation systems, installing energy-efficient LED lighting, improving water fixtures, and sealing the building envelope. The heating system upgrades (new boiler and pumps) were completed in just three weeks in August — to ensure the building would be ready in case of any chilly early fall days — and all heating work was performed in the mornings before the library opened to minimize impacts on operations and patrons. These modernized systems are expected to optimize energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a more comfortable space for staff and visitors.

Results:

  • Projected 15% reduction in energy use
  • Support countywide sustainability initiatives that delivered over $5.4 million in avoided costs across facilities in FY2025
  • Lower utility bills
  • Direct alignment with the county’s climate action and greener operations commitments

Scope of Impact:

The Great Falls Library serves as a community hub, benefiting both staff and visitors with a more energy-efficient and comfortable environment. It also functions as a designated cooling center, offering a place of refuge for residents who lack access to comfortable conditions at home during extreme hot weather. As part of Fairfax County’s energy performance contracting program, the library project demonstrates how targeted energy upgrades can positively impact public spaces while advancing the county’s environmental and operational goals.

Project Background:

In summer 2024, the Fairfax County Park Authority's Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean, Virginia underwent major energy upgrades, including rooftop solar panels, geothermal HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters, updated LED lighting, and advanced building controls. Many of the center's major equipment systems were at or near the end of their life, and the holistic ESCO approach, combined with funding from multiple sources, allowed all upgrades to take place at once rather than being spread out over several years. Combining the upgrades into a single, integrated project made it possible to install the geothermal system; if the work had been done piecemeal, the facility would likely have retained similar conventional systems and not realized nearly the same level of energy savings. These improvements were aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and cutting operating costs, while replacing outdated equipment in a sustainable way.

Results:

  • Reduced electricity use by 42% and natural gas consumption by 18% in the first year
  • Achieved $105,575 in total cost savings
  • Cut greenhouse gas emissions by 38% compared to 2019 baseline

Scope of Impact:

The upgrades improved energy reliability and sustainability for this high-use community center, while reducing strain on the local electric grid during peak summer months. The 125-ton geothermal heat pump system preserved the adjacent field as usable green space while enhancing heating and cooling efficiency for the building. Collectively, the changes increased comfort for users, reduced long-term maintenance costs, and demonstrated the Fairfax County Park Authority’s commitment to sustainable operations, serving as a model for similar retrofits.

Awards:

The project received the 2025 Energy Efficiency Award from the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, recognizing its innovative and impactful energy upgrades. The project also earned the 2025 U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Project Award, further showcasing the facility’s exceptional commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. These honors highlight the success of the project team in implementing cutting-edge solutions and inspiring other facilities to pursue similar energy enhancements.

Project Background:

The Pender Office Building in Fairfax, Virginia completed extensive energy upgrades in December 2023, including LED lighting retrofits, high-performance HVAC system upgrades, and a new rooftop solar array. Energy-efficient measures, such as low-E window film and building envelope enhancements, also improved occupant comfort and thermal efficiency. The project was driven by baseline energy audit findings conducted in August 2022 and designed to support Fairfax County’s Operational Energy Strategy goals, which aim for 50% energy reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040.

Results: 

  • Achieved 41% reduction in electricity consumption, saving 545,981 kWh
  • Saved $44,000 in utility costs during the first year of operation
  • Generated 116,860 kWh of clean solar energy, offsetting 15% of total electricity
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 326 metric tons
  • Qualified for a new electric rate, project to deliver an additional $26,000 in savings

Scope of Impact:

This project serves Fairfax County Government by helping meet aggressive climate action goals and enhances the occupant experience with improved ventilation, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort. The success of the upgrades offers a model for sustainable retrofits of other commercial office buildings across the county and showcases the feasibility of achieving meaningful environmental and economic benefits through energy performance contracting.

Awards:

The Pender Office Building energy project earned the 2024 Virginia Energy Efficiency Council Leadership Award, recognizing its innovation and impactful energy improvements. The project highlights collaboration between Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and engineering consultant CMTA, serving as model of sustainability for commercial office buildings. 

Project Background:

The Fairfax County Park Authority's Cub Run Rec Center in Chantilly, Virginia, underwent a $1.24 million energy retrofit aimed at reducing energy consumption and supporting Fairfax County’s Operational Energy Strategy (OES) goals. Completed in 2022, the project introduced innovative upgrades, including a dedicated heat recovery chiller (DHRC), variable-primary pumping, retro-commissioning of airside equipment, and advanced building controls. These upgrades addressed the challenges of maintaining thermal comfort and proper ventilation in indoor pool spaces while improving the building’s overall energy efficiency.

Results:

  • Achieved a 60% reduction in overall energy consumption
  • Avoided $316,000 in operating costs within the first year
  • Electricity demand decreased by 19%
  • Reduced natural gas usage, cutting annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,636 tons of CO2

Scope of Impact:

Cub Run Rec Center transitioned from being the county’s least energy-efficient building to a high-performing facility, setting a model for future retrofits across the Park Authority system. The project improved indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and ventilation in pool areas and other facility spaces, directly benefiting visitors and staff. Countywide, the project played a pivotal role in contributing to a 12% reduction in natural gas use across all Fairfax County government facilities reported in FY23.

Awards:

The Cub Run Rec Center earned prestigious recognition for its innovative energy upgrades. The facility received a regional and national Technology Award from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), highlighting its transformation into a high-performing and energy-efficient recreation center for the Park Authority. Additionally, Cub Run and South Run Rec Centers were jointly recognized with the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council’s 2023 Leadership Award, celebrating their outstanding contributions to energy efficiency and sustainability. These accolades underscore Fairfax County’s commitment to achieving ambitious climate action goals and setting a standard for sustainable facility improvements.

OES: Energy Use and Efficiency

Achieving carbon neutrality in county operations by 2040 will require substantial investment to reduce energy use in existing county facilities. These investments will include both deep energy efficiency retrofits and conservation measures to lower costs and overall emissions that contribute to climate change.

On this page, you’ll find more information about Fairfax County’s efforts to make its buildings more energy efficient.

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