Achieving carbon neutrality in county operations by 2040 — the overarching goal of Fairfax County's Operational Energy Strategy — 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. From fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2023, total building energy use decreased by more than 16%, despite a 12% increase in total building floor area during that period.
Goal: Decrease energy use 25% by 2030, as compared to the FY 2018 baseline.
Progress: 16% decrease in FY 2023 versus the FY 2018 baseline.
Operational Energy Strategy in Action: Energy Performance Projects
Fairfax County is identifying and implementing high-impact, energy efficiency projects that can save money, lower carbon emissions, and make buildings more comfortable for staff and visitors. These projects often involve upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning with high-efficiency systems, updating building automation and controls, installing rooftop solar systems, and more.
In Fairfax County, energy use in buildings is one of the top two sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the county is making efforts to lower its carbon footprint by addressing energy efficiency and conservation in county government buildings. Efficiency is all about using energy wisely while conservation is about cutting back on energy use in the first place.
To reduce overall emissions and energy costs, the county is making energy efficiency an integral part of facility management, capital improvement and renovation projects, including the pursuit of deep energy reduction retrofits.
Workers installing a new boiler at Spring Hill Rec Center
Through its energy performance contracting program, the county is analyzing and identifying high-impact, energy-saving projects such as upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment with high-efficiency systems, updating building automation & controls, improving water efficiency, installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and where possible, replacing natural gas equipment with high-efficiency electric alternatives like heat pumps.
Where whole-building approaches to deep energy retrofits are not feasible, the county will implement conservation measures on existing buildings. These improvements result in higher performing buildings that are more comfortable for employees and visitors.
ESCOs offer comprehensive energy saving solutions by performing building assessments, identifying energy saving upgrades, calculating guaranteed savings, implementing selected upgrades, and verifying the savings. This model ensures that the dollars spent by the county are directly tied to effective strategies and practices, and that energy-saving goals are realized over time.
The ESCO process works as follows:
Building Identification: The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) works with county agencies to identify buildings that are candidates for ESCO projects – prioritizing those with the most potential for energy savings.
Investment Grade Audit: The ESCO performs an investment grade audit of the facility which involves a walkthrough of the site with county staff. The ESCO then submits a report with a list of energy conservation measures (ECMs) to the county for review.
Final Design: The county then selects ECMs to bundle as projects from their recommendations based on cost effectiveness and equipment requirements. Bundling ECMs can help improve the overall cost effectiveness and impact of a project. The county may choose not to move forward with a project if it would be cost prohibitive or disruptive to operations.
Permits and Bidding: After selection of the ECMs, the ESCO finalizes the design for the project and calculates annual energy savings guarantees. The ESCO will then bid the work to subcontractors and develop the final price for construction before starting the work. Fairfax County and the ESCO sign an Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC), locking in the scope, cost of work and the energy savings guarantee. In parallel, the ESCO submits construction documents to the county permit office for approval to begin construction.
Construction / Install: The ESCO coordinates with county facilities staff on pre-construction planning and then mobilizes its subcontractors to perform the scope of work agreed to in the contract. Existing equipment can be replaced, modified or enhanced, and new equipment like solar PV can be installed, depending on the scope. When construction is complete, county inspectors approve the work, and the ESCO performs commissioning – final testing to ensure systems are operating as intended.
Measurement and Verification: Once the work is complete, the ESCO will conduct measurement and verification assessments of the facilities to ensure the guaranteed savings are achieved. For any given year, if the actual savings were less than the guaranteed savings, the ESCO renumerates Fairfax County to make up for the shortfall. If actual savings exceeds the guaranteed savings, the county benefits from the additional savings.
As of early 2024, the county’s ESCO projects have resulted in annual avoided utility costs in excess of $471,000, and more than 900 tons of carbon emissions abated, which are the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
See map below for locations of county government buildings where energy service company projects have been completed or are planned for the next several years. Projects are divided into two categories: ESCO projects with multiple energy efficiency measures (labeled "ESPC") and solar-only ESCO projects (labeled "Solar").
The first projects were completed in 2022 and more are in-progress or planned at existing buildings through 2025. Learn more about some of these projects on the ESCO's website.
To view the visualization in full screen mode, click on the double arrow in the gray strip at the bottom right corner.
To learn more about what certain energy conservation measures are, please read Energy Conservation Measures Definitions list below.
HVAC: Upgrading systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Lighting: Installing energy-efficient lights, such as LED bulbs
Solar: Installing solar panels to generate clean electricity
Building Envelope: Improving exterior walls, windows, and doors to reduce drafts and air leakage
Building Controls: Implementing smart building controls for HVAC systems
Water Efficiency: Upgrading water fixtures and plumbing to reduce water use
Transformer Improvements: Enhancing the efficiency of electricity delivery
Low-E Window Film: Installing film on windows to reduce solar heat, decreasing air conditioning needs
Geothermal Heat Pumps: Using ground temperatures to heat and cool the building
Electrification: Replacing fossil fuel-powered equipment with efficient electric-powered equipment
Pool Dehumidification Units: Upgrading HVAC equipment that maintains a comfortable environment in indoor pools
Energy Savings Spotlight: Cub Run Recreation Center
Located in Chantilly, this 65,000-square foot Fairfax County Park Authority facility houses a competition pool and a leisure pool with water-park features, as well as offices, multipurpose rooms, and a fitness center. An award-winning energy services company project in 2022 resulted in a 60% reduction in energy use and approximately $316,000 of actual avoided costs in the first year of operation.
Curious how much electricity and natural gas is being used in Fairfax County facilities? The Fairfax County Government Energy Data page includes overall energy use, cost and emissions data for buildings and facilities managed by the county's Facilities Management Department (FMD) and Park Authority (FCPA).
The Operational Energy Strategy promotes cost-effective solutions and an energy-conscious culture for county government operations. The plan sets goals, targets and actions across major focus areas – including building energy and water use, fleet electrification, and waste management.
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