Immediate cost savings through EMS at TRO DEQ
Can an Environmental Management System Save Energy and Money?
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has adopted an Environmental Management System (EMS) to help the Agency continually improve the environmental performance as well as the cost-effectiveness of its operations. The DEQ EMS is initially targeting low cost and no cost options to conserve water, reduce waste, and save energy. Even at an early stage of application, the EMS is having positive impacts on the Agency's finances as well as the environment. For example, the DEQ Tidewater Regional Office (TRO, Virginia Beach) has estimated over $2600 in savings in its electric bill during the last six months versus the same period in 2001 despite a hotter summer in 2002, which usually increases power demand. The roughly 43,000 kilowatt-hour savings translates to avoiding emissions of approximately 248 lbs. of sulfur dioxide, 129 lbs. of nitrogen oxides, and over 24.5 tons of carbon dioxide based on average Virginia power generation.
If the TRO experience is representative, then over $18,000 could be saved over the same period at DEQ's seven regional offices, with concomitant emissions avoidance. Including the DEQ Central Office and satellite facilities would yield even greater savings. Very significant savings could accrue to the taxpayer if the TRO example was emulated across state government, from the local ABC store and the state university system to agency headquarters in Richmond and the Capitol complex.
The TRO success story comes from simple no cost actions such as turning off unused lights and monitors and powering down computers at the end of the day. Low cost options, such as retrofitting exit lamps with LEDs, would yield even greater savings and financial returns. Environmental Management Systems can yield immediate returns.