Yearout Energy Helps Rio Arriba County Save Energy and Money through Facility Improvement Project

Rio Arriba County tapped Yearout Energy to help them upgrade facilities throughout the county to decrease spending on energy, reduce the carbon footprint of county facilities, and increase the amount of onsite renewable energy generated at county facilities.

First, Yearout Energy performed an investment grade audit (IGA) of several facilities throughout the County to identify and co-develop facility improvement measures that would allow the County to leverage future energy and operational savings through the Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC).

By implementing these energy-saving measures, the county will reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1,170,488 lbs — the equivalent of not burning 546,960 lbs of coal.

The measures selected for implementation included:

  • LED Lighting Improvements
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Solar Photovoltaic Systems
  • HVAC System Improvements
  • Utility Management
  • Swimming Pool Heat Recovery Unit
  • Swimming Pool Condensing Boiler

Beyond reducing energy spending and the county’s carbon footprint, the project provides many other significant benefits to the County, including improved equipment and system reliability, equipment standardization, and improved security through LED outdoor lighting.

In all, Rio Arriba County will save $168,818 in utilities and $12,276 in operations and maintenance costs annually, and receive an estimated $14,960 in utility rebates for a total annual utility cost reduction of 25.25 percent in the first year alone. These cost savings will be used to help fund capital improvements in Rio Arriba County in the years to come.