NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The upgrade of two of the state’s largest office buildings has cut energy expenses by more than half, and will provide a model for a long-term plan to reduce the growth in energy costs in state buildings.

The State of Tennessee, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Nashville Electric Service (NES) partnered to complete a large-scale energy-efficient retrofit at the Andrew Jackson and Rachel Jackson state office buildings in Nashville. The projected savings: $800,000 annually, a savings of 55 percent of the buildings’ normal energy costs. That’s not all: other benefits include improved comfort and safety as well as additional savings in maintenance and operation costs.

“The pilot project proved tremendously successful and we’re anxious to take this template to more state facilities,” said Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz. “While the pilot’s capital investment was $4 million, the project will pay for itself in less than five years through energy savings alone.”

"TVA is proud to be a partner with the State of Tennessee and NES on this successful project," said TVA Director Bill Baxter. "Working together, we have achieved significant financial savings for the State and the taxpayers. TVA looks forward to continuing to work with Governor Bredesen and his Administration."

The Jackson buildings encompass more than 620,000 square feet and the buildings share staff, security and common utilities. The reductions in energy use were achieved through a number of measures:

• A lighting retrofit that included energy-efficient lamps and ballasts as well as a control system to limit the use of lighting when the buildings are unoccupied
• A centralized control station for heating and cooling
• More effective use of outside air to supplement heating and
cooling
• Steam and chilled water piping and ventilation ductwork changes
• Variable-frequency drives on pumps, and certain air-handling units
• Quick-acting doors on the garage level, preventing winter heat loss.

The project is part of the State Building Energy Management Program’s Energy Action Plan, designed to help state agencies improve energy efficiency and the condition of state facilities while generating operational savings and having a more positive environmental impact.

In the next phase of the project, the state is applying the energy-efficiency concepts at the nearby Polk Building, Andrew Johnson Tower, Cordell Hull Building, Citizen’s Plaza State Office Building and the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower. In addition, several Tennessee State Parks facilities are being similarly upgraded, including Henry Horton, Fall Creek Falls, Norris Dam and Paris Landing.