TEP is helping Pima County improve the efficiency of its buildings while laying the groundwork to incorporate sustainability standards for future facilities.

The partnership is providing more comfortable public spaces for employees and local residents while helping public resources go further.

Thanks to recent upgrades supported by TEP, Pima County is expected to save more than 800,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually at 20 facilities. That’s about as much energy used by 63 houses in a year.

Last year alone, TEP provided about $50,000 in customer-funded rebates to Pima County for these facility enhancements. Upgrades included maintenance projects, custom chiller installations, HVAC units, coil cleanings, and tuneups. The buildings that underwent upgrades included health offices, park buildings, gyms and the adult detention center. Pima County realized additional savings by optimizing use of the buildings.

Future-Ready Plans

Beyond the completed work, TEP and Pima County developed a plan for future buildings and major renovation projects to integrate energy-efficient equipment and practices from the inception.

“TEP has had a renewed and noticeable push over the last couple of years to help the county understand clearly what opportunities exist for available rebates,” said Eric Wilson, Pima County Energy Program Manager.

One key example is a facility, currently under construction, that will house the Recorder’s Office and Elections Department. The Drexel Road building is undergoing a significant makeover to modernize their work. Pima County will receive a $33,000 rebate for that building, which includes an energy management system and other improvements when it opens later this year.

Assessing the Needs

To address Pima County’s building needs, TEP and county representatives have met every other week over the past 18 months, Wilson said.

TEP booked more than 50 building assessments to determine what could be done to save energy. Even when the buildings didn’t qualify for rebates, the changes to the buildings’ use and small upgrades resulted in major energy savings.

Aracely Lucero, a Key Account Manager on TEP’s Business Development team, coordinated and acted as a liaison to ensure the energy needs were met. She also explored pricing plan options for each building.

In some cases, Pima County facilities benefitted from moving to a time-of-use plan in which the price of electricity varies by the time of day, charging lower amounts for off-peak hours. The plan rewards customers who shift usage away from times of high use. At the Central Plant alone, Pima County is saving about $70,000 a year on electric costs on time-of-use pricing, Lucero said.

“Our partnership with Pima County is built on a shared commitment to responsible resource management. By working closely with Eric and the county facility teams, we help identify and act on opportunities to manage energy usage, improve efficiency, and support the reliable delivery of critical public services,” Lucero said.

Receiving Rebates

County staff referenced TEP’s rebates and incentives in a recent memo to the Pima County Board of Supervisors outlining its work to reduce energy and water consumption. Combined, Pima County has saved $2.2 million on water and energy costs in the past three years, including savings from solar installations.

“The money all goes back into the general fund, which goes to supporting the county at large. It’s a good partnership all around, plus it reduces the burden of all of the utilities,” Wilson said.

TEP’s rebates and assessments extend TEP’s ongoing partnership with Pima County through our economic development efforts, collaboration on electric vehicle chargers, and an outreach program for employees to learn about energy efficiency.