Baker-Polito Administration Announces Investment in Commonwealth Building Energy Intelligence Program

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Investment in Commonwealth Building Energy Intelligence Program

Program Will Result in Energy, Cost and Emissions Reductions at State Facilities

BOSTON – May 4, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a plan to significantly reduce energy use and costs at state facilities through the signing of a three-year, $5.6 million deal with Boston-based EnerNOC, Inc. and use of advanced energy metering and analytics to highlight opportunities for increased energy efficiency at state properties.  The new contract, signed by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) with EnerNOC, will create the Commonwealth Building Energy Intelligence  (CBEI) program, through which energy usage at millions of square feet state buildings will be tracked in real-time and provide recommendations for reducing energy use.  

 “This innovative program further signals our commitment to using advanced technologies and cutting edge strategies to make state government more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sound,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This initiative will ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in energy efficiency standards and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

“This program will yield considerable energy savings and carbon footprint reductions for the Commonwealth,”said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The Baker-Polito Administration continues to be committed to a clean, affordable and resilient energy future and hopes to set an example for other entities and Massachusetts citizens to look into energy efficiency solutions.”

“Through the Commonwealth Building Energy Intelligence program, we are furthering our pledge to lead by example in reducing the environmental impacts of state government,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The program will leverage new technology solutions to promote sustainable energy practices at state facilities and help us meet our Global Warming Solutions Act goals.”

These services will provide state facilities with access to real-time metering, building management system integration, utility bill management and building energy analytics, enabling them to optimize day-to-day energy management, identify energy anomalies as they occur, prioritize energy projects that target under-performing buildings and identify billing errors on utility bills. Facilities include a wide array of building types with unique energy and cost-reduction opportunities, including state office buildings, residence and dining halls at state universities, administration and classroom buildings at community colleges, state hospitals, correction facilities, trial courts and others.

Funding for the new program will come from both the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and DCAMM, with DCAMM overseeing the contract and the relationship with EnerNOC. DOER and DCAMM estimate that when fully implemented the features of the new contract should result in energy reductions of at least 5 to 10 percent, with anticipated savings of several million dollars per year.

“Investing in innovative and data-driven energy programs affirms the Administration’s dedication to identifying creative solutions that will reduce the overall energy use at state facilities,” said Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) Secretary Kristen Lepore. “This investment provides environmental benefits while saving taxpayer dollars.”

“As DOER emphasizes energy efficiency as a key strategy in our Leading by Example programs, supporting this initiative with DCAMM improves our path to achieve our goals,” said DOER Commissioner Judith Judson. “We look forward to seeing state facilities utilize this important tool to reduce energy, costs, and emissions from building operations.”

“We look forward to enhancing our ongoing energy efficiency efforts at state government facilities across the Bay State through the Commonwealth Building Energy Intelligence program,” said DCAMM Commissioner Carol Gladstone. “This program provides us a vital vehicle to identify and implement all-important operational energy-saving strategies, and I applaud DOER’s financial support of this program, which is yet another example of the close collaboration between our two agencies.”

“As our nation’s leader in energy efficiency, we applaud Massachusetts’ commitment to innovation, maintaining its first place status, and meeting its aggressive GHG reduction goal of 25% by 2020,” said Tim Healy, Chairman and CEO of EnerNOC. “EnerNOC's energy intelligence software provides the visibility and insights that entities like the Commonwealth of Massachusetts need to drive further efficiency and accountability into how they manage energy.”

This investment in the Commonwealth Building Energy Intelligence system builds on the efforts of the Massachusetts Enterprise Energy Management System (EEMS), the first-phase of the program. This contract provides substantial technological and strategic advancements from the first-phase of the program.

The Baker-Polito Administration has been working to stabilize and reduce the cost of energy for residents and businesses, strengthen the clean energy economy in Massachusetts and help meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). Through the filing of hydropower and recently signed solar legislation, the Administration hopes to diversify Massachusetts’ energy portfolio and encourage the development of renewable energy resources.

EnerNOC, a global energy services company based in Boston, has more than 1,300 employees, with 500 in Boston, and has offices in over 13 countries on 5 continents.