IT'S TIME FOR AN OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
We are fresh off the excitement of the USGBC Transformation Awards where the new downtown headquarters for Bader Rutter, a unique adaptive reuse/new construction project by Wangard Partners, won the Better Buildings Challenge People's Choice Award! Thank you to all of the deserving participants for your commitment to making Milwaukee a world-class ecocity and leader in sustainability. We look forward to honoring more of you in the near future!

With Milwaukee's temperature heating up, so is the Better Buildings Challenge. Nearly fifty buildings have made the pledge and free energy assessments have tallied nearly $400,000 in potential energy savings. Those are great bottom line gains!

In this edition of our newsletter, we introduce you to the operations review that can follow the free energy assessment provided by the BBC. Through the operational assessment, the Better Buildings Challenge can coach you and your building engineers on how to further your energy savings by modifying your building operations. We also invite you to attend one of our August data benchmarking events where you will receive one-on-one coaching on how to better understand your energy use and how to achieve a more accurate energy score for your building! And do not forget to mark your calendars for October 4th for the Re-Energize Milwaukee 2017: Better Buildings Challenge Annual Celebration where we will recognize all of our participants and give awards to our leaders.
 
Energy savings is just a click away! Take the Better Buildings Challenge pledge and tap into our tools, resources and special incentives today.
 
Thanks for reading and spreading the word about the Better Buildings Challenge!
 
Mayor Tom Barrett
City of Milwaukee
 
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Operational Assessments
Once a building takes the BBC pledge and receives their free energy assessment, an operational assessment can be utilized to further identify savings from operational efficiencies and to develop an implementation plan for identified projects. Rivion, formerly known as Transwestern Sustainability Services, is a sustainability service provider that is a partner to the Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) and is providing qualifying participants with a complimentary initial operational assessment.  



Th e operational assessment starts with a review of the building's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) plans, building automation system, and preventive maintenance plan along with their respective schedules. Using the information from the operational review, the Rivion team creates an updated building operating plan, systems narrative, and proper sequence of operations to make the building operate more efficiently. This allows building operators to better understand how their building uses energy and how to reduce waste.

Ultimately, the team combines the findings from the operational assessment with the measures identified during the energy assessment to provide guidance on project implementation and to make sure that the implementation plan aligns with the building's overall goals. Operational recommendations may include new approaches to handling HVAC schedules, lighting, building controls, and more, with the goal of informing building owners and managers of ways that their building can become more energy efficient and competitive while saving on the bottom line.

Several BBC participants have already taken advantage of free operational assessments and are in the process of implementing new strategies from the no- and low-cost recommendations to larger capital projects to upgrade outdated building systems. Learn more about this and other tools available through the Better Buildings Challenge by visiting our website and consider joining today!
subhead mythbuster
Air conditioning systems must run at all times to maintain a cool temperature.
FACT:
When it comes to maintaining a cool environment, cycling your air conditioning or leaving it on for shorter intervals, but continuously running fans to circulate the air is just as effective as constantly running the air conditioning. Plus, consumers that use a cycling approach to air conditioning can save up to 20 percent on energy costs. 
 


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Local Progress Report
Since launching the Better Buildings Challenge in September, Milwaukee's Class B & C buildings are seeing significant opportunity for change.
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48
BUILDINGS PLEDGED 
Since May, six additional buildings have taken the pledge. Our goal is 200 by July 2018.
27/100 
ASSESSMENTS GIVEN 
With up to 100 free energy assessments available to pledges, this valuable evaluation provides a helpful list of recommendations to operate a building at optimum levels.
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$385,536
POTENTIAL ANNUAL SAVNGS
Since May, we've added $87,991 to the annual savings tally for Better Buildings Challenge participants.
472
CARS REMOVED FROM THE ROAD FOR ONE YEAR 
Milwaukee's potential energy savings has grown to 1,609,057 kWh, which is equivalent to taking 472 cars off the road for one year--an increase of 95 cars from May.
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Benchmarking Check-in
Tuesday, August 8 & 15
Individual sessions begin on the hour,
8am - 5pm (10 sessions per day)
Location: TBD 
Join us for an individual 45-minute benchmarking session geared toward updating your Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) profile in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. We'll walk through your data and the nuances to achieving a more accurate energy score for your building(s). This is also a great opportunity to prepare your data for recognition at the Better Buildings Challenge event in October.  

Session goals:
  • Answer your benchmarking and account questions
  • Update your building data
  • Receive feedback specific to your building's profile
  • Make your building(s) eligible for recognition and awards at our October event*
This event is customized for BBC participants and, in particular, those that are responsible for the upkeep of the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® account, as well as others interested in better understanding the benchmarking effort, such as building owners, and facilities and operations managers.

If you have not created a profile in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® prior to the event, please download the workbook to collect important information about your building to streamline the profile creation process. With this hands-on event, it is easier than ever to understand the most efficient way to quickly benchmark the data for your buildings!

*Those participants wishing to be eligible for an award must have their data updated through June 2017 by September 1, 2017.


Save the Date: Re-energize Milwaukee 2017
Better Buildings Challenge Annual Celebration
Wednesday, Oct. 4 | Evening Reception
Location: TBD 
Mark your calendar and join us to celebrate the accomplishments of the City of Milwaukee's Better Buildings Challenge participants and the City's long-term commitment to re-energize and strengthen our greater community through the built environment. More details to follow.
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Are You On The Map?
To date, 48 buildings have pledged to take the Better Buildings Challenge. Join the company of your esteemed peers!

Green buildings decrease operating costs, increase building value and improve occupant satisfaction. If you're not a participant already, we can get you on your way to energy savings today. Take the pledge and join many of Milwaukee's Class B & C buildings in increasing efficiency and competitiveness in the marketplace.

Click to take the Challenge button