Because energy use is one of the two largest contributors to Nashville’s greenhouse gas emissions and can be a high cost in operating facilities, General Services carefully monitors and manages its energy use, with a goal of reducing the Energy Utilization Index (EUI) across facilities. The team ensures building occupant comfort, while maintaining temperatures and lighting levels for maximum efficiency.
Metro Nashville Capital Spending Plans have included $2 million for General Services’ Energy Savings Revolving Fund (ESRF). The fund is used to perform energy efficiency upgrades in Metro buildings. More than thirty-five facilities have received facility-wide lighting and/HVAC replacements to date. Utility cost savings can then be re-invested into additional retrofit projects. The Division of Sustainability works with personnel at participating facilities to make improvements that not only benefit energy efficiency and the bottom line, but also contribute to more comfortable, healthier indoor environments.
Solar
Metro Nashville’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires that Metro Government utilize 100% tier-one renewable energy by 2041 with stairstep goals each year until then. Learn how we will get there:
Rooftop Solar
Twelve General Services buildings have rooftop solar panels. This adds up to a total of 2,062 solar panels generating approximately 870,000 kWh annually.
You can view real-time solar generation for each of these facilities here:
- Bellevue Community Center
- Donelson Library
- Family Safety Center
- Howard Office Building
- MNPD Headquarters
- Fire Station 3
- Fire Station 11
- Fire Station 19
- Fire Station 21
- Fire Station 30
- Fire Station 31
- Fire Station 32
- Fire Station 33
- Fire Station 37
Large Scale Solar
In addition to rooftop solar, ground mounted solar energy is a key component in the city's strategy to meet its RPS. Read about the 2020 Announcement of Partnership to Construct 100 Megawatts of Solar Energy.
Nashville has been recognized by the American Cities Climate Challenge Renewables Accelerator on its “top 10” renewable cities list. Alongside cities such as Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles, Nashville was chosen as one of the “Top 10 Most Noteworthy City Renewables Deals of 2020.”
Community Solar
Music City Solar is Nashville’s first solar park. With 17,020 panels available for subscription to participating customers, NES is making steps in offering clean, efficient, maintenance-free energy. Watch Socket’s video all about Music City Solar.
General Services subscribes to 510 Music City Solar panels. Energy generated offsets a portion of the usage at Metro's Historic Courthouse.
Geo-Exchange
Geo-exchange (also known as geothermal) systems use heat pumps to circulate water through a series of underground pipes, allowing the near-constant underground temperatures (around 50-60 °F) to help cool the building in the summer and help heat it in the winter. This is a clean, renewable energy that can save resources and money.
Several General Services' facilities, including the Donelson Library, utilize geo-exchange systems. Learn more about geo-exchange systems and heat pumps from the United States Department of Energy.
