Alexandria is making waves in energy management, earning a 2025 Better Practice Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative. The city’s Building Performance Program for City Facilities caught officials’ eyes, showcasing innovative energy efficiency approaches.
The award, presented in Washington, D.C. on May 1, highlights Alexandria’s commitment to smart energy practices. Jeremy McPike, Director of the Department of General Services, points out that the city has already cut energy use by about 16% in the last five years. This new program aims to build on that success, keeping Alexandria at the forefront of sustainability efforts.
“Energy performance has always been a priority for City facilities, and we’ve reduced energy use by about 16% over the last five years,” said McPike. “This effort builds on that success and positions the City to continue to be a leader in sustainability.”
Teamwork is at the heart of this initiative. The Office of Climate Action and the Department of General Services have joined forces to drive deep energy efficiency improvements across city buildings. Their approach is to look at building investments as a whole, allowing managers to make high-impact energy-saving upgrades tailored to each facility.
Ryan Freed, Climate Action Officer, sees multiple benefits in this strategy.
“Building managers, public and private, face the challenge of maintaining occupant comfort and health with aging infrastructure and increasing utility costs,” said Freed. “This program provides the City with tools to make long-term investments that improve quality of life for building occupants while reducing the overall energy use and costs for the City.”
Three city representatives, Energy Manager Valerie Amor, Green Building Manager David Kaiser, and Energy Project Specialist Charles Jackson, accepted the award.
To learn more, and how you can make similar improvements in your home, visit the Office of Climate Action’s website.
