Flex Your Power Case Study: Swinerton, Inc.

Swinerton Incorporated is a premiere construction company operating in the western United States. Committed to green building and sustainable design, Swinerton put its principles to practice renovating the company headquarters in San Francisco. Originally built by Swinerton in 1986, this seven-story, 67,000 sq. ft. office building now beats California's strict Title-24 efficiency standards by over 12 percent. Specific energy-saving strategies for the building include state-of-the-art, direct digital controls (DDC) that manage the building's mechanical and electrical systems, high-efficiency lighting fixtures, the use of garden terraces to reduce storm run-off and solar heat island gains, the use of a cool roof, and water-saving toilets and fixtures.

The goal of this project was to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and provide a better work atmosphere for employees.

Upgrades made at the Swinerton headquarters save 6,040-kWh and 2,700-Btu each year. PG&E provided a $30,000 rebate that helped offset project costs. The project resulted in energy-use intensity for the building of 16-kWH/sq. ft./year. Swinerton's headquarters has been distinguished with LEED-EB (Gold) certification.