PROGRESS REPORT
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (AgriLife Extension) is an institution of higher education operating three facilities across the state. A majority (89 percent) of the location’s employees work in tenant space. The agency is geographically spread across the state including at the Texas A&M University main campus in College Station, at 12 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers and in 250 of the 254 counties. Space on Texas A&M main campus and with Texas A&M AgriLife Research is reported with that respective university or agency and included in their Energy and Water Management Plan. Joint renovation projects are coordinated and prioritized with both the university and research facilities. The space occupied in the county offices, where county extension agents reside, are not owned by the agency. This space is controlled and operated by the county. The agency does not purchase, negotiate or directly pay for utilities.
Eleven percent of space is occupied and managed by local agency employees in Brownwood, Fort Stockton and Fredericksburg. AgriLife Extension energy-efficiency programs are largely employee education related. The agency and its employees strive to be good tenants by proactive involvement with conservation programs and efficiency activities. The 4-H Center has installed low flow shower heads and faucets and toilet flush valves to reduce water consumption. The Viticulture lab has replaced pad cooling systems in greenhouses with newer more water efficient systems that reduce loss of water through evaporation in the trough and tank. New energy-efficient HVAC units were installed replacing with units that are rated 15 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) vs 9 SEER-old units. To conserve energy, AgriLife Extension manages water faucets, toilet valves with low flow device and light replacement with LED bulbs, coordinates irrigation times with lawn watering and controls air handlers and water heaters when buildings are not in use.
GOALS
AgriLife Extension seeks to do its part to be energy, fuel and water efficient. Benchmark years have been adjusted to 2022. Utility costs were impacted by drought and camps held at the Brownwood Center and at the Fort Stockton Center. The Viticulture lab also was impacted by weather conditions and result demonstration projects conducted. Transportation fuels are returning to more pre-pandemic levels.
| Utility | Target Year | Benchmark Year | Percentage Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | FY2023 – 2,553,638 gal | FY2022 -2,632,617 gal | 0.03 |
| Electricity | FY2023 – 850,739 kWh | FY2022 – 877,051 kWh | 0.03 |
| Transportation Fuels | FY2023 – 108,131 gal | FY2022 – 111,475 gal | 0.03 |
| Natural Gas | FY2023 – 112 gal | FY2022 – 115 gal | 0.03 |
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
Light bulbs, toilet flush valves, switches, low flow shower heads and faucets will be replaced with cost-efficient fixtures.IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
New cost-effective ECMs are in the process of being explored for a renewed effort to enhance the existing efforts the agency implemented over the past decade. The target for implementing the Rider 17.11 audits is fiscal 2027.
