AGENCY PROGRESS REPORT
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is a tenant at all office locations. TxDMV headquarters facilities (Camp Hubbard Campus in Austin, Texas) and nine (9) regional service centers (RSC) located in facilities owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Energy and water usage for these facilities is currently being reported by TxDOT. TxDMV pays TxDOT a flat monthly rate for utilities at all locations owned by TxDOT. TxDMV has an additional seven regional service centers (RSCs) that are located in leased commercial facilities. In five of these commercially leased facilities water and energy are included in the lease agreements and TxDMV is not provided with utility bills or usage information. TxDMV currently has only two locations, the Houston RSC and the Fort Worth RSC, for which energy and water usage information is available. At these two locations, water, gas and electric meters provide usage information, but TxDMV does not have control of the actual energy consuming systems. Therefore, the department did not conduct any energy audits during fiscal year 2022.
Beginning in late 2022, TxDMV did begin to have control over some of the energy consuming systems for the Austin Headquarters Buildings one, five and the fifth floor of Building six at the Camp Hubbard Campus as TxDOT began moving off campus and transitioning the property to TxDMV. During fiscal 2022, the TxDMV began numerous energy-reduction efforts at the Headquarters Facilities, including replacement of flush valves on commodes and urinals with low-flow water-saving flush valves; replacement of standard landscaping sprinkler heads with water-saving sprinkler heads; replacement of fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs and/or fixtures when repairs were needed; and regularly monitoring and coordinating with TxDOT for needed adjustments of thermostat control settings for the heating and air conditioning systems. Water heaters have timers to ensure water is being heated only during set times when department and/or janitorial staff occupy buildings. Staff are also instructed and reminded to turn off lights when they leave offices at lunch and the end of the day. Energy saving settings are enabled on computer workstations to ensure monitors go to sleep after 20 minutes of inactivity. However, because TxDOT does not report utility usage for the TxDMV Camp Hubbard campus to TxDMV, there is no way to measure the impact of these activities in terms of energy efficiency and cost impact. TxDOT does, however, report any energy reductions through TxDMV efforts along with their overall energy conservation information annually.
By December 2022, TxDMV will have transitioned from a Tenant Agency to a Providing Agency for the headquarters operations in Austin, Texas. However, reporting for Regional Service Centers located in TxDOT facilities will continue to be reported by TxDOT. Ownership of the Camp Hubbard Campus in Austin, Texas, to include Buildings one through sevon is currently in the process of being transferred from TxDOT to TxDMV. Once the transition of ownership is complete, TxDMV will assume responsibility for all utilities, be provided with water and energy usage data and will then have the ability to monitor and report on water and energy usage. Fiscal year 2023 will be the benchmark year for TxDMV reporting.
EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN
TxDMV is working with the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) on plans to demolish several existing buildings, remodeling and refurbishing an existing building and building a new building that will tie into the existing building. TxDMV staff are very excited about the upcoming campus changes. TxDMV Facilities will be proactively communicating campus related information to keep staff informed of project status updates and to also use the opportunity as a platform for energy use, water use, and recycling awareness. Information may include tips on how to conserve energy both at home and in the office, as well as providing information on department usage and conservation goals. Information may also be shared to inform employees on how to report conditions that impact conservation goals (e.g., dripping faucets, outdoor lighting programming that comes on too early or stays on too late, running commodes, etc.) and encourage them to actively participate in TxDMV efforts to be good stewards of the environment and department resources.