IN 2018, THE CITY OF LARGO ADOPTED THE “READY FOR 100” GOAL, A COMMITMENT TO POWER 50% OF ALL MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS WITH ZERO-EMISSION, RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2030, AND A COMMITMENT TO 100% BY 2035. TO SUPPORT THESE AMBITIOUS GOALS THE CITY DEVELOPED THE ENERGY PROGRAM ROADMAP WHICH REQUIRES TRACKING MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS GREATER THAN 10,000 SQUARE FEET IN ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO. USING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIGH-PRIORITY FACILITIES WITH THE GREATEST ENERGY DEMAND AND ENERGY COST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY-EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
THE LARGO PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMARY HIGH-PRIORITY FACILITY THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS WHEN COMPARING BUILDING PROFILE METRICS ACROSS LOCATION, AGE, SIZE, ENERGY USAGE AND THE BENEFIT THE FACILITY PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY. THE LIBRARY IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC FACILITY THE CITY OWNS AND OPERATES, BUILT IN 2005 WITH A TOTAL OF 90,300 SQUARE FEET. IT HAS THE HIGHEST ENERGY COST AND USAGE AVERAGING $22,195.62 FOR 155,858 KWH MONTHLY AND THE HIGHEST USAGE PER SQUARE FOOT. THE GREATEST KWH USAGE OCCURS DURING HOURS OF OPERATION AND ALIGNS WITH PEAK SUN HOURS BETWEEN 10AM AND 3PM AVERAGING BETWEEN 188 KWH AND 250 KWH DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR. AMONG THE FACILITIES TRACKED IN ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO THE LIBRARY HAS THE HIGHEST SOURCE EUI MEASURING AT 203.4 KBTU/FT2. THE ESTIMATED INSTALLATION OF A 150-KW PHOTO-VOLTAIC SOLAR ARRAY WILL REDUCE GRID RELIANCE IN A DISADVANTAGED AREA WHEN ANALYZING THE ANNUAL ENERGY USAGE OF THE FACILITY ESTIMATED TO TOTAL 2084 MWH WITH AN ANNUAL COST OF $227,245.66.
COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS HAVE ESTABLISHED THE LIBRARY AS A HIGHLY VALUED PUBLIC SERVICE PROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. THE CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE PLANNING TOOL HAS IDENTIFIED THE ADDRESS FOR THE LIBRARY AS BEING DISADVANTAGED AND LOCATED WITHIN A JUSTICE 40 JURISDICTION. THE INSTALLATION OF AN ESTIMATED 150-KW PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ARRAY WOULD DECREASE ENERGY DEMAND FROM THE GRID, REDUCING THE RISK OF ROLLING BLACKOUTS IN DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS.$0
· FY2025 · Department of Energy