An iconic San Francisco office building that survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes has completed an energy retrofit that will save tenants more than $1 million in utility bills over the next 12-15 years.
The 12-story, 300,000-square-foot Flood Building – which hosts flagship stores for Gap, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie – is 75% more energy efficient than similar commercial structures – even though it was built back in 1904.
In the first year after the retrofit, tenants will save an average of 15% on utility bills, says Carbon Lighthouse, the company that handled the project.
Carbon Lighthouse used a proprietary database containing more than 12 years of weather satellite information and building performance data to audit and model the building’s energy consumption – and then make recommendations for improvements.
Based on that information, building managers:
- Installed a computerized central energy management system that allows for remote control of operations
- Improved the HVAC system by optimizing the balance between the speed of the building’s condenser water pumps and the temperature of the water flowing through them
- Replaced and updated lighting in several areas of the building
The Flood Building’s operable windows, steam heating, and thorough maintenance program contributed to its Energy Star certification.
“In addition to saving our tenants money on their utility bills, this project makes a significant dent in our building’s carbon footprint,” says the building’s owner, Jim Flood. “Carbon Lighthouse’s work aligned with our mission to preserve the integrity of this historic space while modernizing our operations as much as possible. Even better, the project was smooth and stealthy, and posed no disruption to the day to day business of our tenants.”
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