Success Stories / 32% Lower Energy Costs and BEPS Compliance for a Multifamily Building

32% Lower Energy Costs and BEPS Compliance for a Multifamily Building

See how a Washington, DC condominium reduced projected energy costs by 32% and aligned with BEPS requirements through a targeted retrofit strategy and $158K in incentives

Overview

Crescent Tower is a 10-story, 105,318-square-foot multifamily condominium building in Washington, DC. Originally constructed in 1964.

During a broader capital planning effort, the managing association needed to understand how to reduce operating costs while preparing for compliance with Washington, D.C.’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS).

Spectrum Energy completed an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit to identify practical energy efficiency measures (EEMs) and develop a cost-effective path forward. The goal was to improve system performance, reduce utility costs, and align future upgrades with BEPS requirements, without unnecessary capital spend.

Challenge

Ownership needed a clear plan to address multiple risks at once:

Evaluate aging heating and domestic hot water systems for replacement
Meet Washington, D.C. BEPS requirements
Improve limited operational flexibility due to lack of redundancy in the heating plant
Improve performance across HVAC, lighting, and building envelope

While the building was already performing near the median for similar properties, it still needed a strategy to improve efficiency and plan for future compliance cycles.

Solution

Spectrum Energy provided a structured evaluation of building systems and identified targeted upgrades that balanced cost, performance, and compliance.

Heating and Domestic Hot Water Strategy

Recommended replacement of existing space heating and domestic hot water systems
Proposed high-efficiency condensing boilers and water heaters
Added redundancy to improve reliability and flexibility

Building-Wide Efficiency Measures

Identified LED lighting upgrades to reduce electrical load
Evaluated variable frequency drives (VFDs) for system optimization
Assessed building envelope improvements and plug load reductions

System Performance Improvement Approach

Confirmed existing systems had sufficient capacity for peak loads
Avoided unnecessary system upsizing
Focused on improving efficiency with a cost-effective upgrade path

Incentives and Cost Strategy

Identified and supported $158,189 in utility incentives through post-analysis and coordination
Highlighted additional savings opportunities through natural gas rate optimization
Provided documentation to support funding eligibility and program compliance

Details:

Association:
Crescent Tower Condominium

Mechanical Contractor/Partner:
MECCO
Windsor Electric Company

Building Type:
Multifamily condominium

Size:
105,318 sq. ft.
10 stories

Recommended Measures:
High-efficiency condensing boilers and water heaters (recommended)
Lighting, VFD, envelope, and plug load improvements identified

Incentives Captured:
$158,189

Annual Savings:
$18,502 annual natural gas cost savings

Results & Funding

The ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit identified a clear path to reduce operating costs, improve system performance, and support long-term compliance with Washington, DC BEPS.

Funding and Incentives

Energy Savings

138,622 kWh annual electricity savings identified
16,820 therms annual natural gas savings identified
Approximately 32% reduction in total annual energy costs

Additional impacts:

96.8 metric tons of CO₂ emissions avoided annually
Equivalent to removing 23 cars from the road
Comparable to the annual energy use of 12.6 homes

Financial Outcomes & Incentives

$158,189 in incentives identified and secured through post-analysis and utility coordination
$18,502 Annual Natural Gas Cost Savings
Reduced risk of future compliance-related costs through proactive planning

Operational Improvements

Improved system reliability through added heating plant redundancy
Increased operational flexibility under varying load conditions
Maintained required heating and cooling capacity without increasing system size
Established a roadmap for future upgrades aligned with BEPS cycles

Spectrum Energy was easy to work with. Their audit was clear and well organized, and it helped the team focus on the right improvements for the building.”

Conclusion

This project gave ownership a clear, actionable roadmap to reduce costs and prepare for BEPS compliance without committing to unnecessary system replacement.

By focusing on targeted upgrades and system optimization, the building can: