UPDATE: MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (December 18, 2024) - The energy efficiency of Berkeley County's judicial building scored even higher in 2024, receiving a second consecutive ENERGY Star award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. New chiller plant and high efficient boiler technology installed for the building helped boost the rating from 75% to 82% more efficient than similar buildings nationwide.
Two Buildings Receive ENERGY Star Certification
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (March 15, 2024) – Two historic Berkeley County government buildings have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY Star certification for superior energy performance.
The Berkeley County Judicial and Administration buildings have received an ENERGY STAR scores of 75 and 88, respectively. This means that the two buildings have been determined to be 75 and 88 percent more energy efficient than similar properties nationwide.
“We’re honored to earn the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance and appreciate the efforts of everyone who have helped us reduce the cost of operating local government,” said Berkeley County Commission President Jim Whitacre said. “Saving energy is just one of the ways to show taxpayers that we’re committed to doing our part to be fiscally conservative, protect the environment and public health.”
Improvements that helped boost the ENERGY STAR rating for the County Administration building include the installation of an ice-enhanced chiller plant and LED lighting. The now 100,987 square-foot building netted a 33 percent decrease in energy consumption after the chiller plant and replacement high efficient boilers went online.
The chiller plant and high efficient boiler technology is expected to have a similar impact on energy consumption at the 121,600 square foot Judicial building after it goes online in 2024.
“The initial return on investment with this energy efficiency initiative was initially projected to be reached in 10 years,
but the County is on track to reach that mark in seven,” Berkeley County Administrator Gary Wine said.
A LED lighting project already has been completed in multiple county buildings, including the Judicial building, Sheriff’s Department, Animal Control facility, Day Report Center and Department of Emergency Management/Emergency Communications Central Dispatch building. The lighting upgrade for the County Administration building will be completed in 2024.
Built for production of woolen goods that began in the 1890s, the two historic mill buildings are part of the Berkeley County Courthouse complex located in the 300, 400 and 500 blocks of South Raleigh Street in Martinsburg.
The county commission purchased the woolen mills property in December 2001 from Blue Ridge Outlet Associates and began moving county and judicial offices into the buildings in 2005 and 2006 as part of a plan to consolidate government operations.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide, based on weather-normalized source energy use that takes into account occupancy, hours of operation, and other key metrics. ENERGY STAR is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance.
On average, ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants use 35 percent less energy, cause 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate than their peers—all without sacrifices in performance or comfort.
To date, tens of thousands of buildings and plants across all fifty states have earned the ENERGY STAR. For more information about ENERGY STAR for Buildings and Plants, visit www.energystar.gov/buildings
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Jfzh_or34