The Southern Company system is partnering with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to increase energy efficiency in 12 federal buildings across Georgia, reducing GSA's carbon footprint and improving overall sustainability. Innovative solutions from the Southern Company system will focus on three key areas – energy efficiency, resiliency and greenhouse gas reductions.

Southern Company subsidiaries Atlanta Gas Light and PowerSecure are coordinating the improvements, planned for completion in 2024, and are expected to reduce GSA's annual energy and water costs by nearly $3.3 million.

The GSA announced the award of the $117 million Utility Energy Service Contract, which is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Climate Smart Buildings Initiative. The improvements are expected to enhance building performance and efficiency, while reducing operating costs by approximately 45%. In addition, carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by 18,000 to 21,000 metric tons per year across all 12 GSA buildings. 

"This project is a model for how public-private partnerships bring immense value to solving federal government challenges," said Chris Cummiskey, executive vice president and Chief Commercial and Customer Solutions Officer for Southern Company. "Southern Company sourced expertise across our portfolio of companies to help ensure government requirements are met in the most reliable, holistic and economical manner possible, demonstrating our commitment to lead the utility sector to a clean energy economy."

"The investments we're making in Georgia demonstrate how investing in sustainability is a triple win – creating good-paying clean-energy jobs, reducing energy costs, and tackling climate change to help ensure a healthier future for the next generation," said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan.

The project will replace and modernize equipment, such as chillers and boiler plants, air and water distribution and direct digital control systems.  In addition, improvements will also include the conversion of more than 60,000 light fixtures to LED technology, as well as the installation of high-efficiency water fixtures. The project is expected to cut energy consumption by 40-50 percent across the 12 sites. 

Also included is a $944,000 grant from the Department of Energy to reclaim water for use inside the buildings, and $900,000 in utility rebates.

Six of the facilities are located within metro Atlanta, along with buildings in Athens, Augusta, Valdosta, Macon and Brunswick. This includes the Martin Luther King Jr., Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, and Richard B. Russell federal buildings in Atlanta.