HOUSTON -- The City of Houston and IKEA today recognized the winners of the Houston Fire Station Energy Challenge – a friendly competition between twelve Houston Fire Stations to help lower the energy consumption at fire stations across the City. Combined, the three-month challenge resulted in a savings of over 13,504 kWh and $7,603.91 to the City.
“We are all looking for ways to reduce expenditures across the board and this is a great way to find savings and make our operations more efficient and sustainable,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Congratulations to the winning stations. I hope we can all follow your lead and better use our existing resources.”
The top ranking Fire Stations with the highest reduction in energy usage were stations 33, 86, and 37, with EUI (energy use intensity or energy use per square foot) reductions of 44%, 32%, and 20% respectively. Of the twelve stations, six saw an EUI reduction of nearly 20% and ten saw a reduction of over 5%.
The winning team, Station 33, turned off overhead lights and TVs before leaving the station and barbequed outside rather than cook in the station’s kitchen as often as possible. To achieve their savings, firefighters at Station 86 kept all unnecessary lighting and electronics off unless being used and adjusted exterior doors to keep the AC and heating from constantly running. Station 37 got together with all three shifts to make sure all non-essential lights were turned off when not in use and had a malfunctioning AC unit fixed.
“We at IKEA want to thank the Houston Fire Department for protecting our communities and keeping our environment safe! Thank you to all the Fire Stations that participated in the Energy Challenge, and special congratulations to Station 33 for making the biggest change!” said Fredrik Rabe, Store Manager at IKEA Houston.
Led by the Administration and Regulatory Affairs (ARA) Department’s Sustainability Division in partnership with the Houston Fire Department (HFD), the challenge was designed after successful programs in other cities that generated sizeable energy reductions and behavioral change as a result of the challenge. As the in-kind sponsor, IKEA provided starter kits with energy efficiency products such as LED light bulbs and power strips that helped kick off energy savings at the stations and presented Station 33 with a $1000 IKEA gift card.
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