Frances E. Willard Elementary School
Philadelphia, PA
SVE Group was recently hired to conduct an independent audit of the building shell and HVAC systems for the School District of Philadelphia’s new Frances E. Willard Elementary School. The new 130,000 SF facility accommodates 850 students from kindergarten through 8th grade and includes 62 classrooms with special shared rooms for technical education, Family Life Management, a computer lab, science lab, studio art and music, a gymnasium, a 300-seat auditorium, and a cafeteria with a fully equipped commercial kitchen, as well as administrative offices and support spaces. The school is organized around the entry court with an adjacent play area for young children and a large school-yard. The school has achieved LEED Silver Certification. The purpose of the survey was to verify that the construction documents were followed at the time of construction and that all equipment and materials were installed as specified. The audit included extensive survey work and documentation of the building shell and HVAC systems for the facility’s owner’s use in achieving Energy Conservation Income Tax Credits. Through the energy certification process, our clients are eligible for significant tax benefits through the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which was recently extended through December 31, 2013.
Commercial building owners and lessees who purchase and install energy-saving products in their businesses can qualify for a tax deduction under EPACT. Buildings must achieve a 50 percent reduction in annual energy costs as compared to a base building defined by the industry standard ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001, including approved addenda through April 2, 2003.
The deduction may be taken against three energy-using systems:
Each of the three energy-using systems is evaluated separately, and is eligible for one-third of the tax deduction if it meets its share of the overall savings goal for the building, a 50 percent reduction in energy costs. In other words, if one system meets the goal of reducing costs by 16-2⁄3 percent but the other two systems do not reduce costs at all, the building owner is entitled to a tax deduction of 60 cents per square foot off the cost of the system. Likewise, the owner is eligible for a deduction of $1.20 per square foot off the cost if two systems qualify, reducing energy costs by 33-1⁄3 percent. When all three systems qualify and total energy costs are reduced by 50 percent, the owner is eligible for the full tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot off the cost.
For updated information about the tax incentives, see www.energy.gov. This web-site also describes other EPACT provisions of interest to businesses, including incentives for distributed generation and hybrid fuel fleet vehicles.
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Commercial building owners and lessees who purchase and install energy-saving products in their businesses can qualify for a tax deduction under EPACT. Buildings must achieve a 50 percent reduction in annual energy costs as compared to a base building defined by the industry standard ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001, including approved addenda through April 2, 2003.
The deduction may be taken against three energy-using systems:
- Heating/cooling and water heating systems
- Building envelope
- Lighting system
Each of the three energy-using systems is evaluated separately, and is eligible for one-third of the tax deduction if it meets its share of the overall savings goal for the building, a 50 percent reduction in energy costs. In other words, if one system meets the goal of reducing costs by 16-2⁄3 percent but the other two systems do not reduce costs at all, the building owner is entitled to a tax deduction of 60 cents per square foot off the cost of the system. Likewise, the owner is eligible for a deduction of $1.20 per square foot off the cost if two systems qualify, reducing energy costs by 33-1⁄3 percent. When all three systems qualify and total energy costs are reduced by 50 percent, the owner is eligible for the full tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot off the cost.
For updated information about the tax incentives, see www.energy.gov. This web-site also describes other EPACT provisions of interest to businesses, including incentives for distributed generation and hybrid fuel fleet vehicles.
Return to Fetured Projects page