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Historic Missoula Building Completes Major Energy-Efficiency Improvements – First Security Bank Building is the First to Near Completion on Deep Retrofit

First Security Bank Building in downtown Missoula is recognized today by NorthWestern Energy for a deep energy retrofit, a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy that will improve the building’s operations and significantly reduce energy usage.

"This project is a significant accomplishment as it takes cost savings on energy efficiency beyond the usual measure-by-measure approach," said Deb Young, an Efficiency Plus (E+) program manager at NorthWestern Energy. "The First Security Bank Building is part of a regional pilot effort with a goal of providing tools and information to help more buildings in the region become more energy efficient."

The deep energy retrofit at the First Security Bank Building has been supported through the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) as part of its Existing Building Renewal (EBR) initiative. The initiative is intended to motivate and guide building owners, as well as design and construction teams, to revamp existing building assets and identify comprehensive opportunities for energy efficiency. The First Security Bank Building is one of four demonstration projects in the EBR initiative with others being conducted in Boise, Portland and Seattle. The projects have been pursued to demonstrate the viability of a deep energy retrofit approach, which can be utilized by other buildings across the region.

The First Security Bank Building’s owner, Carol Word, and property manager, Scott Cooney, are nearing completion of the renovation of the building for energy efficiency. Built in the 1950s, the 23,000-square-foot building had an HVAC system that was nearing the end of its life. After technical assessment of the building through the EBR initiative, Word and Cooney received recommendations for replacing the HVAC systems as well as other building upgrades and updates to the office space, including improving lighting efficiency, better sealing the building’s envelope, replacing the ceilings on several floors, adding timers on exhaust systems, and testing and repairing broken dampers and thermostats.

"Working with NEEA and NorthWestern Energy on energy-efficiency improvements has added substantial value to our building, providing increased comfort to tenants as well as improving the overall visual look of the building and decreasing energy costs.," said Word. "We really appreciate all of the time and energy that our partners put into this project."

The project began in late 2012 and is scheduled for completion within the next month. The project is expected to reduce the building’s total energy consumption – both gas and electricity – by as much as 70 percent and cut annual energy costs by as much as 46 percent. Performance will be continually monitored and verified through the Integrated Design Lab Network supported by NEEA.

"We have already seen energy savings from the initial improvements of sealing the envelope," said Cooney. "By being part of this pilot, we were given accessibility to individuals with high-quality expertise in analysis, design and modeling which was priceless and not something we would have received if we had not been a part of the NEEA initiative."

Focusing on commercial real estate office buildings greater than 20,000 square feet, the goal is to accelerate the adoption of deep energy retrofits in the region. In addition to helping commercial property owners to reduce energy costs for building tenants, deep energy retrofits help increase the value of the property for greater tenant retention and attraction.

"What makes the EBR initiative innovative is that it focuses on the business benefits of re-positioning a building as energy efficient as well as providing the technical solutions," said Emily Moore, senior initiative manager at NEEA. "In addition to the energy savings and lower operational costs that can be achieved, a deep energy retrofit can help improve the value of the building by distinguishing it in a competitive market."

NorthWestern Energy offers incentives and rebates for implementing energy efficiency measures. For more information, visit http://www.NorthWesternEnergy.com/Eplus.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 673,200 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the company’s website at http://www.NorthWesternEnergy.com.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization working to accelerate energy efficiency to meet our future energy needs. NEEA is supported by and works in collaboration with the Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Trust of Oregon and more than 100 Northwest utilities on behalf of more than 12 million energy consumers. NEEA uses the market power of the region to accelerate the innovation and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to power more than 600,000 homes each year. Energy efficiency can satisfy more than half of our new demand for energy, saving money and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live. http://www.neea.org

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