Awards

The 2025 TCAP Energy Conservation Award is presented to the City of Cedar Hill for their Growing Green Initiative.  The Initiative is a collaborative energy conservation and renewable energy program between the City and Cedar Hill ISD, centered around the shared-use Government Center. Launched in 2011, the project integrated solar photovoltaic panels, a vertical-axis wind turbine, electric vehicle charging stations, and advanced energy monitoring systems into daily operations. By consolidating City and school district offices into one 117,000-square-foot LEED Gold-certified building, Cedar Hill reduced duplicate facility energy consumption while creating a hub for sustainability education. Both the City and school district were operating in aging, inefficient buildings. Leadership recognized an opportunity, consolidate operations into a single, high-efficiency building that could serve as a platform for renewable energy innovation and public education. The goal was to create one of the most sustainable municipal buildings in North Texas while showcasing renewable energy technology in a visible and measurable way.

TCAP Energy Leadership Award is presented to an individual deemed to have made the most significant and measurable impact on energy efficiency.  Energy Efficiency is about saving energy which in turn saves money for our members.  TCAP works hard to save local government money so that their tax dollars can do more for their residents.  One of the items we see is the gross receipts tax that the state charges local government.  Local governments are tax exempt yet, over $2 million dollars went to the state from our membership for this tax. This year’s award is being presented to Representative Jeff Barry from Pearland who introduced HB 2962 in the 89th regular session and worked to get the bill out of committee.  Unfortunately, the bill failed but TCAP appreciates the hard work of Rep. Barry.

The Conference Center originally built in 2010 with traditional fluorescent lighting had bills peaking as high as $17,000. The City looked at a ballast bypass project. Another unexpected change was the new 85 watt LED bulbs that were brighter and had longer lifespan were only 104 degrees replacing the original lights that had a temperature of over 1000 degrees. With cooler temperatures the AC is operating more efficiently as well.

The City of Hurst didn’t stop there. Their 13,000 sq lobby with 40 foot glass wall also had significant heat. The original plans for the building did not include low E glass so the City installed window tinting which lowered the average summer temperature 4 degrees also reducing the electricity bill. The overall savings has been $50,000 annually and a $25,000 rebate from Oncor. The payback was less than 2 years.

Through meticulous research and strategic planning, Sugar Land embarked on a path that would not only help its organization save money but also set an inspiring example for others to follow. Sugar Land knew if you did not know how you were using energy, you don’t know how to save it.

The City of Sugar Land’s partnership with Enel X marked the initiation of its energy conservation efforts. This forward-thinking approach paved the way for significant advancements in energy management. As the journey progressed, Sugar Land’s determination to expand its impact led to collaboration with two more key partners: CenterPoint and Voltus.

In a testament to their commitment, all programs were fully operational by 2022 and 2023. The implementation was not just about execution; it was about thoroughly tracking and capturing data to measure the tangible impact of these initiatives. By judiciously managing energy demand during peak periods, the City of Sugar Land not only reduced strain on the grid but also realized substantial financial savings. The numbers speak for themselves: an astonishing $60,000 was saved in the very first year alone!

Sugar Land’s accomplishment in energy conservation extends beyond fiscal gains. It serves as a model for municipalities across the state and beyond, illustrating the transformative power of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering dedication to sustainable practices.

“In a joint effort by the Cities of Fate and Corinth, the Cities are the first organizations to be involved in the Texas Solar Switch Program. The program organizes group purchasing of residential solar panels to help homeowners receive significantly discounted prices for solar panel installations. As growth continues to occur, the program also helps take pressure off electric companies and our power grids because individuals may switch to solar power.”

Michael is a great leader and an inspiring example. He is always looking for ways to innovate and improve. He cares about the people he works with and lets them pursue ideas and projects that will benefit the community as a whole. When the City of Fate was offered the chance to be a pilot program city for the “Texas Power Switch” program, Michael not only said yes to the opportunity, but also led the charge to implement the project. Since 2017, that program has now grown to over 20 participating municipalities and has helped many citizens as a result.

Mr. Kovacs was also one of the first city managers to pursue using the “Texas Solar Switch” program to motivate more communities to try solar power and a more sustainable energy source. Of one of three cities in Texas participating in the program, the City of Fate is trying to be a good example of innovation and sustainability. We hope that more cities will join the effort and pgroam.

Michael is a strong supporter of connected cities with walkable trails and paths and less CO2 emissions. Although sometimes reducing the number of vehicles is difficult due to convenience, one of Michael’s goals is to create ways for the citizens of Fate to enjoy their city through more environmentally friendly means (i.e. bikes, scooters, or on foot). I, and many other Fate employees, are proud to nominate Michael Kovacs for this award and hope he is recognized for his outstanding efforts.

Energy conservation efforts are nothing new to the City of Euless over the years they have made great efforts to upgrade their indoor and outdoor light structures to a more energy efficient option. During the recent remodeling of their 30,000 sq. ft. library, they decided to transition to a full LED lighting system with master controlled/set time features. This feature allows the city to automate their lighting system to turn on and off when desired. Along with updating the library’s lighting system, it was also insulated to reduce energy usage. Additionally, their HVAC system was installed utilizing automated controls with scheduled features and occupancy load controls. Installing the scheduled features allow the Facility Director to remotely program various sections of the building to come on when reserved for use. The project began December 2019 and was completed January 2021, with a total cost of $6.4M. The city’s library was built in the 90s, a time in which energy conservation was not a priority of building construction. Looking forward, the City of Euless is planning to remodel their police department. In future government structure planning all buildings will include energy conservation strategies.