Washoe County – Musaab Mohammed Ali – 2025
Summary
Electrifying the County’s highest energy-using buildings with heat pumps and solar PV will cut emissions by nearly half while creating a scalable model for decarbonizing public facilities.
Goals
Washoe County is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from County-owned buildings and transitioning away from fossil fuels. This fellowship focused on decarbonizing the County’s two highest energy-consuming facilities: the 911 Parr Detention Facility and the Court Buildings Complex. Together, these facilities account for over 30% of the County’s building energy use. Natural gas boilers, which currently provide space heating and domestic hot water (DHW), are the largest single contributor to Scope 1 emissions. Replacing these systems will address both emissions and aging infrastructure while advancing long-term sustainability.
Solutions
The project developed detailed electrification roadmaps to replace existing gas boiler systems with high-temperature air-to-water (A2W) heat pumps, chosen for compatibility with the facilities’ hydronic distribution systems. Utility and equipment data were collected to establish baseline conditions, while gas loads were disaggregated by end use to isolate space heating and DHW demand. Heat pump capacity was sized for peak January demand with a 20% safety margin to ensure reliable performance in cold conditions. Monthly electricity demand was estimated using COP performance curves. The analysis also included lifecycle cost modeling, comparing operating costs of gas versus heat pumps, alongside CO2 reduction estimates and emissions valuation. In parallel, rooftop solar PV was sized to partially offset the additional electric load from heat pumps, reducing long-term utility costs while maximizing on-site renewable generation.
Potential Impact
If implemented, these upgrades would reduce combined Scope 1 emissions from the two facilities by up to 45%, eliminating more than 1,188 metric tons of CO2 annually and cutting lifetime emissions by over 23,000 metric tons. The projects also provide templates for future County-wide decarbonization, offering replicable strategies for buildings with centralized boiler systems. Beyond emissions reduction, the proposals increase operational resilience, mitigate long-term fuel price risk, and prepare facilities to meet evolving regulatory standards. By leveraging federal incentives and tax credits, the County can significantly lower upfront costs while accelerating progress toward its 2050 net-zero climate action goals. Even now that federal tax credits and incentives are being eliminated, the financial and emissions-reductions reasons for pursuing these upgrades remain compelling. Washoe County is grateful for Musaab’s recommendations.
