University partners with Harris County on sustainable energy initiative

University of Houston researchers are collaborating with the Harris County Office of County Administration’s Sustainability Office, the Harris County Energy Management Team, and other county staff to create a comprehensive baseline of energy use and energy-use intensity for county assets. Once established, this baseline will allow the team to track progress and assess the effectiveness of energy-saving measures over time. The goal is to reduce energy consumption, maximize savings, and increase the use of renewable and resilient energy sources in county-owned buildings and operations.

Associate Professor Jian Shi and UH research intern Xidan "Delia" Zhang have been working closely with Harris County energy managers Glen Rhoden and Yas Ahmadi on this project. Moores Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Zhu Han noted that “as The Energy University, UH has core strengths in the research and development of carbon neutralization and smart grid technologies.” He added that “this strategic partnership allows us to apply those strengths to real-world challenges, benefiting not only the 4.8 million residents in Harris County but also the broader region.”

The team analyzed data from hundreds of county facilities, identifying key summertime energy-saving opportunities. They completed retro-commissioning—an optimization process for existing buildings—of four county buildings. These efforts have saved over $230,000 annually in electricity costs with an average simple payback period of two years.

Harris County Director of Sustainability Lisa Lin highlighted that “over the past two years, Harris County has made significant strides in its energy initiatives,” focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience, and achieving cost savings.

Next steps for the project include building automation system upgrades, LED lighting installations, and developing solar energy and heat pump initiatives. These initiatives aim to reduce electricity usage by at least 5% per year for county-owned buildings by 2030 and cut greenhouse gas emissions from these buildings by 50% over the next five years.

Shi emphasized that addressing climate change requires a collaborative effort that is data-driven, action-oriented, and human-centric. He stated that "it’s about more than just technology—it’s about improving the quality of life for Texans." He added that “this project is a prime example of how impactful research at UH can be when applied to real-world challenges.”

Alex Keimig and Rashda Khan contributed to this story.