City Makes Major Sustainability Improvements to Dede Feldman Los Griegos Facility

The City completed a major energy modernization project at the Dede Feldman Los Griegos Health & Social Services Center (1231 Candelaria Rd NW).

Spurred by the failure of decades-old mechanical equipment, the City made critical fixes including replacing outdated systems, restoring clean solar, and implementing smart building controls — positioning the facility as a near net-zero energy site during peak months and driving significant long-term greenhouse gas reductions.

The Dede Feldman project is the first in a planned series of sustainability upgrades across the City’s Health & Social Services centers, funded through a partnership between the Energy and Sustainability Management Division (ESMD) and the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness (HHH). The Alamosa Health & Social Services Center is next in line, continuing the City’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact while improving the facilities that serve Albuquerque every day.

"Making sensible, energy-efficient changes is the right thing to do for our people and the planet," said Mayor Tim Keller. "Modernizing Dede Feldman Los Griegos into a near net-zero facility is the model we want to follow going forward."

Making Major Impact by Addressing Aging Infrastructure

When the building's 20+ year-old heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment suffered severe mechanical failures, City facility managers focused on replacing outdated systems with cleaner options:

• HVAC and VAV Overhaul: Failing rooftop HVAC units were replaced along with a full upgrade of the old variable air volume air delivery system.
• Building Automation System (BAS): A modern BAS was installed, allowing facility operators to schedule equipment, run optimal start/stop sequences, and manage strict microclimates — such as the facility’s specialized medical room — without sacrificing occupant comfort.
• Facility-Wide LED Retrofit and Controls: Under a separate energy performance contract, all indoor and outdoor lighting was upgraded to high-efficiency LEDs equipped with occupancy sensors to reduce baseload and extend fixture lifespans.
• Building Envelope Thermal Sealing: Thermal imaging was used to pinpoint significant air filtration and infiltration points, followed by targeted structural sealing to prevent conditioned air loss.
• Solar PV Optimization: A new inverter was added to the site’s existing solar array following an equipment failure, restoring clean power generation and maximizing local output.
• Sub-Metering and Verification: City-owned metering equipment was installed to continuously verify real-time consumption, solar generation, and utility performance.

By restoring the solar array and slashing electricity grid draw by over 200,000 kWh annually compared to baseline usage, the retrofits eliminate over 140 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions per year — equal to removing nearly 30 gasoline-powered cars from the road. The improvements have also saved money, dropping annual electric costs from over $44,000 down to $20,118 in 2025 and $14,724 through August 2026. During spring and summer, the facility routinely generates surplus power for the local grid.

Looking ahead, the City anticipates even higher performance and efficiency once a planned roof installation is completed.

"The people who work at and walk through the doors of our Health & Social Services centers deserve buildings that are modern, comfortable, and lasting," said Gilbert Ramírez, HHH director. "This partnership with ESMD is exactly the kind of cross-departmental work that makes Albuquerque stronger, and the work at Dede Feldman Los Griegos is just the beginning."

Actionable Intelligence via Advanced Building Automation

By integrating a state-of-the-art BAS to oversee the new infrastructure, facility engineers now use advanced tools to maintain peak performance:

• Thermographic Floor Plans and Trend Plotting: Dynamic color maps allow operators to spot temperature shifts and equipment issues instantly.
• Fault Detection and Diagnostics: Automated screening against more than 100 HVAC fault conditions catches problems before outages occur.
• Environmental Indexing: Real-time balancing of indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity ensures optimal working conditions while adhering to energy and carbon targets.

"Dede Feldman Los Griegos shows how city facilities can overcome aging infrastructure through integrated engineering," said ESMD Division Manager Saif Ismail. "The right technical upgrades result in more efficiency and less pollution."

About the City of Albuquerque Energy and Sustainability Management Division (ESMD): The Energy and Sustainability Management Division is committed to expanding renewable energy adoption, improving municipal energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all public facilities. Through strategic investments in automation, solar infrastructure, and energy conservation measures, ESMD continues to build a cleaner, more resilient community.