Best Practice Guide

Commercial Office Buildings

Case Study

Qualcomm

Property Name: World Headquarters, San Diego
Type: corporate campus, commercial office space
Size: 3.5 million sq. ft. in 10 U.S. States and 15 countries

Website: www.qualcomm.com

Electricity End-Use Consumption in Commercial Office Buildings by ActivityView Details.

QUALCOMM, Inc. is a global leader in digital wireless technologies and has pioneered technology used in wireless networks and headsets all across the world. The San Diego-based company has thirty-five facilities totaling more than 3.5 million sq. ft. operating in 10 U.S. states and 15 countries. Qualcomm is a Charter Member of the California Climate Registry and was recognized in 2005 by the Registry as a Climate Action Leader for certification of its greenhouse gas inventory.

Qualcomm has had an energy efficiency program for more than a decade, starting back in 1992. Since that time, more than 350 separate projects have been implemented, saving approximately 12 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 525,000 therms of natural gas each year - enough to power more than 2000 Californian homes. This saves Qualcomm about $1,464,000 in annual energy costs.

Illustration of the increase in fuel-use efficiency by using combined heat and power (CHP) to eliminate a boiler. Courtesy of California Energy Commission.View Details.

Qualcomm's energy goals include maximizing energy efficiency in all new construction, retrofitting existing buildings to incorporate efficiency technologies, and identifying and implementing demand reduction strategies.

Major Qualcomm energy achievements include:

  • Installation of a 4.8 MW cogeneration system.
  • Installation of a 500 kW solar photovoltaic system.
  • Upgrades to existing 2.4 MW cogeneration system.
  • Use of hybrid vehicles for corporate shuttle service.
  • Reduced energy demand by 10 million kWh per year between 1993-2002.
  • Reduced C02 emissions by 4,000 tons per year between 1993-2002.

Greywater system at NRDC's Santa Monica offices. Photo by Grey Crawford, courtesy of NRDC.View Details.

Qualcomm's two cogeneration systems, collectively generating 7.2 MW, have been especially good investments. Qualcomm saves about $539,720 from two 500-ton absorption chillers connected to the cogeneration systems that are designed to run on waste heat instead of using electric chillers for the HVAC system. Another $113,880 is saved through a heat recovery unit that supplies industrial hot water. Electricity self-generation reduces demand for utility energy by 14,016,000 kWh per year, saving another $121,920. Total annual savings achieved by the cogeneration systems are about $775,520.

Besides these major achievements, Qualcomm has implemented a full suite of energy efficiency and water use efficiency building strategies at its corporate campus. Lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, and improvements to the building envelope have all been undertaken. Qualcomm has an energy efficient procurement policy as well as a web based employee education program.

201 Mission has a 750-kW CHP system. Equity Office Properties.View Details.

Qualcomm personnel work with outside organizations, such as the City of San Diego and the regional Chamber of Commerce, on a wide variety of energy related issues, helping to assure reliable energy for the local community.

Because of its commitment to the local community and energy efficiency, Qualcomm was distinguished by the City of San Diego with a 2004 Excellence in Energy Award (SANDEE) and the 2005 Climate Wise ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.