Texas Department of Criminal Justice

PROGRESS REPORT

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) puts together a list of in progress and future planned energy conservation projects. Additionally, an employee awareness pamphlet has been developed to create a positive mindset for all employees. The pamphlet emphasizes the importance of energy consumption reduction and how everyone’s actions can make a difference. Regional directors receive monthly consumption and cost reports for each unit within their region. The agency’s consumption and comparison updates for fiscal 2025 are provided on the tables below.

Consumption Reduction Results for Fiscal 2025

Agency	Electricity	Water	Natural Gas
TDCJ Reduction	37.3 million kWh	152.5 million gallons	3.2 million MCF

In an era where sustainability and efficiency are paramount, energy and resource conservation have become critical metrics for evaluating environmental and operational success. Annual data at TDCJ on electricity, water and natural gas savings reflect significant strides in reducing consumption and minimizing environmental impact. The following represents the fiscal 25 savings from TDCJ’s management programs.

TDCJ Energy Resource Savings

1. Electricity: 37.3 million kWh, 10.5 percent of goal
2. Water: 152.5 million gallons, 2 percent of goal
3. Natural Gas: 3.2 million MCF, 11 percent of goal
4. Transportation Fuel: More efficient fleet using hybrid vehicles, 15 percent less fuel

Effective resource management not only benefits the environment but also delivers substantial economic advantages through cost savings. Annual data highlights that organizations and buildings adopting energy-efficient practices — such as LED lighting, smart metering and water-saving fixtures — can achieve significant financial reductions. For example, TDCJ implementing energy savings from installation has proven to save 3 percent to 5 percent, often translating to thousands of dollars per facility. Similarly, water conservation initiatives have yielded savings and is illustrated in the savings shown below. Natural gas optimization in industrial settings has led to cost reductions of 2.5 percent to 5 percent annually. These figures demonstrate the powerful intersection of sustainability and economic prudence, where strategic investment through effective use of the SECO LoanSTAR contributes to efficiency and long-term financial benefits.

Preliminary Energy Audits

The preliminary energy audits were completed at 17 units in fiscal 25. The goal of auditing all the non-idle units on the system have now finished 49 out of 103 units, which represents a 47 percent completion rate. The remaining 52 will be completed by 2028.

Lighting

1. There are approximately 550,000 4-foot T8 lights in its facilities throughout the state.
2. 4-foot T8 fluorescent lights are being changed out to LEDs.
3. In fiscal 2025, approximately 28,400 4-foot T8 LED new lights added to the system for a total of 322,106 4-foot T8 LED lights.
4. The 322,106 fluorescent lights changed out to LEDs represent 59 percent of all types of lights in the TDCJ system. LED are rated to last 100,000 hours.
5. The program to convert fluorescent lights to LEDs has realized a fiscal 2025 savings of $3 million from an energy savings of approximately 37.3 million kWh.
6. Electrical results illustrate that the TDCJ used 611.4 million kWh of electrical power in fiscal 2025 compared with 683.2 million kWh of electrical power in the base year of 2020. Since 2020, TDCJ has realized electrical price increase of 31 percent, with an increase in the average rate from $0.0624 per kWh to today’s average rate of $0.0904. This represents an increase of $0.028 per kWh in the average rate.
7. TDCJ exceeded the target 2.5 percent annual goal in fiscal 25 with an electric power reduction of 10.5 percent.

Water

Conserving water is critical for sustaining life, protecting ecosystems and ensuring a resilient future. It preserves finite freshwater resources, reduces strain on infrastructure and mitigates the impacts of droughts and environmental changes. By TDCJ using water efficiently, it safeguards water usage by balancing repairs with proven methods for lowering the facilities daily usage.

Some methods to achieve the water reduction goal:

1. Changing inmate patterns of water usage
2. Educating employees and inmates
3. Installing water savings equipment to each inmate cell
4. Limiting toilet flushes
5. Fixing pipe leaks, lavatories, sinks, toilets and showers
6. Installing low-flow fixtures
7. Adding shut-off timers to showers
8. Recycling gray water
9. Dedicating staff to resource consumption
10. Harvesting rain water
11. Water usage results illustrate consumption of 10.3 million k/gal of water in fiscal 2025. The piping system is 35-plus years old and has experienced many pipe failures.
12. The first year of installing water saving devices at the Robertson unit resulted in savings of 152 million gallons. The Connally unit will be included in next year's results.
13. The TDCJ's 2 percent water reduction did not meet the 2.5 percent goal.

Electricity

1. Conserving electricity is critical for sustaining life, protecting ecosystems and ensuring a resilient future. It preserves finite resources, reduces strain on infrastructure and mitigates the impacts of blackouts and environmental changes. By TDCJ using electricity efficiently, it safeguards electric usage by balancing loads with proven methods for lowering the facilities daily usage. This helps to lower the use of such a valuable resource as electricity.
2. 590.4 million kWh of electrical power was used in fiscal 2025 compared with 683.2 million kWh in the base year of 2020.
3. TDCJ succeeded in meeting the annual 2.5 percent goal, with an electrical reduction of 13.6 percent.

Transportation Fuels

1. There are approximately 250 vehicles in the TDCJ system. The employees drive to more than 100 correctional facilities throughout the year. All new replacement vehicles are hybrid models. The hybrid models are designed to use 5 percent less fuel.
2. The carbon burning fleet will be modernized to 100 percent hybrid within 10 years.
3. Presently, 60 percent of the fleet are hybrids.
4. TDCJ replaces 5 percent to 10 percent of fleet vehicles each year.
5. TDCJ exceeded the 2.5 percent annual goal in fiscal 2025 with a fuel reduction of 15 percent.

Natural Gas

1. TDCJ used 3.2 million MCF of natural gas in fiscal 2025 compared with 3.5 million MCF of natural gas in fiscal 2020.
2. Natural gas prices were $3 MCF in 2020. This year, the average natural gas cost is $4.89 MCF.
3. Weather, storage and supply cause high volatility of natural gas prices.
4. TDCJ met the annual 2.5 percent goal with a natural gas reduction of 11 percent.

GOALS

Fiscal 2025 Energy Conservation Projects Completed or In Progress

1. Security (perimeter/outside lighting and cell/dormitory lighting): 13 complete, 26 in progress
2. Infrastructure (water systems including above ground storage, wells and distribution lines, wastewater systems, generators, switches, electrical, including sewer lines and utility connections): 32 complete, 12 in progress
3. Roofing (replacement): 1 complete, 2 in progress
4. Facility Repair (doors, windows and plumbing): 7 complete, 23 in progress
5. Boilers (steam boiler systems, hot water boilers, water heaters and associated piping): 28 complete, 45 in progress
6. Ventilation (all HVAC system components, purge fans, control systems and chillers): 177 complete, 22 in progress

Fiscal 2025 Energy Conservation Projects Planned

1. Security (perimeter/outside lighting and cell/dormitory lighting, emergency power): 12
2. Infrastructure (water systems including above ground storage, wells and distribution lines, wastewater systems including sewer lines and utility connections): 45
3. Roofing (replacement): 10
4. Facility Repair (doors, windows and plumbing): 15
5. Boilers (steam boilers, hot water boilers, water heaters, and associated piping): 110
6. Ventilation (all HVAC system components, purge fans, control systems and chillers): 180

STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS

TDCJ is continuing energy audits at all facilities. TDCJ will continue to retrofit existing utilities, equipment and systems with with newer and more efficient models as the need for replacement arises. This includes water heaters and water control systems, lighting, windows, roofs, pumps, motors, air ventilation and HVAC systems. TDCJ will also continue to analyze potential energy and utility savings projects and technologies.

Listed below are examples that TDCJ targets each year to reduce utilities and energy consumption.

1. LIGHTING. We are planning on looking at 12-watt, 1800 lumens T8 48-inch type B LED fixtures from our current 18-watt tubes and 5000k lumens for areas such as cells, administration, education facilities, gymnasiums, parking and high-security areas.
2. WATER CONSERVATION AND REDUCTION. TDCJ consumes a large amount of water, over 10 billion gallons per year, through lavatories, sinks and showers. Within three years we will save 10 percent of our water usage by using water savings devices. The water controlling devices being incorporated into plumbing systems at many TDCJ facilities are in the sink, toilet and shower areas, and can save 30 percent to 40 percent.
3. WATER HEATERS. We are now considering using on-demand type water heaters that produce 18 GPM. In certain situations when boilers or heat exchangers fail, 100-gallon capacity water heaters are used to replace that type of hot water heating equipment. The next devices being considered are on demand tankless units.
4. VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES (VFDs). These are now being used as an energy-saving device in heating, ventilation and air conditioning. They allow the motor to speed up at higher cooling or heating demands and slow down when the demand is low. Reduced motor speed provides a significant reduction in motor power. The energy savings when used in fans, pumps and compressors can be 30 percent to 50 percent over conventional speed applications.
5. AIR VENTILATION AND HVAC SYSTEMS. HVAC and air ventilation is a key factor in providing makeup air for both indoor air quality and comfort. The combined use of rooftop exhaust fans with wall exhausters produces a continuous breeze and controls air pressure discrepancies. Modulated exhaust systems have been developed to reduce up to 70 percent of electrical energy that is used to run the fans and still operate within the guidelines required to exhaust the air. TDCJ uses several types of HVAC systems to cool and heat its facilities. The two types of everyday systems used are either simple or complex. Simple systems use natural gas in a furnace, direct refrigerant and typically serve a single zone. Complex systems use refrigerant to chill water or use a boiler to heat the water which then feeds to air handler coils. These complex systems can heat or cool multiple areas at one time. The TDCJ is committed to raising the bar when it comes to HVAC equipment efficiency levels. Additionally, using variable speed drives on fans, variable air volume on chillers helps increase efficiency levels. In all cases TDCJ chooses the next higher efficiency rating than the latest ASHRAE standard.
6. PROCEDURAL CHANGES. TDCJ strives to implement procedural changes that emphasize conservation with low-cost repairs and more efficient procedures.

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Preliminary energy audits by the TDCJ facilities engineering staff will include 103 units throughout the state and is expected to be complete by 2028.

LEDs are continuing to be replaced across TDCJ. HVAC units’ efficiency ratings are being increased by 10 percent. Boilers and other hot water systems such as on-demand units are upgraded to the highest level of efficiency we can achieve.

AGENCY FINANCE STRATEGY

Funding options will be subject to the appropriation for capital items and may include but not be limited to the use of general revenue funds through the LoanSTAR program and grant funds. The specific financial strategy for each project will be based on the scope of individual projects and the available funding resources. TDCJ’s primary emphasis is on the HVAC system. The costs for HVAC have seen an explosion in costs and are very high to handle the climate we are in.

TDCJ is committed to funding cost-effective projects that will provide cost avoidance on a recurring basis. Therefore, projects will be prioritized accordingly. However, the implementation of all prioritized projects is contingent upon the amount of appropriate funding TDCJ receives. Many of the best EWMP projects are funded by SECO LoanStar.

EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN

TDCJ Employee Awareness Pamphlet is available at all units within the TDCJ system. The pamphlet contains information on utility costs and how changes in behavior can reduce utility costs.