Lead by Example: The Virks Building

Built in 1936, the historic Virks building, located in Cranston, served as an institutional hospital for 78 years. Renovations from 2014 to 2017 upgraded the facility and transformed it into the new home for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
The Department of Administration, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) went above and beyond code to bring the building into the future with energy efficiency improvements:

• Building envelope upgrades to provide additional insulation to walls, the roof and windows, resulting in significant natural gas savings.
• High-efficiency lighting for the entire building.
• Daylight harvesting controls and light occupancy sensors.
• Energy efficient heating, cooling, ventilation and plumbing systems.
   

These measures save 121,821 kWh of electricity per year (24 percent of the building baseline) and 4,050 therms of natural gas (a 15 percent savings).

The State's Lead by Example initiative promotes the adoption of clean energy measures across public sector facilities and state agencies. State and municipal employees are helping to reduce energy costs and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with Rhode Island's economic, energy and environmental goals. DCAMM and 10 other state government agencies, quasi-public agencies and municipalities were recognized for their energy achievements during the inaugural Lead by Example Awards ceremony in April.