1. 6312 S. Fiddlers Green Cir.
Suite 100E
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Washington D.C. | Annapolis | Atlanta | Detroit | Chicago | Green Bay | Houston | Dallas | Denver | Irvine | Sacramento
866.735.0728
info@bluefinllc.com | bluefinllc.com
Stabilizing the Entire Portfolio
In 2011, BLUEFIN’s RAMP was initiated on just under half of DC’s city
government portfolio. By taking a proactive approach to roof
management (inspecting each roof, performing aggressive preventive
maintenance and repairs, and scheduling corrective maintenance), the
program resulted in a 25% reduction in capital requirements and 75%
fewer leaks, including an 86% reduction in leak response calls from
Hurricane Irene to Hurricane Sandy. In 2013, the RAMP was expanded
across the entire portfolio, covering over 400 facilities with 11M square
feet of roof surface.
A Holistic Approach to Managing Roof Assets and Energy
Using Roofs as a Platform for Renewable Energy
BLUEFIN evaluated roof technologies designed to: conserve energy, reduce storm-water runoff,
reflect heat, collect solar energy, and manage carbon. This analysis concluded that the most
economically viable projects for DC are Solar PV, Cool Roofs, and Vegetated Green Roofs.
~50 Photovoltaic Sites
10+ MW System Total
80k SF of New
Vegetated Roofs
350k SF of Reflective
Cool Roofs
Turning Facilities into Assets
A critical goal for the program was to maximize roof life
potential. After the portfolio was stabilized, facility roofs could
now be looked at as assets instead of liabilities. By having better
knowledge of the portfolio’s Estimated Remaining Service Life
(ERSL), each facility could be considered for possible energy and
sustainability options, which include: PV Solar Roofs, Cool Roofs,
and, Vegetated Roofs. In addition to these options, the RAMP
introduced the approach of using long-term warranted roof
restorations in lieu of replacements, reducing capital
expenditures for identified roofs by 75% or more.
BEFORE
AFTER
BLUEFIN has been very successful in working with cities and organizations to establish Roof
Asset Management Programs (RAMP) that turn roof portfolios into viable solar-ready assets.
The program’s approach is to stabilize the portfolio, help reduce capital expenditures, and then
explore the best options for renewable energy solutions. The following case study covers the
Washington, DC Department of General Services (DGS) RAMP.

2. 6312 S. Fiddlers Green Cir.
Suite 100E
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Washington D.C. | Annapolis | Atlanta | Detroit | Chicago | Green Bay | Houston | Dallas | Denver | Irvine | Sacramento
866.735.0728
info@bluefinllc.com | bluefinllc.com
Generating Local Jobs by Training Local Contractors
At the start of the RAMP, local labor capable of performing the
required maintenance and repairs, and providing the needed
leak response, was minimal. To ensure local workers were used
to maintain the portfolio, BLUEFIN trained four local contractors
in proper maintenance, roof restoration, and roof replacement
procedures and techniques.
Creating a Local Based Energy & Sustainability Company
RAMP Results that Make a Difference
By taking a holistic approach to its roof asset and energy management program, the city of
Washington, DC has set itself up for continued growth and savings. The initial results attained
are a good indication of even better things to come.
• Decreasing Overall Leaks by 75%
• Reducing Capital Requirements by 25%
o Restoration Strategies, saving as much as $35-$40M through 2025
• Implementing distributed generation of renewable energy to the largest extent possible
• Demonstrating a Leadership Position in the Community and Across the Nation
o Creating “Buildings that Teach”, allowing students to learn botany on vegetative roofs
o Creating jobs and training for the local community, developing viable skills that can be sold
into the economy without government subsidies
In an effort to serve the District of Columbia to the
greatest extant possible, BLUEFIN spun off its energy and
sustainability services into a new, local-based entity with
a focus on greening DC’s built environment. This new
company, Lightbox Energy, is a DC Certified Business
Enterprise located in DC’s Ward 1. Lightbox is committed
to serving the local community, and is staffing its growth
from DC’s vibrant higher education institutions.
For more information about how BLUEFIN can help you
stabilize your cities roof portfolio, and turn your roofs into
solar-ready assets, contact us as info@bluefinllc.com.