Energy use in 400 area buildings will be cut by 20 percent by the end of next year under a plan announced Wednesday by a recently begun partnership of local governments, the U.S. General Services Administration and the private sector.

“We are increasingly a higher-cost region because of energy costs. If we are to compete with the rest of the world ... we have to lower our costs,” said George Vradenburg, co-founder and vice chairman of the Chesapeake Crescent, a member of the Energy Efficiency Partnership of Greater Washington. “It isn’t going to be easy,” he added.

To ease the transition, the organization will front some of the capital costs involved with retrofitting the buildings with improved lighting, heating and cooling systems, and other energy-saving measures. The partnership was begun in October 2007 by Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region branch in Alexandria, Pepco Energy Services, and financier Hannon Armstrong.

Armstrong is investing $500 million over five years. So far, more than $50 million has been earmarked for more than 10 buildings. The owners of these buildings will pay Armstrong back over time with savings from the energy-efficiency improvements.

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In total, more than 74 million square feet of space will be retrofitted, saving about $36.5 million in energy bills each year and the equivalent of the carbon dioxide emissions released by 45,000 cars.

Public-sector entities in all three area jurisdictions are dedicating $175 million to the initiative. A $150 million commitment comes from Virginia, which will retrofit 380 state-owned buildings.

Arlington County will improve six county-owned buildings — about 523,000 square feet total — including three community centers, a human services office building, a branch library and a jail.

About 200 buildings in Maryland are committing to the Partnership goal, including the Orioles and Ravens stadiums, University of Maryland, College Park, and the Department of Transportation.

In D.C., the 2.3 million-square-foot Washington Convention Center will be part of the effort.

The federal government has also agreed to participate. The GSA, the country’s largest single consumer of energy, will reduce energy use in 13 of its properties in the metro region.

In the private sector, developer JBG has committed to retrofitting L’Enfant Plaza.

Western Development will outfit Georgetown Park. The Brookings Institution will update its own headquarters, and Cafritz will make five of its area buildings more energy-efficient. Western Development and Cafritz will be using some of Armstrong’s investment money.

wblake@dcexaminer.com