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Greening EPA
The Architecture, Engineering, and
Real Estate Branch's Greening Activities
• ~~.** U.S. EPA Headquarters Library
March 2001 Mail code 3201
120° Pennsy|var|ia Avenue NW
Washington DC 20460
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary iii
Introduction 1
Overview of AEREB's Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Accomplishments 2
Energy and Water Conservation 2
Waste Prevention and Recycling 2
Green Buildings Program 3
Affirmative Procurement 3
AEREB's Facility-Specific Accomplishments 4
Energy and Water Conservation 4
Additional Efforts 6
EPA's Green Lease Riders 9
EPA Region 3's Green Lease Rider 9
Kansas City Regional Office 10
Kansas City Science and Technology Center 10
Education and Outreach 12
Laboratories for the 21 st Century 12
Energy Star Buildings Program 12
Incentive Programs 12
Conservation Information Clearinghouse 13
Greening EPA Newsletter 13
Awareness Packages 13
Facility-Specific Procurement 13
Sustainable Buildings 13
Carnegie-Mellon University Partnerships 13
Conclusion 14
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Acronym List
AEREB Architecture, Engineering, and Real Estate Branch
BEES Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability
BTU British Thermal Units
CFC chlorofluorocarbon
CPG Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
DDC Direct Digital Controls
DOE U.S. Department of Energy
EOs Executive Orders
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPACT Energy Policy Act of 1992
ESPCs Energy Savings Performance Contracts
FMSD Facilities Management Services Division
GSA U.S. General Services Administration
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
IUCRC Industry/University Cooperative Research Consortium
Labs21 Laboratories for the 21st Century
LEED U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
NVFEL National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan
OA Office of Administration
PV photovoltaic
RTP Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
SFB Sustainable Facilities Branch
SFOs Solicitations for Offers
VOC Volatile Organic Compounds
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Executive Summary
EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in
Ann Artjor, MichS-gan, was retrofitted with a comprehensive,
integrated energy system that is expected to reduce energy
consumption by at least 66 perceni and water consumption
by 80 percent.
Over the past decade, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Architecture,
Engineering, and Real Estate Branch (AEREB) has initiated an impressive number of
measures to make the Agency's facilities more environmentally and financially sustain-
able. Recognizing the importance for the Agency to "walk the walk," AEREB took early proactive
measures, utilizing a full range of opportunities, to increase EPA's energy and water efficiency and
improve environmental performance well before other EPA branches or federal agencies. AEREB's
management remains highly committed to its environmental programs, which ensures that inno-
vative ideas are considered seriously and that EPA remains on the cutting edge of environmental
performance.
Initially, AEREB's efforts focused on
energy efficiency upgrades, such as ensuring
that facilities were GREEN LlGHTS'-compliant.
AEREB soon recognized, however, that despite
the significant improvements in lighting ener-
gy efficiency, energy usage from lighting is
only 10 percent of most EPA buildings' energy
consumption. As a result, AEREB dedicated itself to expanding its efforts to improve energy
efficiency beyond lighting upgrades.
It began investigating ways to further improve the environmental performance of its buildings
by increasing water efficiency and incorporating the use of environmentally preferable building
materials. AEREB has even tested technologies that would be considered "experimental" by some.
Many of these technologies, such as bioretention (using soil and plants to remove contaminants),
have proven very successful, while others, such as dessicant cooling in laboratory buildings, were
abandoned after poor results. It is AEREB's willingness to take risks, however, that has allowed
EPA to stand out among its peers in the energy efficiency and pollution prevention arena.
AEREB's main focus has been on improving the environmental performance of EPA's labo-
ratories because they are the only facilities owned by the Agency. AEREB is also working with
the General Services Administration (GSA), which owns most of EPA's office facilities, to incor-
porate sustainable features and practices in EPA-occupied office buildings.
This report discusses AEREB's sustainability and pollution prevention efforts to date,
including energy and water conservation, waste prevention and recycling, green buildings, and
affirmative (environmentally preferable) procurement practices. It also addresses facility-specific
projects broken out by laboratory and regional office.
AEREB's efforts have resulted in EPA facilities becoming models of success for other agen-
cies and organizations. Recognizing the importance of ensuring that EPA continues on the path
to sustainability, in 2000, AEREB gave certain responsibilities to the newly formed Sustainable
Facilities Branch (SFB). SFB will focus on sustainable practices policy and project implementa-
tion full-time, which reflects the importance EPA places on this issue. In addition to highlight-
ing AEREB's past successes, this report will serve as a reference for measuring EPA's future
sustainability and pollution prevention efforts.
Environmental
criteria Deluded
in its solicitation
for remodeled
office space
saved EPA's
Region 3 almost
$1 milfdn inr
reduced labor,
management and
material costs.
GREEN LIGHTS is an early EPA program encouraging governmenr agencies and major corporations to install
energy-efficient lighting systems. Using such energy-saving technology decreases electricity consumption and
reduces the need for additional power plants, which can be significant sources of pollution.
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IV
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troduction
AEREB resides within the Facilities Management Services Division (FMSD) of EPA's
Office of Administration (OA). OA provides management services, infrastructure, and
operations that enable EPA to apply its mission of protecting human health and the envi-
ronment within its own facilities. Within this framework, AEREB is responsible for acquiring and
improving all EPA facilities, including both headquarters buildings and labs and offices across the
country. EPA facilities include offices and laboratories in government-owned, EPA-owned, EPA-
leased, or GSA-leased space. There are 146 EPA facilities located throughout 78 cities in 38 states
across the country, including 20 EPA-owned laboratory facilities.
Several regulations and Executive Orders (EOs) support AEREB's efforts to improve the sus-
tainability of Agency facilities. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) requires federal agencies
to reduce energy consumption and to report energy use in buildings and vehicles. Using 1985 as a
baseline year, EPACT requires federal agencies to reduce energy use in nonindustrial facilities 10
percent by 1995, 20 percent by 2000, and 30 percent by 2005. EPACT, however, specifically
excluded energy-intensive facilities such as laboratories. In 1993, EPA voluntarily decided to
report its laboratories' energy and water consumption levels and to meet or exceed the stricter
energy reduction goals set for less energy-intensive, nonindustrial facilities.
In early 1997, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy amended the Federal Acquisition
Regulations, consistent with legislative authorities provided in EPACT, permitting federal agencies
to utilize commercially available financing techniques called Energy Savings Performance
Contracts (ESPCs) to finance energy efficiency projects in federal facilities. An ESPC is a form of
third-party financing that funds energy-savings upgrades with future utility bill savings, allowing
EPA to incorporate energy-efficient technologies without committing capital funds.
EO 13123, Greening the Government Through Efficiency in Energy Management, which was
signed in 1999, strengthens the EPACT
requirements by mandating that agencies
reduce energy consumption in nonindustrial
facilities 30 percent by 2005 and 35 percent by
2010. EO 13123 also mandates that industrial
facilities, including laboratories, meet estab-
lished energy efficiency goals—20 percent by
2005 and 25 percent by 2010—using a 1990
baseline. In 2000, EPA switched its energy
consumption reporting to the industrial facili-
ties category, despite the fact that using the
1990 baseline makes it tougher for EPA to
achieve these goals since significant reductions
occurred between 1985 and 1990.
In addition to EO 13123, several other
EOs promote pollution prevention as the pre-
ferred environmental management technique throughout the federal government. They include
EO 12856, Federal Compliance With Right-to-Know Laws and Pollution Prevention
Requirements; EO 12845, Purchasing Energy-Efficient Computer Equipment; and EO 13101,
Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition. EPA's
sustainability initiative incorporates all of these mandates into a single comprehensive strategy.
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erview of AEREB's Pollution Prevention
ISustainability Accomplishments
EPA Energy Use 1985 - 2002 (Projected)
Energy and Water Conservation
AEREB has initiated several efforts to reduce the energy and water that its facilities consume.
EPA produced an annual consumption report for 1995 showing that the energy efficiency
improvements that AEREB had implemented helped EPA meet EPACT reduction require-
ments of 10 percent when compared with the 1985 baseline. AEREB also concluded at this time that
it could achieve further reductions through an aggressive energy efficiency improvement program
focused on laboratories' heating, venting, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, which account for
about 70 percent of a laboratory's total energy consumption. AEREB, for example, is adopting the use
of manifolded exhausts for lab fume hoods, which will allow laboratories to capture waste heat that
can be used to lower energy consumption.
AEREB has used ESPCs to fund many of its HVAC upgrades because they require significant
investments that couldn't be financed with EPA's buildings and facilities funds alone. By using ESPCs,
AEREB has produced performance-based contracts with guaranteed energy-efficiency achievements of
greater than 60 percent, which will help EPA meet the 20 percent reduction goal in 2000.
Several years ago, AEREB worked with
the White House Climate Change Task Force
to ensure that EO 13123 would exclude
renewable—or "green"—power used by any
federal facility from its total energy consump-
tion. This was determined because little or no
pollution is associated with renewable power.
Given this flexibility, AEREB began to issue
solicitations for purchasing green power at sev-
eral facilities. (See Section III on AEREB's
Facility-Specific Accomplishments for more
detail on facilities receiving green power.)
AEREB will ensure that EPA meets the 20
percent reduction goal by 2005 by purchasing
green power for additional facilities.
The Agency's facilities have a high rate of
energy consumption compared with more tra-
ditional government facilities. This is partly
because EPA laboratories are energy-intensive,
utilizing one-pass air requirements for safety
reasons. EPA's laboratories also have strict temperature and humidity level requirements and use
energy-intensive equipment. Despite these challenges, AEREB's energy-efficiency improvements
are significantly reducing the Agency's energy consumption.
f / /
EPA's energy consumption (BTU/Ff) has decreased 10.13 percent from EPA's
original 1985 baseline after excluding the BTUs associated with green power
purchases. By 2002, it is estimated consumption will decrease 22.5 percent from
the 1985 baseline once the EPA Research Triangle Park's energy consumption is
adjusted to more accurately reflect EPA's energy responsibilities.
Waste Prevention and Recycling
In 1994, EPA launched its Paperless Office Campaign to reduce office paper use by 15 percent
within 2 years. The campaign led to a 25 percent reduction in photocopying, saving 56 million
sheets of paper. As part of this ongoing campaign and in response to various EO requirements,
EPA continues to reduce paper use in its facilities nationwide.
At the end of 1997, EPA Headquarters formally reviewed its recycling program, including the
types and amounts of waste generated, the capture rate for recyclables, and the potential waste
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reduction options. This review showed that
EPA Headquarters had achieved an overall
capture rate of 86 percent for all recyclables
(e.g., glass, aluminum cans, office paper, news-
paper, plastic, cardboard). The amount of
waste generated per employee also decreased
significantly when compared with the previous
Recycling at Work
Fourteen regional facilities and laboratories collected almost 2
million pounds of paper products, aimost 200,000 pounds of
cardboard, more than 3,500 pounds of aluminum, more than
4,000 pounds of glass, and nearly 1,300 pounds of piastic for
recycling in 1998, according to an informal EPA survey.
formal study conducted of the Headquarters
in 1992. These results show that EPA's source reduction and recycling efforts have successfully
affected employee disposal patterns at EPA Headquarters.
Green Buildings Program
Green buildings incorporate sustainability in design, renovation, and
maintenance programs. AEREB has implemented green building strate-
gies in both newly constructed buildings and renovation projects. To
promote a healthy and productive working environment, AEREB's
Green Buildings Program has incorporated energy and resource effi-
ciency principles, applied waste reduction and pollution prevention
practices, and improved indoor air quality. Numerous solicitations for
offers (SFOs) for construction and renovation projects have included
green building practices such as the segregation and collection of recy-
clable materials during construction and demolition activities and the
reuse of existing building materials (e.g., doors, cabinetry, moldings). In
addition, SFOs have specified use of environmentally preferable build-
ing products and materials, promoted low VOC-content adhesives, and
required the use of wood from sustainably harvested forests. (Details on
facilities in which AEREB has incorporated green building design principles can be found in
Sections III and IV.)
Affirmative Procurement
In August 1995, EPA initiated its Environmental Procurement Strategy in response to EO
12873, which was subsequently replaced by EO 13101, Greening the Government Through
Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition. In addition to supporting an environmen-
tal/recycling hotline, requiring contractors to comply with certain directives, and maximizing use
of nonozone-depleting products and services, EPA's Affirmative Procurement Program began
focusing on new standards for recycled paper, ENERGY STAR2-compliant computers and other
electronic equipment, and sustainable construction. EO 13101 also requires EPA's
Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) program to designate recycled-content products
for purchase by government agencies and to recommend recycled-content levels for these items.
The EO requires all federal agencies to increase purchases of recycled-content items and other
environmentally preferable products and services.
All EPA offices and laboratories strive to meet the goals of EO 13101. EPA facilities
responding to an EPA survey indicated that all current and future office paper purchases meet or
exceed the EO's 30 percent postconsumer recovered-content requirement; all CPG purchases
adhere to the recommended postconsumer recovered-content levels; and all office equipment
purchases were ENERGY STAR-compliant by 1998.
Commitment
AI current and
future office
paper purchases
meet or -exceed
the 30 percent
postconsumer
moove-red-con-
tent requirement
of £013101.
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary partnership between DOE, EPA, and product manufacturers, local utilities, and
retailers. ENERGY STAR-labeled products use less energy than other products, save money on utility bills, and
help protect the environment.
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EB's Facility-Specific Accomplishments
Hm Changing Fa&p
AER£B has focused arc v&nous modi*
fieatians to MVAC systems to improve
their efficiency, including tnsfaliing
ground-source (geothermai) heat
pymps and variable air-volume fume
hoods, upgrading fan motors, and
incorporating automated energy man-
agement and'buiiding control systems
and mocMar fume hood controls.
Energy and Water Conservation
By designing new EPA labs that are energy- and water-efficient and by improving existing
labs' energy and water conservation efforts, AEREB is helping the Agency build a sustain-
able future.
EPA has chosen a number of different energy-efficient technologies and pollution prevention
strategies to implement at its facilities, including the following:
* High-efficiency HVAC systems.
* Direct digital controls (DDC) to automate building operation.
* Natural gas-fired, high-efficiency hot water boilers and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) -free elec-
tric chillers.
Windows and skylights that reduce the amount of solar heat entering facilities.
Natural lighting and energy-efficient electrical lighting.
Solar heaters that conserve electricity and fossil fuel.
Between 1997 and 1999, EPA's total water consumption rose 4.5 per-
cent, but EPA added three new facilities during this time. Excluding the new
facilities, the Agency's water consumption dropped 6.3 percent, thanks to
AEREB's water-efficiency upgrades and an emphasis on water conservation.
Between 1990 and 2000, AEREB completed CFC removal from
many of the chillers in its laboratories and also increased the energy effi-
ciency of the chillers. Since 1995, AEREB has pursued a program to
improve HVAC performance in EPA laboratories, and recently, AEREB
has installed night setback and variable air-volume systems for EPA labora-
tories, in accordance with EPA's Safety, Health, and Environmental
Management Division. Until recently, EPA's laboratory energy consump-
tion was meeting the 10 percent reduction goal. This reduction was the
result of a combination of efforts, including EPA's GREEN LIGHTS Program, CFC energy-efficient
chiller replacements, and improved facility management, especially at the Ann Arbor, Michigan,
facility. In 1999 and 2000, EPAs energy consumption increased, also due to the addition of the
new facilities. EPA is expecting to meet EO 13123s 20 percent energy reduction requirement by
2005 through the completion of two major ESPC projects, continuation of energy efficiency
upgrades in new and existing laboratories, and
the increase of green power purchases at several
facilities.
The following highlights summarize activities
that individual laboratory facilities have initi-
ated to improve their energy and water conser-
vation performances:
* Ann Arbor, Michigan: An ESPC was
awarded at the National Vehicle and Fuel
Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) in 1998.
By replacing old, unreliable equipment
with a comprehensive, integrated energy
system that guarantees an energy
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consumptioa reduction of at least 66 percent, NVFEL is the first laboratory eligible for the
ENERGY STAR label. The facility's HVAC system utilizes a DDC system that minimizes the
energy needed to maintain optimum airflow throughout the building. Natural gas-fired, high-
efficiency hot water boilers and CFC-free electric chillers provide heating and cooling, and a
200-kilowatt fuel cell has been installed. Variable frequency motors minimize the energy
required by major fans and pumps. Other features include windows and skylights that reduce
the solar heat load entering the facility while also reducing the number of lights needed. That
number is further reduced because of an "uplighting" design that offers indirect room lighting
from a bright ceiling. The facility also incorporates occupancy sensors that automatically turn
lights off in unoccupied rooms. The new equipment at NVFEL is operational as of March
2001 and is expected to be realizing benefits in the near future. This upgrade was completed
without adversely affecting research functions at the facility.
Cincinnati, Ohio: This facility made several energy-efficient upgrades, including a new
HVAC system, improved windows and insulation, a new energy-efficient boiler and boiler
controls, energy-efficient elevator motors, and a closed-loop glycol cooling tower. The facility
also has a revolving door to optimize temperature and building pressure and features enthalpy
recovery from boiler exhaust.
Duluth, Minnesota: The facility reduced its energy consumption by 18 percent from 1997 to
1999, partly by installing an energy and environmental management system that minimizes
energy waste through improved equipment controls. The facility also installed energy-efficient
windows in 1997.
Edison, New Jersey: Three solar water heaters, installed at the end of 1998, are the primary
hot-water sources for the facility. The solar heaters allow the facility to conserve electricity and
fossil fuel by relying on the electrical system only for auxiliary water heating when needed.
The solar heating systems feature preheat tanks that hold 66 to 120 gallons of water. The sys-
tems also include roof-mounted, single-glazed, liquid-evacuated tube collectors. The largest
system also has a meter that helps measure the water heaters' performance. A typical
solar heating system decreases the need for conventional water heating by 66 percent;
Edison's solar water heaters have exceeded the expected energy savings results.
Fort Meade, Maryland: EPA began occupying its new laboratory
facility at the Fort Meade Army Base in 1999- The 140,000-
square-foot facility, which includes 70 labs, incorporates various
environmental building elements. To conserve energy, the
center maximizes natural light and uses energy-efficient elec-
trical lighting. Lab spaces use variable air-vol-
ume technology to minimize heating and
cooling costs while maintaining safety stan-
dards. To conserve water, the facility utilizes
* *
low-water flush units and keeps a separate
water supply for cooling water. Plans are
under way to operate a solid oxide fuel cell module
integrated with a small gas turbine at the facility starting
in mid-2001. The hybrid power system will have the highest
electrical efficiency (60 percent) and lowest emissions of any power
plant fueled by natural gas. The electricity produced will meet the laboratory's needs, with
excess power contributing to the local power grid.
ff
38
2
CO
tu
CO
Solid oxide fuel cell
module integrated with
a small gas turbine
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> Golden, Colorado: In November 1999, the
Denver Regional Laboratory began buying green
power. Wind power provided 20 percent of the
lab's electricity requirements. Since December
2000, however, 100 percent of the facility's power
is wind-generated. The Region 8 laboratory facility
also includes a DDC system that monitors HVAC
operating conditions and a solar preheating sys-
tem. The DDC system immediately notifies the
facility of problems so the HVAC system can be
restored to optimum operating performance as
soon as possible, saving energy, time, and money.
Gulf Breeze, Florida: The Gulf Ecology Division of the National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory generates power for two
formerly unlit piers with a photovoltaic (PV) system. PV systems convert
light energy into electricity. Nodal direct digital controls were also
installed in the facility to minimize energy waste and to monitor indoor
environmental quality, building security, and fire protection. In addition,
timers were installed on approximately 20 electric water heaters to further
reduce energy consumption. EPA hopes to award an ESPC for a facility
energy upgrade in 2001.
Houston, Texas: A cooling tower condensate return system conserves
water and decreases operating costs at this facility. Without the system, a
local water utility would have to supply the facility with larger volumes of
water. Recent energy efficiency improvements include air-system modifica-
tions, an upgraded DDC system, and a night setback system that controls
exhaust fans, laboratory fume hoods, and air supply.
* Richmond, California: This Region 9 laboratory served as the pilot for purchasing green
power for EPA labs. Under EPA's first renewable electricity contract, the Sacramento
Municipal Utility District supplies 100 percent of the laboratory's electricity from a landfill
gas plant. The laboratory consumes approximately 1.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity
annually, or enough to power 181 typical households. By purchasing renewable energy, the
facility reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuel-based power by more
than 2.3 million pounds per year. This is equivalent to reducing 2 million automobile miles
in California.
Additional Efforts
AEREB is also responsible for initiating many other water- and energy-efficient efforts that will
lead to positive gains at EPA facilities in the future. Some of the major efforts include:
* Ada, Oklahoma: Plans include completely
renovating the laboratory's HVAC system
under an ESPC. This includes replacing
the system with an environmentally prefer-
able ground-source heat-pump system for
heating and cooling, installing variable air-
O O D
volume fume hoods to manage air supply
and exhaust emissions, upgrading fan
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motors, and incorporating an energy management and building control system to allow mod-
ular control at each fume hood. The upgrades are expected to decrease the facility's energy use
by a minimum of 60 percent and water use by 80 percent.
Chelmsford, Massachusetts: EPA broke ground on its New
England Regional Laboratory in 1999. The building's interior
and exterior were designed to minimize energy consumption.
Design elements include high-efficiency motors and variable
flow pumping systems; water-chilled coolers; daylight dim-
mers, adjustable occupancy sensors, skylights, and energy-effi-
cient light ballasts; variable air-volume HVAC systems; and
active and passive solar design features. To conserve water, the
facility will incorporate electronic sensors for restroom
plumbing fixtures. Water from roof drainage will be used to
replenish wetlands or to irrigate grassy areas. AEREB also
coordinated with GSA to issue a contract for purchasing 100 percent wind-generated green
power for the facility. When completed, the facility will be eligible for a silver rating from the
U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pro-
gram, a significant achievement because the LEED criteria were designed for more traditional
and less resource-intensive facilities such as office buildings.
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: The EPA campus at Research Triangle Park will con-
solidate a workforce that was previously spread out among several rented buildings. The
National Computer Center and its host facility will represent one of the East Coast's largest PV
installations and one of the largest single PV installations in a federal facility upon completion.
The 100-kilowatt, integrated roof power system will convert sunlight into energy and feed it
directly to the building. The energy will supplement the main power utility. The PV systems
roof tile assembly uses PV cells backed with insulating polystyrene foam. This process turns
solar energy into usable power and also improves the facility's thermal insulation. EPA part-
nered with the Virginia Alliance for Solar Electricity, Solarex, PowerLight, and DOE to gain
financial assistance for this $800,000 project. The project supports President Clinton's Million
Solar Roofs Initiative, through which businesses, government agencies, and institutions will
install solar energy systems on 1 million
rooftops nationwide by 2010. It also sup-
ports President Clintons commitment that
the federal government will install 20,000
solar rooftop systems by 2010.
The EPA campus will use 40 percent less
energy than standard laboratory and office
construction. In addition to conserving
nonrenewable fossil fuels and decreasing air
emissions, the energy-efficient design will
save more than $ 1 million per year. The
facility will use bioretention to treat storm
water runoff. The campus will also feature
low-flush toilets and flow-restricting faucet
and shower nozzles to conserve water. A
water-efficient cooling tower will also be
incorporated.
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Las Vegas, Nevada: Energy savings feasibility studies have been initiated at this 60,000 square
foot complex. Improvements will include replacing constant volume HVAC and fume hoods
with variable air volume systems and upgrading the current lighting system with an even more
energy-efficient system. Construction is expected to be completed in 2002.
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Green Lease Riders
In addition to handling new construction and maintenance of EPA-owned facilities, AEREB
has jurisdiction over GSA- and EPA-leased facilities. AEREB has worked to ensure that leased
buildings are included in EPA's greening efforts. Using Green Lease Riders, which allow EPA
to include environmental requirements in its standard lease agreements, AEREB has incorporated
environmentally preferable features into several EPA-leased facilities.
EPA Region 3's Green Lease Rider
EPA Region 3's goal in finding new office space was to demonstrate to businesses and organiza-
tions that it is possible to incorporate environmentally preferable purchasing considerations when
developing commercial and institutional space. In cooperation with GSA and AEREB, Region 3
successfully included environmental criteria in its solicitation for remodeled office space in an
existing building in Philadelphia. In the process, Region 3 saved more than $900,000 in reduced
labor, management, and material costs. The Green Lease Rider included criteria requiring all
prospective lessors to reuse as many materials as practical when remodeling the office space; to
recycle as much construction and demolition debris as economically feasible; and to use materials
with low environmental impacts. In addition, Region 3 restricted the solicitation to lessors in
Philadelphia's central business district to promote use of public trans-
portation by employees.
The Region 3 building includes the following environmentally
preferable features:
4 Components of the HVAC system were retrofit and reused when
feasible.
* All existing ceiling grid and more than 170,000 square feet (70
percent) of existing ceiling tiles were refurbished and reused.
+ 260 oversized solid-core wood doors were refinished and reused.
* 3,000 lighting fixtures (80 percent) were retrofit with energy-
efficient electronic ballasts and reused.
+ All bathroom tiles, fixtures, and stalls were reconditioned and
reused.
Several environmental considerations also were incorporated into the
Region 3 building's interior design. Modular furniture replaced tradi-
tional furniture, enhancing flexibility and reducing the need to furnish
individual offices. To enhance indoor air quality, low-VOC paints and
adhesives were used, and no vinyl materials, which produce dioxin as a
byproduct during their manufacture, were used. In addition, no endan-
gered tropical woods were used in the remodeling process. Electronic
light sensors were installed to automatically turn off lights in unoccu-
pied areas. Region 3 located the building close to a rail hub and provid-
ed showers and interior bicycle spaces to encourage employees to use
public transportation or alternative commuting methods.
Region 3 awarded the lease in November 1997, and 1,200 employ-
ees began occupying the newly designed and retrofit building in sum-
mer 1998.
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Kansas City Regional Office
Based on concepts used in the Region 3 Green
Lease Rider, as well as specifications developed
for the EPA campus in RTF, North Carolina,
and additional research, AEREB developed a
new version of a Green Lease Rider for the
Kansas City Regional Office procurement
process. The Green Lease Rider was issued as
an amendment to GSA's original SFO for the
Region 7 Regional Office in 1996.
The procurement involved the long-term
lease of a new building specifically designed
for EPA. The Green Lease Rider set environ-
mental goals to encourage consideration of
passive solar design features, day lighting,
energy efficiency, and resource conservation.
In addition, it included specifications for energy-efficient lighting, water conservation features, use
of recycled materials, and use of products and practices to protect indoor air quality.
In June 1999, the new 217,000-square-foot Kansas City Regional Office opened. The build-
ing has won a GSA Build Green Award and an EPA Gold Medal. Documenting the design con-
struction process and environmental features incorporated into the building was an important
element of the project. EPA, GSA, and the building developer produced a project booklet for oth-
ers to use as a resource. Moreover, AEREB used the project documentation to set the bar even
higher for the Kansas City Science and Technology Center Project (see below).
Kansas City Science and Technology Center
In early 1999, AEREB issued procurement documents for a new 39,000-square-foot laboratory in
Kansas City, Kansas. Set up as a design competition, the procurement process emphasized sustain-
able building attributes. In evaluating proposals, AEREB encouraged and rewarded innovative
resource conservation strategies. Based on its experience with the previous Kansas City Regional
Office project, AEREB updated and improved the Green Lease Rider portion of the laboratory
procurement. Specifications for recycled-content building materials, for example, were broadened
and made more stringent. The Green Lease Rider also required the winning developer and its
design and construction teams to work with EPA to thoroughly document the sustainable features
of the building.
In collaboration with DOE's Federal Energy Management Program and GSA, Region 7 devel-
oped a Green Lease Information Package that was sent to all competitors for the contract. The
package described nine specific green building elements and information that the contractor
would be required to report to EPA throughout the construction process. The nine elements are:
* Environmental Purchasing. Includes use of the Building for Environmental and Economic
Sustainability (BEES) software to weigh the economic and environmental performance of
selected products.
* Buying Recycled. Includes meeting CPG requirements.
* Solar Energy Applications. Includes participation in President Clinton's Million Solar Roofs
Initiative.
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^ Green Buildings. Includes participating in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED building
rating system. The contractor will be required to apply the LEED rating system to the lab and
achieve Bronze Medal status.
^ Water Conservation. Includes using water-efficient plumbing fixtures and strategies to reduce
water in the HVAC equipment.
^ Energy Conservation. Includes passive solar design approaches, dayhghting, Low E glass, and
renewable energy sources.
* Natural Landscaping. Includes developing a landscaping plan that incorporates native, low-
maintenance species and that promotes water, energy, and habitat conservation.
•* Construction and Demolition Debris Reuse and Recycling. Includes documenting material
recovery strategies, quantities recycled, and cost and landfill space savings during the construc-
tion period.
•* Indoor Air Quality. Includes meeting EPA's detailed indoor air quality requirements.
In August 2000, AEREB awarded the contract for the Kansas City Science and Technology Center.
The winning design includes extensive day lighting, substantial use of recycled materials, efficient
mechanical systems such as a heat recovery system, a rainwater capture system that will be used for
toilet flushing, and native landscape species. Construction on the building is expected to begin in
spring 2001.
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cation and Outreach
NTU RY
EPA
AEREB recognizes that the overall success of EPA's pollution prevention and sustainability
efforts depends on educating and informing the Agency's facilities about the benefits and
successes of various programs and the opportunities available to them. Following are a
few examples of AEREB's outreach efforts:
Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21)
Labs21 is a joint EPA/DOE initiative focused on upgrading the environmental performance of the
nation's laboratories. The program's goals are to improve energy and water efficiency, encourage
use of renewable energy resources, and pro-
mote environmental stewardship in U.S. labo-
ratories. AEREB has incorporated the Labs21
approach in EPA laboratories and expects sig-
nificant cost savings and environmental bene-
fits as a result. By adopting the Labs21
approach, participating laboratories can
achieve lower utility and operating costs,
reduce health and safety risks, improve facility management, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions, earn national recognition, and receive other benefits.
Labs21 held its annual conference, which was attended by more than 250 individuals, in San
Francisco September 6 through 8, 2000. In 2000, AEREB developed a prototype Partnership
Agreement for Labs21 partners and is working with 14 potential Labs21 partners, including repre-
sentatives from academia, federal agencies, and the private sector. Also in 2000, AEREB signed a
Memorandum of Agreement with EPA's Project XL to streamline permit and compliance reviews
for Labs21 participants. AEREB also set up a pilot program with DOE and EPA to provide tech-
nical support for Labs21 partners to study the challenges and achievements of these partners.
ENERGY STAR Buildings Program
In 1997, EPA signed a letter of commitment to partner with DOE in support of
the ENERGY STAR Buildings Program, demonstrating its desire to be an energy
efficiency leader. The letter of commitment addresses two objectives. First, it
reaffirms EPA's responsibility to install, by 2005, all cost-effective energy
efficiency measures with a payback within 10 years or less. Second, it recog-
nizes EPA's responsibility to serve as an example of excellence and leadership
for ENERGY STAR Program implementation.
DOE
SAVING THE EARTH. SAVING touR MONEY
Incentive Programs
EPA is an active participant in the DOE-sponsored "You Have the Power" campaign, which was
started to increase awareness of energy efficiency throughout the federal government. EPA has rec-
ognized 19 EPA employees as energy champions. Selection criteria is based on an individual's
effort and success in conserving energy through building design and operation and real estate
transactions, and promoting energy efficiency awareness. Several promotional materials were devel-
oped for the campaign, including energy champion posters highlighting the selected EPA employ-
ees' energy efficiency achievements.
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Conservation Information Clearinghouse
AEREB established a clearinghouse and hotline to serve as a focal point for collecting and dissemi-
nating energy and water conservation information. The clearinghouse also maintains a library of
information on topics such as energy management, energy-efficient technologies, chlorofluorocar-
bon management, and pollution prevention.
Greening EPA Newsletter
In 1998, EPA redesigned and renamed its quarterly newsletter Greening
EPA. The newsletter is a key communication mechanism about pollution
prevention and sustainability activities for EPA Headquarters, facilities, and
the public. It focuses on energy and water conservation and updates readers
on EPA facility success stories, regulatory and policy information, upcoming
events, training opportunities, and technology advances and applications.
Awareness Packages
EPA distributes energy and water conservation awareness packages to all facili-
ty and energy managers annually. The package typically contains guidance and
resource information to help managers implement energy and water awareness
programs at their facilities. The awareness packages also present newly available
concepts and technologies.
Facility-Specific Procurement
Individual procurement programs at EPA facilities are important to reaching Agencywide
environmental purchasing goals. To this end, AEREB developed and distributed guidance pam-
phlets to encourage affirmative procurement. The pamphlets cover topics such as furniture man-
agement, cleaning products, and alternatively fueled vehicles.
Sustainable Buildings
Through a collaborative effort with Public Technology Inc., the U.S. Green Buildings Council,
and DOE, EPA issued the Sustainable Building Technical Manual m 1994 to help designers,
builders, and owners and operators of public and private facilities implement green building
strategies. The manual offers step-by-step guidelines for creating energy- and resource-efficient
buildings in the predesign, design, construction, operations, and management stages.
Carnegie-Mellon University Partnership
EPA is a member of the Industry/University Cooperative Research Consortium (IUCRC) at the
Carnegie-Mellon University Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics. With the National
Science Foundation as an additional sponsor, IUCRC includes government representatives that help
determine research priorities and encourage information transfer among groups. IUCRC research
deals directly with environmental, economic, and industrial issues involved with the building indus-
try. EPA's goal is to understand and demonstrate the environmental benefits of these advancements,
including their applications and instrumentation, in its own buildings and facilities.
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I
n April 2000, AEREB received approval to form the Sustainable Facilities Branch (SFB),
which will augment AEREB's greening efforts. AEREB has learned from past experience to
identify greening opportunities early and to incorporate green practices into all stages of the
project, from planning and design through
construction. SFB will take on a policy and
implementation role, focusing on Labs21, best
practices guidelines, demonstration projects
for new technologies and renewable sources,
green energy purchases, and coordinating
ESPCs at existing facilities.
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DATE DUE
-MAR-
* i
-t -
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
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