r/EFW
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of
Administration
EPA202-N-97-002
Spring 1997
Conservation
News
Volume 3, Number ?
Conservation News is a quarterly publication of EPA's Facilities Management and Services Division (FMSD) Conservation Information
Clearinghouse. FMSD establishedthe Clearinghouse asafocalpointforcollecting anddisseminating information about pollution prevention
and energy and water conservation to serve all EPA facilities. The newsletter is intended to educate, inform, and help EPA staff involved in
these efforts atEPA-owned or-leasedfacilities. We welcome your comments and suggestions. To receive additional copies of this newsletter,
submit informationfor inclusion, or learn more, call the Clearinghouse Hotline at (202) 260-9803 ore-mail "p2group@epamaiLepa.gov ".
You can also access the newsletter through the Internet at "http:/Avww. epa.gov/consrv-news. "1
A Note From the Agency
Conservation Coordinator
EARTH DAY EVERY DAY
by Phil Wirdzek, FMSD
Earth Day has gained a great deal of significance for the
Agency. The Office of Administration (OA) took this
opportunity to capitalize on the day to launch several
initiatives that demonstrate EPA's commitment to utilizing
its own mission in its facilities. These initiatives included
pollution prevention awareness activities here at
Headquarters, a solicitation for laboratory HVAC plant
overhaul that will evaluate pollution prevention in the
technical selection process, and an outreach program to
enable EPA to compare its pollution prevention program
with other private/public organizations. This issue of
Conservation News highlights the details of many of these
activities.
Part of the Earth Day celebration at Headquarters focused
on awareness. OA's Pollution Prevention Steering
Committee, or P2 committee, presented and distributed
information on the Agency's internal pollution prevention
program at Headquarters. Available materials included
information on environmental laboratory management
(implemented by the Safety, Health, and Environmental
Management Division), waste reduction, the Paperless
Office Campaign, the energy and water conservation
program (implemented by the Facilities Management and
Services Division), and affirmative procurement
(implemented by the Office of Acquisition Management).
The P2 committee also conducted a lunch hour presentation
in the Agency's auditorium where employees learned about
the Agency's internal pollution prevention program. In the
presentation, the committee announced plans for its
pollution prevention program benchmarking initiative that
EPA hopes to gauge its successes in preventing pollution at
its facilities. The P2 committee, with the assistance of the
Office of Pollution, Pesticides & Toxic Substances, is
developing this program to evaluate the committee's
activities and learn from organizations who have had to
operate under federal requirements to prevent pollution.
This benchmarking activity may provide the greatest
opportunity to determine its success or formulate further
plans for action.
With the Earth Day event, FMSD kicked off EPA's
partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) where
EPA was one of a select group of federal agencies
recognized by DOE for its energy reduction progrtrn. EPA
is participating in launching DOE's 5-year campaign
entitled "You Have the Power." Through this campaign,
employees and their work will be recognized for supporting
the Agency's energy program and the national goals of
conservation and environmental protection.
Finally, FMSD highlighted solar energy innovations that are
underway at EPA facilities in Las Vegas, NV, and Ann
Arbor, MI. The division promoted conservation activities
of the National Vehicle Fuel Emissions Laboratory
(NVFEL) in Ann Arbor which saved enough money from
its efforts to purchase $45,000 worth of laboratory
equipment. FMSD-promoted NVFEL in its efforts to
implement a new dayhghting system that demonstrates
renewable energy technology. FMSD also promoted a
partnership it has created with NVFEL, the Office of
-------
Acquisition Management (Cincinnati), and DOE's National
Renewable Energy Laboratory to use a creative procurement
program for energy efficient capital improvements in the
NVFEL facility. All taken together, I believe these activities
prove the continued dedication of EPA employees and
management to the environmental goals of the Agency, and
the projects illustrate a growing commitment throughout
EPA's facility operations to a culture of environmental
stewardship. /
Spotlight on Earth Day
EPA HEADQUARTERS PROMOTES
AWARENESS ON EARTH DAY
On April 22, communities, schools, and government
agencies across the nation celebrated Earth Day 1997 with
events to promote awareness in protecting human health and
the environment. EPA's Office of Administration (OA)
participated in the festivities by sharing the pollution
prevention efforts occurring at its facilities and laboratories.
Events were held at EPA Headquarters in the commercial
mall area and in the outdoor park.
OA arranged displays on the Agency's internal pollution
prevention program, highlighting energy and water
conservation, paper use reduction and recycling, and
chemical management, and showed how these programs
will be implemented at all EPA facilities. Agency facilities,
new and existing, serve as models for a healthy workplace
with minimal environmental impacts. The Earth Day
celebration communicated
the message that EPA
facilities are leading by
example by incorporating
innovative technologies
and the principles of
sustainable development in
their building designs.
Examples of this forward
thinking approach are evidenced by the Atlanta Federal
Center, the Philadelphia Regional Office, and the
laboratories in Athens, GA, Fort Meade, MD, Kansas City,
KS, and the building designs for the new consolidated
Research Triangle Park (RTP) facility. EPA's New
Headquarters Project was on hand at the celebration to
showcase a model of the new headquarters — the Ronald
Reagan Building (RRB) — and to demonstrate energy
.efficient technologies being implemented in the design of
the building. For more information on the RRB, visit the
Mall Room 3213, or call (202) 260-3581 or 260-INFO.
In addition to the RRB exhibition, the Earth Day displays
included posters, information packets, and technology
demonstrations. Computer demonstrations displayed World
Wide Web pages, pollution prevention planning guidance,
and energy savings calculations. Several of the
Headquarters' alternatively fueled vehicles were showcased
in the outdoor park area. And, throughout the day, attendees
took guided tours to the roof to view the solar hot water
panels that provide hot potable water for the West Tower.
Patricia Plympton ofNREL-DOE describes solar hot water
system to HQ employees.
FMSD displayed several posters to publicize current and
planned projects for energy conservation. One poster
described the energy savings performance contract currently
out for bid to upgrade EPA's National Vehicle Fuel
Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, MI. Other posters
summarized renewable energy projects, energy-efficient
dehumidification projects, and existing or proposed
advanced controls projects at EPA-owned facilities. /
Ltive
Procurement
Cbernkm]
Mftnigeraent
Green
BuUdinp
April 22, 1997
-------
ONLINE
Conservation Neivs Online Gets a Facelift
The Internet version of the
Conservation A'evv.v newsletter has a
whole new look. Visitors to the
newsletter's Web site are welcomed
by a colorful front page that briefly highlights the articles in
the current issue. Readers can then choose which articles
they would like to read with just a point and a click. In
addition, all back issues are conveniently archived in one
location that can be easily accessed from the front page. We
invite you check it out. Just point your web browser to
"http://www.epa.gov/consrv-news."/
FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
YOU HAVE
the POWER
U.S. Eayironmentd Pr itectio
*
I Federal Energy Management Proapn-
'
&EPA
Special thanks to all the participants in EPA HQ 's Earth
Day event.
The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management
Program (FEMP) recently initiated a five-year federal
campaign entitled "You Have the Power." This campaign.
which is being initiated with partnerships between 10
federal agencies, is aimed at increasing the awareness and
visibility of energy efficient practices and products. The
campaign will assist federal energy managers in increasing
awareness about pollution prevention and energy-efficient
practices and products. It features compelling artwork,
posters and banners, and promotion of "energy
champions"—federal employees who are doing
extraordinary things to save energy and motley. Another
facet of the campaign involves promoting partnerships with
selected energy-related organizations in the private sector.
The campaign will help instill pollution prevention and
energy efficiency as basic values among all federal workers.
EPA rolled out its participation in the "You Have the
Power" campaign on Earth Day by honoring seven EPA
individuals for their dedicated efforts to reduce energy
consumption or promote energy awareness. At
Headquarters, EPA also hung two 20' x 30' banners and
distributed handouts with energy savings tips and '
information. All of the materials will be rotated to EPA's
facilities to promote environmental awareness within^ne "
Agency as well as facilities' communities.
For more information, visit the campaign's Internet site at
"http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/yhlp/."
Goals and Milestones
NEW NVFEL BUILDING BALANCES ENERGY
EFFICIENCY WITH PRACTICAL NEEDS
by Doris Ellis, FMSD • <
Shown from left to right: Office of Mobile Sources Deputy
Dir. Chris Grundler. Office of Air and Radiati(fn"Ass't
Admin. Mary Nichols, Office of Mobile Sources Dir. Margo
Oge, Office of Air and Radiation Deputy Ass'{ Admin.
Richard D. Wilson, and Ann Arbor; Mayor Ingrid B.
Sheldon {front right).
The ground-breaking ceremony for NVFEL's new energy-
efficient office building was held on February 25-,.1997.
EPA used an integrated team approach in developing the
solicitation for offers (SFO) to ensure that energy efficiency
and pollution prevention criteria were incorporatecHnto the
building design. The targeted completion date for the new
building is March or April 1998. FMSD's Doris Ellis and
Phil Wirdzek and NVFEL's Jeffra Rockwell were
successful in negotiating an improved energy-efficient
building with the cooperation of the General Services
Administration (GSA), the lessor's team, and the Solar
Energy Council.
-------
The most challenging task of designing this new building
was balancing energy efficiency with the need for additional
lighting and heating due to the severe weather conditions in
Michigan, and the lighting and temperature requirements for
special equipment used at the facility. The building
orientation on the site will maximize or minimize, as
appropriate, the light and heat sources to help resolve these
challenges.
NVFEL's Dick Lawrence, who recently joined this effort, is
taking an active role in selecting beneficial landscaping and
argon gas-filled windows, which will add warmth to the
building. Other energy-efficient components of the building
include the color and tint of the glass (eliminating the need
for mini-blinds and the subsequent use of interior lights
when blinds are closed), overhangs for shading, thermal
walls, roof insulation, fluorescent T-8 lamps, electronic
ballasts, and daylighting and occupancy sensors. The
building's interior was designed to provide more natural
light in the open workstations by adding skylights,
substituting some of the solid partitions with glass panels,
and adding glass at the top of partitions for sound reduction
and increased daylight. /
ESPC REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
EPA announced its first request for proposals (RFP) for an
Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) for NVFEL
in Ann Arbor, MI. EPA published its RFP in the April 8,
1997, Commerce Business Daily through a team effort
involving NVFEL's facility management and staff; EPA's
contract management staff from the Office of Acquisition in
Cincinnati; EPA's Architecture, Engineering and Real
Estate Branch and its technical support contractor; and
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
As an energy showcase facility, the Agency is pursuing a
unique contractual relationship with an energy savings
contractor in one of its own facilities to illustrate the
interwoven nature of environmental protection and energy
use. Because nearly 70 vendors had requested the RFP
before it was advertised, the team is anticipating several
strong and creative proposals for this facility. The next
issue of the Conservation News will include a detailed
explanation of this contracting process, provide an update
on the NVFEL RFP, and describe EPA's plans to use the
contract in other facilities. /
POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAM UPDATE
OA recently finalized and distributed the first of several
series of pamphlets on pollution prevention opportunities.
The topics covered were battery management, painting
operations, and alternatively fueled vehicles. The pamphlets
presented how EPA facilities can implement projects on
these topics. The pamphlets were sent to pollution
prevention contacts at each EPA facility. The next series —
chemical management, solvents, and environmentally
preferable cleaning solutions — will be mailed soon.
In addition to the pamphlets, OA is beginning to benchmark
EPA facilities in select areas of pollution prevention. It is
seeking partners from the private sector to participate in this
effort. OA's goal is to learn and share ideas from other
similar facilities about pollution prevention successes and
opportunities.
OA would like private sector partners to share their
successes and efforts in incorporating pollution prevention
into their facility, laboratory, and administrative operations.
OA envisions producing a final report that describes its
analysis of ways in which EPA can operate more effectively
and efficiently while fully incorporating pollution
prevention into all areas of operation.
More information on this process and how you can be
involved will be in future editions of Conservation News.
For immediate information on benchmarking or for copies
of the pollution prevention pamphlets, send an e-mail to
p2group@epamail.epa.gov. f
SOLAR ENERGY THROUGH CSTRR
EPA is working to incorporate the use
of purchased solar energy at its Las
Vegas laboratory. The Corporation
for Solar Technology and Alternative
Renewable Resources (CSTRR), a
public corporation charged with
developing and distributing solar and
renewable energy, is driving this
initiative by proposing to build in the region a power plant
based on solar energy. CSTRR's initial research has shown
that the State of Nevada offers outstanding solar energy
resources that could provide a stage for central solar electric
energy plants. This move toward solar technologies would
conserve energy from traditional sources and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, as well as use a freely available
and renewable resource.
EPA has signed a letter of interest—a nonbinding
agreement—for the Las Vegas facility to work with CSTRR
and the Department of Energy to analyze a solar power
purchase. CSTRR, with broad support from the Federal
Energy Management Program, has continued to secure other
letters of interest, including the National Park Service, U.S.
Army and Air Force installations, and the City of Santa
Monica. Currently, CSTRR has a commitment for a total of
72 megawatts (MW) of power, including a 10 MW secured
commitment from the Nevada Test Site. With this interest
in solar energy, CSTRR Chairman, Senator Richard Bryan,
is confident that EPA will see other solar power projects
developed within a short time. /
-------
ACTIVE DAYLIGHTING SYSTEM AT NVFEL
by Hadi Janbakhsh, FMSD
The National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in
Ann Arbor recently completed the installation of a sun-
tracking daylighting system that replaced the existing
standard skylight system. Prior to installation of this new
system, NVFEL could not use its 10,000-square foot, high-
bay testing area because the very sensitive test procedures
are tremendously affected by temperature change. The
conventional skylight system allowed direct sunlight to
enter the test area and caused "hot spots" on the test
vehicles. The daylighting system tracks the sun's path and
diffuses natural light, preventing hot spots and allowing the
area to be usable again.
The daylighting system is composed of individual units,
each with a photovoltaic solar-powered mirror assembly
attached to the existing skylights. The mirrors align
horizontally with the sun via an infrared control unit and
redirect sunlight to the testing area throughout the day at
low angles. In addition to directing light, the mirrors also
provide shade when the sun is high, preventing excess heat.
The mirror units, with nine reflective aluminum panels, are
mounted on aluminum tubing set on the skylight's frame of
extruded aluminum alloy. The skylight dome is a custom-
designed, high-impact lens.
Hadi Janbakhsh and Steve Dorer shown -with
the active daylighting system at NVFEL.
As an added feature, an automatic light control system turns
lights off in the testing area when desired light levels are
achieved. The daylighting system provides the high-bay
area with an average of 10 hours per day of diffused light,
on both sunny and cloudy days, throughout the year. /
NVFEL GETS NEW EQUIPMENT WITH MONEY
SAVED THROUGH ENERGY CONSERVATION
by Dick Lawrence, NVFEL
EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
(NVFEL) in Ann Arbor. MI, adds another notch to its
conservation belt! By working closely with the Testing
Services Division and Detroit Edison and applying effective
energy management techniques, facility manager Steve
Dorer reduced energy consumption and, subsequently, the
peak utility load and demand charge at the facility.
Last year, the Testing Services Division monitored the use
of the vehicle testing cells to verify that only HVAC in the
active cells—where testing procedures were being
conducted—operated during the day. In addition, a real-
time kiloWatt meter was installed on the building switch,
which allowed the on-site operations and maintenance
contractor to maintain lower peak levels by shutting down
chillers, reducing other loads, and using the diesel generator.
The effort to turn off HVAC in unoccupied test cells,
whenever possible, not only reduced the facility's overall
energy consumption but it also reduced the peak utility load,
resulting in significant cost savings.
The $45,000 that the facility saved through its energy ..,
conservation measures funded two pieces of equipment for
the laboratory last year. The first, a $32,000 vehicle mover
allows an operator to maneuver test vehicles without
starting their engines. The other, a fuel flow measurement
system, which cost $13,000, is used to test heavy-duty
engines. NVFEL management will be adding a small
plaque to the mover to remind staff that it was purchased
with funds resulting from energy saved, and to reinforce the
need for continued diligence in conservation. /
-------
Conservation
Calendar
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FACILITY
ENERGY MANAGERS
The Agency's energy and water management program for
its facilities emphasizes the unique energy and water
consumption patterns prevalent in laboratory facilities.
Because laboratories are inherently high consumers of both
resources, FMSD believes that designing buildings and
building systems to integrate advanced and efficient
building technologies, such as the use of energy recovery
equipment and renewable energy technologies, can
significantly reduce energy and water consumption.
. To promote this approach, FMSD and DOE with the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), are developing
training for facility engineers and architects in EPA and
other Federal agencies with responsibilities for laboratory
facilities. The two-part training, which is being scheduled
for later this calendar year, will first encourage an
aggressive and comprehensive facility evaluation analysis
including on-site energy losses, free energy sources, and
applications of technologies to utilize synergistic energy
exchanges. This second part will be a procurement course
that will present alternative financing contracts (Energy
Savings Performance Contracting promoted by DOE) and
how agencies can combine systems efficiencies to maximize
private investment and capitalization of facility systems.
FMSD encourages all EPA facility managers and engineers
to attend the courses that will be held in Washington, DC.
These courses are being opened to other federal agencies
and to date, registration requests have been received from
Princeton Plasma Research Laboratory, Lovelass
Respiratory Research Institute, NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes
of Science and Technology, and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
For more information on these training opportunities,
contact Karen Kimball, Camber Corporation, at
(202)737-1911. /
The following training is being offered by DOE's Federal
Energy Management Program over the next few months.
For further information, contact the staff listed in the
footnotes. If you would like to publicize an event, contact
the Clearinghouse at (202) 260-9803, or e-mail
"p2group @ epamail. epa. gov".
MAY
14-15
19-21
20-21
JUNE
3-4
5
17-19
JULY
28-29
30-31
Operations and Maintenance Management, Boston,
MA(1)
Life-Cycle Costing; ASEAM 5.0/Power DOE
(Intro.), Rockville, MD (4)
Designing Low Energy Buildings (Non-
Residential), Atlanta, GA (3)
Life-Cycle Costing, Dallas, TX (4)
ASEAM 5.0/DOE 2.2 Overview Workshop,
Dallas, TX (4)
Federal Relighting Initiative, New York, NY (2)
Operations and Maintenance Management, San
Diego, CA(1)
Facility Energy Decision Screening, San Diego,
CA(1)
AUGUST
1 FEMP Motor Training, San Diego, CA (1)
19-20 Water Resource Management, Seattle, WA (1)
26-28 Designing Energy Efficient/Renewable
Laboratories, EPA Waterside Mall,
Washington, DC (2)
SEPTEMBER
16-18 Federal Relighting Initiative, Irwindale, CA (2)
23-24 Federal Energy Management Overview, Atlanta,
GA(2)
25 Energy Efficient Products, Atlanta, GA (5)
OCTOBER
7-10 Energy Savings Performance Contracting
(Customized), EPA Waterside Mall,
Washington, DC (2)
Contacts:
(1) Shannan Butler (509) 372-4368
(2) Karen Kimball (202) 737-1911
(3) Terry Doyle (202) 628-7400 ext. 204
(4) Amy Tilton (509) 372-4520
(5) Katie Kroehle (202) 586-4858
-------
RESERVE YOUR CALENDARS NOW!
NATIONWIDE OA CONFERENCE
PLANNED FOR
SEPTEMBER 1997.
The Office of Administration is planning a
conference to bring together EPA's managers and
staff to discuss issues of facility operations,
including health and safety, pollution prevention,
energy and water conservation, security, master
planning, working capital, telecommunications,
transfer of property, and many more.
Date: September 16, 17, and 18
Location: Denver, Colorado
Keep on the look out for more information!
management of federal financial and personnel resources.
Set your Internet browser to "http://www.eren.doe.gov/
femp/" to learn more.
Energy Information Administration
The Energy Information Administration (EIA), an
independent statistical and analytical agency within DOE,
maintains a comprehensive data and information program
on energy resources and reserves, production, demand,
technologies, and related financial and statistical
: information. EIA's mission is to provide high quality,
policy independent energy information to meet the
requirements of government, industry, and the public while
promoting sound policy making, efficient markets, and
public understanding. More information on EIA can be
found at "http://www.eia.doe.gov/." /
Resources
The following resources can be found on the World Wide
Web. If you have located an interesting Web site that
addresses pollution prevention or energy conservation,
please let the Clearinghouse know, and we will print the
address and give a description in this space.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
The goal of the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EE) is to develop cost-effective energy
efficiency and renewable energy technologies that protect
the environment and support the nation's economic
competitiveness. EE achieves this goal through a strong and
balanced program of research, development, and market
deployment through private sector partnerships. Visit
"http://www.eren.doe.gov/" to learn about the Office's
programs and related news and information.
Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
Part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
strives to reduce the cost of government operations by
advancing energy efficiency, water conservation, and the
use of solar and other renewable energy. FEMP
accomplishes its mission by creating partnerships,
leveraging resources, transferring technology and providing
training and support. Each of these activities is directly
related to achieving not only the goals set forth in federal
mandates, but also those goals that are inherent in sound
-------
Save Your Energy: 10 Simple Things
You Can Do
Q Use your desktop lamp; why light a tennis court to read a
sheet of paper?
Q Use compact fluorescent lamps to save energy and cut
pollution.
Q For three copies or less, use the printer; for more, use the
copier.
Q Laser printers use 300 watts; inkjets use only 10, for similar
quality.
Q Using the "stand-by" button on your copier will lighten you
energy load by 70%.
Q A computer monitor uses 60 watts of power; turn it off if you
leave for more than 10 minutes.
Q Recycling paper reduces water use by 60%, energy by 70%,
and cuts pollution in half.
Q Relax and take mass transit; use 25 times less energy.
Q Burn carbohydrates not hydrocarbons: ride your bike to
work.
Q Airplanes burn 70 gallons of fuel a minute. Travel by a real
super-saver,—teleconference.
------- |