United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of
Administration
EPA/202/F-94-001
October 1994
SEPA
Energy	and
Conservation
News
Volume 1, Number 3
Conservation News is a quarterly publication of EPA's Facility Management and Services Division (FMSD)
Conservation Information Clearinghouse. FMSD established the Clearinghouse to serve as a focal point for
collecting and disseminating information about energy and water conservation to serve all EPA facilities. The
newsletter's purpose is to educate, inform, and help EPA staff involved in conservation efforts at EPA-owned or
-leasedfacilities. Some features will appear regularly, while others will be published as needed. 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. 1
A Note From the Agency
Energy Coordinator
by Phil Wirdzek, FMSD
The Energy Policy Act of 1992, or EPACT, requires federal
agencies to demonstrate a 10 percent energy consumption
reduction from their FY85 consumption baselines by the end
of FY95. In order to comply with this requirement, EPA
program and facility staff must identify and implement
activities that result in quantifiable resource conservation.
The Energy and Water Conservation Program's strategy for
meeting EPACT's requirement encourages implementing
low-cost/low-effort initiatives prior to implementing more
costly ones. Some examples of these low-cost/low-effort
initiatives include adjusting equipment to maximize usage
during low-peak utility rate periods, adjusting HVAC fan
speeds, maintaining and properly calibrating building
equipment, sealing building envelopes, repairing leaking
faucets, turning off lights and computers when not in use, and
limiting the use of portable fans and heaters.
October is Energy Awareness Month, providing us with an
ideal opportunity for facility managers to announce their
energy conservation campaigns. Clearinghouse staff have
assembled and mailed to facility managers an energy
awareness package that contains various materials designed
to educate employees about energy reduction initiatives and
to enlist participation in the Program. The package includes
a guidance document that will aid facility managers in
developing energy awareness initiatives. Steve Dorer and
Roger Galbraith of EPA's Ann Arbor National Vehicle Fuel
Efficiency Laboratory successfully piloted the energy awareness
package during the week of August 8. You may wish to contact
them directly for more specific information about their activities.
In addition to pursuing low-cost conservation initiatives, EPA
has retrofitted nearly 500,000 square feet of space with energy-
efficient lighting and expects to complete upgrades of most of
its utility-responsible space by the end of FY95. Additionally,
as part of the Agency's chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) replacement
project, conventional chillers are being replaced with high
efficiency, CFC-free chillers. The Energy and Water
Conservation Program staff are continuing to look for energy-
efficient alternatives to the one-pass air systems used by most
of EPA's utility-responsible laboratories. By implementing
low-cost approaches and the more extensive conservation
initiatives mentioned above, the Agency expects to meet the
EPACT reduction objectives by the end of FY95. /
$
Federal Efficiency Fund
Applications are still being accepted for the
Federal Energy Efficiency Fund (see July
1994 Energy Newsletter). Contact Phil
Wirdzek about submitting energy and water
conservation projects.
Q& Recycled/Racyclable
"> Xj Printed on paper that contains
C1C7 at least 50% recycled fiber

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Goals and Milestones
To meet EPACT's requirements, EPA must establish its
FY85 energy consumption baseline. To this end, the Energy
and Water Conservation Program staff identified those EPA
facilities that have direct utility responsibility, then contacted
their utility companies to request energy consumption data
for the period 1985 to 1993. Many of these utilities had
difficulty providing the information requested because of
staff shortages or because they did not have energy
consumption figures dating back to 1985.
To resolve this problem, staff are evaluating methods for
accurately estimating consumption where data are not
available. They will soon begin researching various factors
that may have impacted energy use at facilities from 1985 to
the present. This information will be used to quantify
increases in consumption and enable staff to establish more
descriptive baseline data. Factors include the number of
employees at a facility, additional computers and printers,
and more stringent safety requirements such as one-pass air
in laboratory environments and changes in facility mission.
Program staff will be contacting each facility within the next
month or so to gather this information. Your cooperation in
this effort is greatly appreciated.
Quarterly Reporting Chart
The Quarterly Energy and Water Consumption and Cost
Report form has been simplified; please use this revised form
to report your facility's quarterly consumption and cost.
Contact the Clearinghouse if you have not received the new
form. As you know, these reports are due within 30 days after
the end of each quarter. The fourth quarter reports are due to
the Agency Energy Coordinator by November 1. (Note:
please do not round off the numbers you report or send copies
of utility bills.)
The following reflects the first, second, and third quarter
reporting status of those EPA facilities that have direct utility
responsibility. Blank boxes indicate that Clearinghouse staff
have not received quarterly reports. Lightning bolts and
water drops represent the receipt of quarterly energy and
water reports, respectively. /
Facility
1st Quarter
Energy Water
2nd Quarter
Energy Wtter
3rd Quarter
Energy Water
Ada
if
*
*
4
Ann Arbor
if
*
if
4
*
4
Athens


if
4
*
4
Cincinnati
*
4
if
4
*
4
Corvallls
if
4
if
4
if
4
Duluth
if
4
if
4
if
4
Edison
if
if
if
Gulf Breeze

if
4
If
4
Houston*



Las Vegas
*
if
4
if
4
Manchester
$
if
4
if
4
Montgomery



Narrangansett
*
if
4
if
4
Newport
if
4
if
4
if
4
Richmond**
new participant
new participant
new participant
RTP
if
if
4
if
4
* Houston consumption data are obtained from EPA Headquarters
by Clearinghouse staff at the end of the fiscal year
** Richmond is a new participant in the Energy and Water
Conservation Program as of FY94. We welcome them into the
program and look forward to working with the staff there.
/
/ /
fParticipate!
ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH
Awareness Packs are on the way! Package includes
posters, decaJs,trivte,reguJata«y Information! asampte
policy statement, and other helpful information for
Initiating energy waretteft montfe activltlest, Want
individual help? Call the Clearinghouse staff - they
will work with facility energy managers to help them
develop activities.
Ifyouhav^B't received your Awareness pack by i
October 10, contact the Clearinghouse at
<202)260-9803.	,
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Calendar
EPA Spotlight on
Columbus Center
Conservation
Calendar
If you have questions or want to publicize an event, call
the Clearinghouse at (202) 260-9803. For further
information about the activities below, contact the
Clearinghouse staff.
October
(October is Energy Awareness Month. The Clearinghouse
staff will be sending EPA's Energy Managers materials to
support this event.)
4-6 Seminar: "Life-Cycle Costing/ASEAM Software
Training," Gaithersburg, Maryland.
18-20 Course: "Energy Saving Performance Contracting
and Federal Energy Decision Screening (FEDS),"
Washington, DC.
18-20 Workshop: "Green Lights Lighting Update
Workshop," Salt Lake City, Utah.
20-21 Course (Cosponsored by Association of Energy
Engineers, DOE, and GSA): "Energy Management
in Federal, State,and Local Government Buildings,"
Boston, Massachusetts.
November
1-4 Course: "Energy Savings Performance Contracting,"
Boston, Massachusetts.
15-16 Course: "Federal Energy Management," Dallas,
Texas.
29-30 Course: "Water Resource Management," Denver,
Colorado.
December
6 Workshop and Conference: "Energy Management
Workshop in conjunction with the Association of
Energy Engineers World Energy Conference,"
Atlanta, Georgia.
6-7 Workshop: "Federal Energy Management
Workshop," San Francisco, California.
January
23-25 Workshop: "Federal Energy Decision Screening
(FEDS)," San Diego, California.
23-24 Workshop: "WaterResource Management," Seattle,
Washington. /
3
EPA has made a significant contribution to the
construction of a remarkable redevelopment project —
Baltimore, Maryland's, new Columbus Center.
Construction of the Center employed cutting-edge research
and development, and it is a showcase facility for state-of-
the-art energy-efficient technologies. The Center is
scheduled to open in early 1995, and is located in
Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Maryland's Center for Marine
Biotechnology, the Center for Marine Archaeology, and a
training and development center will be located at the
Columbus Center.
Columbus Center incorporates an array of energy
conservation technologies, many of which are being
considered for application in EPA's laboratories. One
technology now being installed in the Center is an ice
storage system that takes advantage of off-peak electric
production and results in lower utility costs. In addition,
laboratory space is being equipped with variable volume
air handling systems and fume hoods that will recover
exhaust heat energy. Steam from a local waste-to-energy
plant will provide space heating and hot water. The Center
will also have a highly efficient lighting system using
Low-E glass (which reduces solar heat gain), energy
efficient T-8 lamps, electronic ballasts, and occupant
sensors.
The Columbus Center is being constructed at a cost of
approximately $58 million, using mostly federal funds. A
grant from EPA for planning, designing, and constructing
the Center provided $18 million. Participation in the
Columbus Center project demonstrates EPA's leadership in
energy-efficient and sustainable development. Stephanie
James, Mechanical Engineer for EPA's Engineering,
Planning, and Architecture Branch, is the Grant Project
Officer and has been active in the project since its
inception, For more information about this exciting
project or any of the technologies being installed, contact
Stephanie James at (202) 260-9877. f

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Resources
The resources featured below are available through the
Clearinghouse. To request assistance, obtain any of these
resources, or share information, contact the Clearinghouse
Hotline at (202) 260-9803 or send a fax to (202) 260-8234.
Life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis methods are used by project
managers to evaluate the cost effectiveness of new building
designs and energy conservation measures. LCC analysis is
required to be applied to proposed federal energy and water
conservation projects to determine if a project has at least the
required 10-yearpayback(pursuanttoExecutiveOrder 12901
and EP ACT §544(b)). If multiple projects are being evaluated,
it also identifies which projects have the quickest return on
investment.
The LCC analysis helps determine the financial feasibility of
undertaking a proposed project by considering the total costs
associated with the project over the full life of the project,
discounted to account for the effect of inflation over time on
the value of money. By also performing an LCC analysis on
expected conditions if the proposed project were not
undertaken, the Agency is able to compare the cost of
proceeding with an energy or water conservation initiative
against the cost that would be incurred if the project were not
undertaken.
Briefly stated, to conduct an LCC analysis the initial project
implementation costs are added to all maintenance and
operations costs that will be incurred throughout the useful
lifetime of the project. Subtracted from that figure is any
revenue which can be expected to accrue from the final sale
of the project after its useful lifetime.
The following reference materials provide guidance and
instruction in performing LCC analysis and are available
through the Clearinghouse. In addition to these resources,
consult 10 CFR §436.11, which provides information on the
methodology for calculating LCC analysis. (See the
Conservation Calendar for information on an upcoming LCC
seminar.)
Comprehensive Guide for Least-Cost Energy Decisions,
U.S. Department of Energy, 1987. Used to evaluate the long-
term cost consequences of alternative designs and systems;
considers the cost of energy in the calculations.
Life-Cycle Costing Manual for the Federal Energy
Management Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal
Energy Management Program, 1987. Aids in understanding
the LCC method and in calculating measures required for
evaluating energy conservation and renewable energy
investments in federal facilities.
Energy Prices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost
Analysis 1994, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy
ManagementProgram, 1993. Providesdataforimplementing
LCC evaluations.
Introduction to Life-Cycle Costing, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 1990. Video, 1-1/4 hours;
Workbook. Provides the basic steps for applying LCC
methodology to the decisionmaking process concerning
energy consumption of buildings.
Uncertainty and Risk, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 1992. Video, 36 minutes; Workbook, dated
1993.	Using economic analysis for improving the economy
of buildings.
Federal Energy Decision Screening, Version 2.01, U.S.
Departmentof Energy, Federal Energy ManagementProgram,
1994.	PC-based program used to prioritize investments in
energy efficiency among several sites and assess the potential
for cost-effective energy efficiency projects at a large single
site or facility with limited metered energy use data.
BLCC 4.14 The NIST "Building Life-Cycle Cost" Program,
Version 4.14, (User's Guide and Reference Manual), U.S.
Departmentof Energy, Federal Energy ManagementProgram.
Provides economic analysis of proposed capital investments
that are expected to reduce long-term operating costs of
buildings and building systems.
Electricity Rates (ERATES), Version 1.1, U.S. Departmentof
Energy, Federal Energy ManagementProgram, 1994. Used
for calculating monthly and annual electricity costs for a
facility, building, or system under a variety of electric utility
rate schedules.
LCC Workshops. NIST conducts a two-day LCC Workshop
five times a year at locations nationwide. Contact NIST's
Office of Applied Economics, Building 226, Room B226,
Gaithersburg,MD 28099-0001. Telephone(301)975-6132;
fax (301) 208-6936. /
Clearinghouse Functions
•	Facilitate dissemination of energy information
between EPA's facilities management and services
divisions and facility managers
•	Provide centralized information about energy and
water conservation activities
•	Maintain an annotated bibliography of more than
300 database entries, sorted by category
Energy Managers: Look for your copy of the
annotated bibliography in the Awareness Package
you will soon be receivingfirom the Clearinghouse!
4

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