U.S Environmental Protection Agency
Energy Management and
Conservation Program
Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Report
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Energy Management and Conservation Program
Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Report
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Administration and Resources Management
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (3101 A)
Washington, D.C. 20460
December 15,2005
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
SECTION I: MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION 8
ENERGY MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE 8
Senior Agency Official and Energy Team 8
Energy Reporting 9
MANAGEMENT TOOLS 10
Awards (Employee Incentive Programs) 10
Training and Education 11
SECTION II: ENERGY EFFICIENCY PERFORMANCE 14
ENERGY REDUCTION PERFORMANCE 14
Energy Use Reductions Combined With Green Power Purchases 15
Energy Use Reductions Alone 15
Non-Fleet Vehicle and Equipment Fuel Use 18
RENEWABLE ENERGY 18
New Locations/Contracts 20
Contract Replacements and Extensions 21
Additional Green Power Purchases in FY 2005 22
Self-Generated Renewable Energy 23
Petroleum 24
WATER CONSERVATION 25
New Water Management Plans 26
SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES 27
LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS 27
FACILITY ENERGY AUDITS 28
FINANCING MECHANISMS 28
ENERGY STAR® AND OTHER ENERGY-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS 28
ENERGY STAR BUILDINGS 29
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN 30
Sustainable Design at Existing Facilities 32
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN LEASE PROVISIONS 33
INDUSTRIAL FACILITY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS 34
HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYSTEMS 37
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION 37
ELECTRICAL LOAD REDUCTION MEASURES 38
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with protecting human health and
the natural environment, and the Agency strives to set an example in its own facilities. In fiscal year (FY)
2005, EPA exceeded the goals outlined under Executive Order (E.O.) 13123, Greening the Government
Through Efficient Energy Management, thanks to a combination of green power purchases,
commissioning, mechanical system upgrades, water conservation efforts, and sustainable new building
design. The following report is a snapshot of EPA's major projects and the results achieved in FY 2005.
Results
In FY 2005, EPA's reportable energy use (with green power netted out) was 213,886 British
thermal units (Btus) per gross square foot (GSF) per year, down 40 percent from its FY 1990 baseline of
357,864 Btus per GSF per year. Primarily through green power purchases, EPA significantly exceeded
the FY 2005 E.O. 13123 requirements to decrease reported energy use by 20 percent from the FY 1990
baseline.1 In FY 2004, EPA decreased reported energy use by 17 percent from the baseline (green power
netted out), and in FY 2003, EPA decreased reported energy use by 14.6 percent (green power netted
out).2 EPA's goal has always been to meet "reported" energy reduction numbers primarily through actual
energy use reductions, and secondarily through green power procurements.
Although EPA achieved significant energy savings from specific mechanical system and re-
commissioning projects through FY 2002, the poor performance of two new facilities and performance
"creep" at two older facilities have essentially neutralized that progress. Energy savings performance
contracts (ESPCs) at laboratories in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Ada, Oklahoma, initially resulted in
energy reductions of 40 percent and 45 percent respectively from their baseline years prior to completing
an ESPC. Re-commissioning completed in 2002 at the Fort Meade, Maryland, Environmental Science
Center resulted in a 15 to 18 percent reduction in energy use. Through these projects, EPA achieved a
15.3 percent reduction in actual energy use in FY 2002 from its FY 1990 baseline. However, the
Current U.S. Department of Energy reporting guidelines allow agencies to deduct green power purchases from their reported
energy use.
2 In FY 2005, EPA's actual energy use (green power not netted out) was 353,502 Btus per GSF per year, virtually equal to its FY
1990 reporting baseline of 357,864 Btus per GSF per year. In FY 2004, the Agency's actual energy use (green power not netted
out), was 355,773 Btus per GSF per year, also essentially even with the 1990 baseline. In FY 2003, EPA's actual energy use
(green power not netted out) was 326,455 Btus per GSF per year, representing an 8.8 percent reduction from EPA's FY 1990
baseline. In FY 2002, EPA's actual energy use (green power not netted out) was 303,078 Btus per GSF per year, representing a
reduction of 15.3 percent from EPA's FY 1990 baseline.
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Agency's actual energy use has increased each year since that time. These increases have been caused in
large part by the energy performance of four large facilities. EPA's New Main Laboratory building and
National Computer Center (NCC) in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina (where energy
reporting began on October 1, 2002), have significantly exceeded the energy use estimates made during
these facilities' design. In addition, an improvement in the accuracy of chilled water utility information at
the Agency's Human Studies Laboratory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, dramatically increased reported
energy use beginning in June 2004. At EPA's Ann Arbor, Michigan, National Vehicle and Fuel
Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL), which has an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) in place,
changes in operating parameters, quirks in the ESPC's measurement and verification plan that provide
disincentives for some energy efficiency measures, and inefficient facility additions have also resulted in
significant increases in energy use.
EPA has initiated a study of NVFEL to develop a plan to return the facility to its previously good
energy performance levels. EPA's other ESPC, meanwhile, has helped the Agency improve its
environmental performance. In FY 2005, a combination of improved energy management and green
power purchases resulted in EPA's first-ever "carbon neutral" facility, the Robert S. Kerr Environmental
Research Laboratory in Ada, Oklahoma. With the acceptance of an ESPC featuring a ground-source heat
pump in September 2005, the laboratory reduced its energy consumption by 45 percent and eliminated its
use of natural gas. In May 2005, EPA also began purchasing renewable energy certificates to offset the
greenhouse gas emissions associated with the facility's remaining electricity use.
Targeting Large Energy Users
In FY 2005, EPA's Facilities Management and Services Division (FMSD) continued to focus on
the large and energy-intensive facilities located in RTP, North Carolina. EPA has initiated and/or
substantially implemented projects that will show significant, real energy reductions at the RTP New
Main facility, NCC, and Chapel Hill facilities by the end of FY 2006. Energy performance at the RTP
laboratory complex, which uses approximately 50 percent of EPA's reportable energy, has a critical
impact on EPA's overall energy performance.
In May 2005, EPA signed a contract for a utility metering system at the New Main and NCC
facilities in RTP. The system became operational in December 2005 and will allow EPA for the first time
to collect accurate energy data for budgeting, payment, and—most importantly—energy management
purposes. EPA's largest re-commissioning project to date, at RTP New Main, continued in FY 2005.
This project was 80 percent complete at the end of FY 2005 and should be 100 percent complete by the
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middle of FY 2006. The goal of this project—the laboratory controls optimization pilot—is to safely
reduce laboratory ventilation rates during occupied and unoccupied times. By eliminating excess single-
pass air, EPA has achieved an 8 percent reduction in energy use (on an annual basis) at the New Main
laboratory as of September 30, 2005—savings that will show up as a significant performance
improvement in FY 2006.
Elsewhere in RTF, EPA completed the first phase of upgrades from a re-commissioning effort at
the 10-year-old Human Studies Laboratory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and started controls master
planning for that facility as well. Funding was provided for additional operations and maintenance
personnel to address significant, short-term, preventative maintenance issues that were hurting energy
efficiency. Three small air handling units were also repaired and re-commissioned. In June 2005,
redesigns of the two largest air handling units and associated supply systems were also started. These
efforts should result in performance improvements of 15 to 20 percent at the Chapel Hill facility upon
successful implementation over the next two to three years.
During FY 2005, EPA completed the first phase of a controls master plan for the New Main
laboratory and designed a pilot office re-commissioning project. EPA also completed the re-
commissioning of RTF's New Main high bay laboratory building, where control sequences, equipment
operation, and energy performance have varied significantly from the original design intent. EPA
launched a study in Spring 2005 to identify energy savings opportunities, reclassif ied spaces, and then re-
commissioned the facility appropriately.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, EPA continued to implement its energy master plan completed in FY 2003
for the Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center (AWBERC). AWBERC is the Agency's
second largest research facility and second largest consumer of energy. It is 30 years old, and its HVAC
infrastructure is approaching the end of its useful life. The Agency has initiated a seven-year, multi-
million dollar project to replace major AWBERC mechanical systems and improve its energy and water
efficiency. When fully implemented, the energy master plan will increase laboratory space by 39 percent
and cut energy use by 46 percent. During FY 2005, EPA completed construction on a new cooling tower
and chilled water distribution system, which should reduce energy use by approximately 5 percent. A
construction phasing plan was also completed that covers sequencing of the replacement and manifolding
air handling units, replacement of the duct work and air distribution systems, and replacement and
manifolding of the exhaust systems. In September 2005, EPA awarded a $12.5 million contract for an
office and laboratory annex at AWBERC. This annex will serve as "swing space" for EPA staff, when
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portions of the existing facility are shut down for infrastructure replacement and upgrades, which begin in
FY 2007.
Smaller laboratory projects also demonstrate the Agency's commitment to improving energy
efficiency when opportunities arise. EPA's Region 9 Laboratory in Richmond, California, completed
mechanical upgrades in July 2005 that are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by at least
15 percent. Central to the package of upgrades-which were financed by utility savings and a rebate from
the local utility-was the installation of a natural gas co-generation unit. The 60-kilowatt rated combustion
engine is expected to reduce the laboratory's energy needs 17 to 23 percent, using generated waste heat to
replace natural gas for heating purposes. In November 2005, EPA completed a laboratory module re-
commissioning project at the Agency's National Enforcement Investigations Center in Denver, Colorado,
that is expected to reduce energy use 10 to 20 percent by reducing excessive air flow.
Green Power Offsets Energy Use
While making physical and operational improvements to underperforming facilities will have the
greatest positive long-term impact on the environment, EPA recognizes that it can reduce the current
impact of its energy use through green power procurement. Since 1999, when the EPA Richmond,
California, laboratory became the first federal facility with 100 percent green power, EPA has been a
leader in purchasing and supporting the development of energy from new renewable sources. EPA
continued to grow its Green Power Purchase Program in FY 2005, adding eight facilities to the list of
those already offsetting their electricity use by procuring renewable energy certificates (RECs, also
known as "green tags") and "delivered" renewable energy. It also extended or replaced green power
contracts at six locations. EPA's largest green power purchase to date, for 100 million kilowatt hours
(kWh) per year, was also completed in FY 2005 and will cover all facilities in RTP.
At the end of FY 2005, EPA was under contract to receive more than 83 percent of its electricity
on an annual basis from renewable sources-the highest percentage of any major federal agency. As of
October 1, 2005, EPA ranked second in EPA's Green Power Partnership's Top 25 green power
purchasers in the United States.
Green power contracts are helping the Agency reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated
with its electricity use at a rate of 508 million pounds annually, or the equivalent of removing more than
44,000 cars from the road for a year. EPA's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division is also looking
at each type of green power the Agency is purchasing, to see which has the least global warming impact
potential, then modeling the impact of EPA's operations with and without green power. This will help the
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Agency in the future to develop options to maximize the environmental benefits of its green power
purchases by focusing on certain regions of the country and/or types of green power purchases.
Sustainable Design Determines Future Facilities
EPA works to ensure that any new building it acquires is designed to maximize energy and water
efficiency and environmental performance. In January 2005, the Agency achieved Silver certification for
the NCC in RTF from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design-New Construction (LEED®-NC) program. New leased office buildings under construction in
Arlington, Virginia, and Denver, Colorado—as well as the planned renovation of a historic, government-
owned courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts—are required to achieve ENERGY STAR® Building labels,
perform 20 to 30 percent better than ASHRAE 90.1 (1999), receive Silver or higher level LEED-NC
certification, and incorporate various energy- and water-efficient features. In FY 2005, construction was
completed on the First Environments Early Learning Childcare Center in RTF, North Carolina, which
was designed to LEED-NC Silver standards. Designs were also completed and a construction contract
awarded for a laboratory annex in Cincinnati, Ohio, which should receive a LEED-NC Gold certification.
Water Conservation
EPA completed two water management plans in FY 2005, bringing the Agency's total to 13 plans
(of a total 29 reporting facilities) and exceeding the E.O. 13123 requirement that 20 percent of federal
agency facilities complete water management plans by FY 2005.
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SECTION I: MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
EPA recognizes that efficient energy and water management must involve senior EPA
management as well as facility managers. This section describes EPA's energy management
infrastructure and the management tools it uses to implement E.O. 13123, Greening the Government
Through Efficient Energy Management, which mandates federal agency energy use reductions for
laboratory and other industrial facilities of 20 percent by FY 2005 and 25 percent by FY 2010, measured
from an FY 1990 baseline. Future energy mandates for E.O. 13123 have been replaced, in part, with
tougher annual energy intensity reductions required at federal facilities in the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(EPAct 2005).
ENERGY MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
E.O. 13123 requires each federal agency to assemble a technical support team to encourage the
use of appropriated funds to meet the energy efficiency goals and requirements of the order. EPA's
Office of Administrative Services (OAS) is dedicated to meeting these requirements. Within that office,
the Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch (SFPB) serves as an advocate, coordination point, and
technical advisor on sustainable practices, policies, and project implementation to all of EPA's facility-
related organizations and personnel. The branch is an example of the importance EPA places on energy
efficiency, water conservation, and other sustainability issues. Key staff in the SFPB's energy team
include the branch chief, a Laboratories for the 21st Century coordinator, two mechanical engineers, a
water conservation/green power coordinator, and a pollution prevention and recycling coordinator.
Senior Agency Official and Energy Team
EPA has designated the Assistant Administrator (AA) of the Office of Administration and
Resources Management (OARM) as the Agency Energy and Environmental Executive. Currently, the
AA for OARM is Luis Luna.
Mr. Luna is supported by a national energy team located in OAS and FMSD. SFPB's energy
team works closely with architects and engineers from EPA's Architecture, Engineering, and Asset
Management Branch (AEAMB) and ventilation safety experts from EPA's Safety, Health, and
Environmental Management Division (SHEMD). EPA also receives support from the U.S. Department
of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Federal Energy Management
Program (FEMP) on a project-specific basis. Site energy managers for each of the Agency's 29 reporting
facilities are listed in Appendix D.
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EPA's national energy team employed five principal approaches to meet the E.O. 13123 energy
reduction goal of 20 percent by FY 2005 (from a 1990 baseline). These strategies are also appropriate to
meet the more stringent requirements of EPAct 2005, which was signed into law on August 8, 2005:
• Good design and oversight for new facilities: For new facilities, such as the Denver, Colorado,
Region 8 Office that broke ground in June 2005, the Agency gets involved early in the planning
process and reviews projects regularly to ensure appropriate acquisition strategies, energy-
efficient design, quality construction, extensive commissioning, and optimal operations.
• Commissioning, re-commissioning, and retro-commissioning: Whether a new building or system
upgrade, EPA ensures that its facilities are performing the way they were designed by
commissioning newly completed projects, such as the ESPC in Ada, Oklahoma, where
commissioning was completed in FY 2005. Where necessary, EPA re-commissions facilities,
such as the New Main facility in RTP, North Carolina, that are not reaching their peak energy
performance. In FY 2005, the Agency continued its major re-commissioning effort launched in
FY 2003 at RTF's New Main building, as well as a re-commissioning project at the Human
Studies Laboratory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, begun in FY 2004.
• Mechanical systems improvements: From the cogeneration unit recently installed in Richmond,
California, to variable air volume upgrades under design at EPA's Mid-Continent Division
Laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota, the Agency is identifying and implementing opportunities to
increase the energy and water efficiency of its facilities.
• Largest facilities first: With limited funding and staff resources, EPA concentrates on its largest
energy using facilities first, such as those in RTP and Cincinnati. EPA has approximately 10
laboratories that account for 80 percent of its reportable energy use. The remaining 19 smaller
labs account for only 20 percent of EPA's reportable energy use. Resources are best focused on
larger facilities, with greater energy conservation potential.
• Green power procurement. EPA has also found green power to be a quick and effective way to
reduce the Agency's environmental footprint at Agency laboratories and offices. Also, renewable
energy demonstration projects serve to educate the public and develop markets for new
technologies, such as the 9.5-kilowatt solar array installed on the roof of EPA's Western Ecology
Division Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, in December 2004. Under EPAct 2005, green power
purchases may no longer count towards meeting the Agency's energy use reduction goals, but
final guidance on the issue will not be released until 2006.
Energy Reporting
EPA energy and facility managers report their energy and water consumption figures to
Headquarters on a quarterly basis, and extensive quality control is conducted by comparing reporting
forms to monthly utility bills and tracking quarterly data against the same time period in previous years.
EPA also sends quarterly e-mail updates on energy consumption to facility managers and senior program
managers; data include energy consumption on a year-to-date basis, increases or decreases from previous
periods and the FY 1990 baseline, and laboratory-by-laboratory performance comparisons. EPA
managers can compare their energy performance against their peers and their historic energy use.
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Currently, EPA relies on estimates for a majority of energy use at two of its largest facilities (the
New Main laboratory and NCC in RTF) that together account for approximately 38 percent of the
Agency's energy use. The energy metering systems for these new buildings were not functional at the
time construction was substantially completed in Fall 2002. In May 2005, the Agency awarded a contract
to install a Web-based comprehensive energy management and "real time" metering system. The project
was completed in December 2005, improving EPA's data accuracy and ability to measure and manage
energy at these facilities. In FY 2005, EPA also installed chilled water meters in its Human Studies
Laboratory in Chapel Hill. The meters allow the Agency to confirm billing of chilled water Btus and
report more accurate data from this laboratory.
EPA's National Enforcement Investigation Center (NEIC) in Denver, Colorado also installed an
advanced metering system, which includes three electricity meters, two chilled water meters, and two
high-temperature hot water meters. The installation of the new meters allows the Agency to be billed for
actual energy use and was part of a two-year re-commissioning project that is expected to save 9,500
MMBtus and $100,000 annually.
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
EPA realizes that the commitment of its employees to improve energy efficiency is vital to
achieving the Agency's goals to reduce energy and water consumption. EPA's energy management team
uses awards and incentives, as well as continuing education and training programs, to support individual
and team efforts in energy efficiency.
Awards (Employee Incentive Programs)
In FY 2005, SFPB continued its internal peer awards program, collectively known as the "Btu
Buster Awards," first established in FY 2003. The program recognizes and encourages energy and water
conservation among EPA facility managers and building design and construction personnel. The
following winners were recognized at EPA's Buildings and Facilities Conference in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, in March 2005:
• Energy Manager James White received EPA's Energy Partner of the Year (Field) award for
continuous leadership in improving the energy performance of EPA's New Main, NCC, Human
Studies, and Toxicology Research facilities in RTP, North Carolina.
• For effective, dependable, and friendly support of EPA sustainable facilities activities and staff in
all endeavors, Steve Hinz of EPA Headquarters was named Energy Partner of the Year
(Headquarters).
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• Russ Ahlgren and Mark Tagliabue of EPA's Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory were each
honored with Btu Buster awards for implementing mechanical engineering upgrades that reduced
energy use at the Narragansett, Rhode Island, laboratory by more than 10 percent annually,
improving the working conditions of laboratory occupants, re-investing utility cost savings in
green power, and leading the way in sustainable site planning.
• Stephanie Bailey received an H2Overachiever award for helping the Agency save an estimated
120,000+ gallons of water per year by reducing the use and water consumption of autoclaves at
EPA's Region 10 Laboratory in Manchester, Washington.
• Jay Gile of the Western Ecology Division Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, received a Leading
Edge Award for conceiving, acquiring funding for, and managing the construction of a 9.5
kilowatt photovoltaic roof system that generates renewable power with zero emissions. Mr. Gile
also received an H2Overachiever award for helping the laboratory save approximately 5 million
gallons of water annually, by installing a closed-loop glycol cooling system, autoclave control
valves, waterless urinals, and flow restrictors on plumbing fixtures.
• Cynthia Greene received a Leading Edge award for aggressively and intelligently pursuing
environmental performance improvements in all facets of the design and operation of the new
Region 1 Office in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Jan Hemingway of EPA's Region 10 Laboratory in Manchester, Washington, won Reporter of
the Year for timely and accurate energy and water reporting for a complex facility.
• Kim Bartels of EPA's Region 8 Office in Denver received a new award-P2 Pollution Prevention
Performer of the Year-for her campaign to collect recyclables at that office, including a floor-by-
floor paper collection competition that recycled nearly 11,000 tons.
EPA's designated "showcase" facilities include: the Kansas City, Kansas, Science and
Technology Center; the Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building (a GSA-owned building housing EPA's
Region 5 Office), and the New England Regional Laboratory in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Training and Education
Employees who have energy management responsibilities are evaluated annually against criteria
based on the Agency's energy management principles. EPA uses several education and training programs
to ensure that employees are aware of the latest technologies and opportunities to increase energy
efficiency and overall sustainability:
• Laboratories for the 21st Century. The Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) program is a
joint partnership between EPA and DOE dedicated to improving the environmental performance
and energy efficiency of U.S. laboratories. Through its Web site, workshops, e-mail network, and
annual conference, the program provides information on energy-efficient technology alternatives
for laboratory applications and creates a forum for laboratory designers, owners, and operators to
obtain up-to-date information and support for implementing energy-efficient and sustainable
projects.
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In FY 2005, Labs21 held 14 one-day workshops on energy-efficient laboratory design and
operations, training more than 600 professionals, each of whom is eligible for continuing
education credits. The Labs21 team designed the course to provide a comprehensive
understanding of the opportunities to optimize energy performance of new and existing
laboratories. Course topics included energy-efficient laboratory design, air supply and
distribution systems, commissioning, lighting, and resources and tools. An advanced half-day
course was also given this year focusing on the Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria, a
rating system based on the LEED® Green Building Rating System, but specifically designed for
laboratory facilities. The Labs21 Laboratory Ventilation Design Course, part of a series of
advanced course modules on sustainable laboratory design and related topics, and based on
Labs21 Best Practice Guides, was offered for the first time at the FY 2006 conference.
Additional information about these courses is posted on the Labs21 Web site at
.
The FY 2005 Labs21 Conference took place in St. Louis, Missouri, October 5-7, 2004. More than
500 public and private sector laboratory energy managers, policymakers, and other technical
experts from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia attended the
conference, including 30 EPA employees. The conference presented an important training
opportunity for EPA and other federal agencies' facility staffs. A mix of plenary and panel
sessions highlighted strategies and technologies for improving energy and water efficiency and
environmental performance in laboratories. The conference also featured the Labs21 poster
session, which showcased 23 innovative laboratory designs, and the Labs21 Technology Fair,
where exhibitors displayed state-of-the-art products for high performance laboratories. Optional
tours included the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise; a plant and life science "incubator" with
a reception at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; and a tour at the Washington University
Earth and Planetary Sciences Building, which houses the research and investigative activities of
the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the university. The conference agenda,
presentations, and speaker biographies are available at
. EPA also spent a great deal of time in FY
2005 planning the FY 2006 Labs21 Annual Conference, which was held in Portland, Oregon,
October 18-20, 2005.
Buildings and Facilities Conference: In March 2005, EPA conducted its annual three-day
Buildings and Facilities Conference. This year's conference was held in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. The 75 conference attendees included facility managers from EPA-operated
laboratories and GSA-assigned regional offices and headquarters.
Online Ordering System for "Green" Office Supplies: EPA's Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing (EPP) Program worked with the Agency's Office of Acquisition Management and the
Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines program to award an online ordering system for "green"
office products in FY 2004 as a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with Corporate Express. The
BPA became mandatory for all EPA purchase card holders May 1, 2005. The system enables
EPA purchase card holders to buy products that meet or exceed EPA recycled-content and other
EPP standards, in order to make green purchasing and tracking easier for Agency personnel and
increase such purchases throughout the Agency. In recognition of its efforts on the BPA, EPA
received a 2005 White House Closing the Circle Award, which honors the Agency for its
outstanding federal environmental stewardship. The online ordering system is accessible through
EPA's Intranet or by directly accessing . A training tutorial is also
available on EPA's Intranet.
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Recycling Electronics and Asset Disposition (READ) Services: EPA initiated the READ Services
program in FY 2005 to provide all federal agencies with a government-wide procurement tool to
properly manage electronic inventories and to recycle and properly dispose of excess or obsolete
electronics using an environmentally responsible approach. To make the program accessible to all
federal agencies across the country, READ is being administered under a government-wide
acquisition contract (GWAC). The GWAC will also help federal agencies meet the requirements
of E.O. 13101. On December 16, 2004, EPA issued a five-year multiple award contract to eight
small businesses. Under the contract, the companies will evaluate each piece of equipment and its
components, and then will reuse, recycle, or dispose of them under the following hierarchy: 1)
refurbish and resell them, using the proceeds to offset costs; 2) donate them to charitable causes;
3) recycle as much as possible; 4) properly dispose of the remainder.
EPA-HQ, EPA Region 4, and EPA-RTP used the READ contracts in FY2005 to dispose
of approximately 250,000 pounds of hazardous electronics, representing approximately
14,332 pieces of computer and other electronic equipment.
Online Newsletter: Energizing EPA is an internal EPA newsletter that highlights the Agency's
efforts to improve overall sustainability, including energy and water efficiency, at its facilities.
The newsletter is produced on a quarterly basis and distributed electronically to all EPA
employees to educate them about such issues as energy efficiency, green power, green buildings,
alternative energy, recycling programs, water conservation, and low-impact development. In FY
2005, EPA initiated a new section in each issue focusing on tips that employees can use to reduce
energy, water, and other resource use in their day-to-day lives.
Office of Administrative Services (OAS) Web Site: EPA's OAS continues to update and enhance
its public Web site on sustainability at the Agency (www.epa.gov/greeningepa). The Web site is a
central source of information about energy efficiency approaches and projects, renewable energy
procurement, and green buildings developed by and for EPA. The site also provides information
on facility gross square footage, energy and water consumption data, facility manager contact
information, and "green" building highlights for each major facility EPA occupies. In FY 2005,
EPA revamped the site to improve navigation and highlight facilities with energy efficiency,
water conservation, and other sustainable accomplishments.
Environmental Management System (EMS) Training: As part of its efforts to implement EMSs at
34 Agency locations, EPA has conducted a variety of training modules for its employees on
energy and water conservation and other significant environmental aspects associated with the
Agency's facilities and operations. At EPA Headquarters, for example, in Summer 2005 all
employees were offered a brief, online training via the Intranet that educated them on how the
Agency is purchasing green power for Headquarters and how they can reduce their personal
energy and water use.
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SECTION II: ENERGY EFFICIENCY PERFORMANCE
E.O. 13123 requires that by FY 2005 each federal agency reduce its reported energy use in its
laboratory and industrial facilities by 20 percent from an FY 1990 baseline. Both actual energy use
reductions and green power purchases can be used to meet the goal. EPA exceeded the FY 2005 goals
primarily through green power purchases (97 percent) and energy use reductions (3 percent).
ENERGY REDUCTION PERFORMANCE
The following table details EPA's energy consumption in FY 2005 for its 29 reporting
laboratories:
EPA FY 2005 Eneigy Consumption
For 29 Reporting Laboratories
Source
Electricity
Green power
Fuel oil
Natural gas
Propane
Purchased steam
Biodiesel
Chilled and
heated water
Consumed
136,613,911 kilowatt hours*
150,549,837kilowatt hours**
183,234 gallons
3,903,597 CCF
8,002 gallons
32.7 Bbtus
3.8 Bbtus
379.0 Bbtus
Total Btus/GSF 353,502 Btu/GSF
Total Btu/GSF
(green power netted out) 2 13,886 Btu/GSF
Percent change from
FY 2004
0.42+
+140.80
-73.19
-1.18
+15.44
+49.31
+2.45
+17.55
-0.64
-27.95
Percent change from
FY 1990
+29.0
N/A
+338.89
+6.25
+612.47
N/A
N/A
N/A
-1.22
-40.23
*EPA buys approximately 35 million kilowatts of green power for the Central Utility Plant (CUP) that serves the
RTF main campus, but reports this energy, per DOE implementing regulations, as chilled water consumed produced
by the CUP and received at the RTF New Main and NCC. Thus the green power kilowatt hours consumed is higher
than that electricity kilowatt hours consumed.
**Green power accounted for nearly 76 percent of the electricity that EPA laboratories and offices purchased in FY
2005 (a combined total of 225 million kWh of renewable energy purchases). Green power contracts completed
partway through FY 2005 brought EPA's share of green power to 83 percent of its estimated electric use as of
September 30, 2005.
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Energy Use Reductions Combined With Green Power Purchases
Primarily through the purchase of green power or renewable energy certificates that offset the
emissions associated with its electricity use, EPA has exceeded the E.O. 13123 goal of reducing
reportable energy use by 20 percent from an FY 1990 baseline. EPA finished FY 2005 40.2 percent
below its FY 1990 baseline, with green power netted out. In FY 2004, with green power netted out,
EPA's energy use was down 17 percent, and in FY 2003 energy use was down 14.6 percent. While EPA
currently relies heavily on green power purchases to achieve its reportable energy reductions, the Agency
will continue to improve its energy efficiency through infrastructure improvements and conservation
measures. EPA expects to have a better balance of energy use reduction and green power procurement by
FY 2010 to meet federal greenhouse gas reduction requirements, and intends to significantly reduce its
actual energy use to meet EPAct 2005 requirements, which begin in FY 2006.
Energy Use Reductions Alone
Without deducting green power, EPA's FY 2005 energy use on a Btu per GSF basis was virtually
even with the baseline year of FY 1990. In FY 2004, EPA's energy use on a Btu per GSF basis was
virtually even with FY 1990; in FY 2003, it was 8.8 percent lower (see Figure II-1); and in FY 2002, it
was 15.3 percent lower. The Agency attributes this upward trend in energy consumption to:
• The beginning of energy data reporting for its New Main laboratory and NCC in RTP,
North Carolina, on October 1, 2002 (FY 2003), both of which have greatly exceeded the
energy use estimates made at the time the buildings were designed;
• A significant increase in Btus/energy use at its Human Studies Laboratory in Chapel
Hill, North Carolina, where more accurate utility billing has greatly increased reported
energy use; and
• Workload changes at the Ann Arbor, Michigan, NVFEL facility, as well as quirks in the
ESPC's measurement and verification agreement that discourage additional energy
saving efforts and recent energy-inefficient facility additions that have degraded the
energy performance of the ESPC successfully completed there in 2001.
As indicated by Figure II-2 below, the two new RTP facilities account for approximately 38
percent of EPA's energy consumption. The Chapel Hill facility accounts for approximately 9 percent of
EPA's energy consumption. Figure II-3, which lists EPA reporting laboratories by energy intensity,
shows these three RTP facilities are among the five most energy-intensive EPA facilities. As previously
15
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detailed, the Agency has made RTF facilities its top energy conservation priority, but the fruits of these
labors may not be realized for at least a year. The Ann Arbor NVFEL, meanwhile, accounts for
approximately 6 percent of EPA's energy consumption.
16
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Figure II-l
350,000
"5!
300,000
250,000
200,000
EPA Average Energy Use: FY 1990 to FY 2005
286,291 BTUs/GSF (E.O. 13123 FY2005 Goal)
=PA Reporting Labs (green power not netted out)
EPA Reporting Labs (green power netted out)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Figure II-2
Share of Total Energy Use, FY 2005
Laboratories representing
less than 3% each
d RTF (New, Main)
• Fort Meade
B Duluth
• Chelmsford
° Kansas City STC
D Gulf Breeze
B Newport
a Corvallis-WRS
RTP (New, Main)
34.03%
Cincinnati (AWBERC)
10.07%
RTP (Human Studies)
8.69%
Ann Arbor
F^rt Meade 5-69%
RTP(NHEERL/RTF)490%
RTP(NCC) 429%
3.55%
B Cincinnati (AWBERC)
d RTP (NHEERL/RTF)
BAthens-ORD
• Athens-ESD
G Manchester
QAda
B Cincinnati (Center Hill)
a Cincinnati (Child Dev. Ctrl
O RTP (Human Studies)
• RTPfNCC
d Las Vegas
• Houston
° Golden
a Cincinnati (T&E)
^ Montgomery
• RTP (Burden/Jenkinsl
0 Ann Arbor
Q Edison (Total)
n Narragansett
• Corvallis-Main
^ Richmond
Q Grosse He
n RTP (Page Road)
a Cincinnati (Pub.Warehousel
17
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Figure II-3
Energy Use in
900,000-
800,000-
700,000-
600,000-
500,000-
400,000-
300,000-
200,000-
100,000-
o-
X
X
X
X
X
X
i
BTUs/GSF/FY 2005
ClBTUs/GSF, Energy Use 1
• BTUs/GSF, E.O. 13123 FY10 Goal I
• BTUs/GSF, E.O.
3 BTUs/GSF, CUP
13123 FY05 Goal
Factor Credit
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-------
the Agency purchased nearly 225 million kWh of green power at the 30 facilities in FY 2005, a figure
equivalent to nearly 76 percent3 of total electric use at offices and laboratories. Nearly all of those 30
facilities procure green power to meet 100 percent of their electricity needs. As EPA's commitment to
green power has grown since 1999, so has the efficiency of green power markets. EPA has seen prices
fall significantly on a per kWh basis for green power. Newer contracts are typically 1/5 to 1/10 of the cost
per kWh, compared to EPA's earliest contracts. On an annual basis, existing green power contracts will
displace 83 percent of EPA's estimated annual electricity use. EPA also consumed 28,897 gallons of soy
ester biodiesel in FY 2005 at its Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Manchester, Washington, laboratories.
Figure II-4
EPA Offices and Laboratories
Green Power: Estimated Share of Total Electricity
100%-
90%-
80%-
70%-
60%-
50% -
40%-
30%-
20%-
10%
0/0
75.99%
/L
^
/
I ^^39.41%
/\ //
/ o x/
9.79% 9.95%^
/ i {/
0% oa-w- 270%^^^^-
£L 1 •
^
FY1999 FY2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005
(Prorated)
Because EPA has been a leader in green power procurement, it has also dealt with a number of
procurement-related issues that have arisen from its Requests for Proposals. EPA has worked with and
through its acquiring agencies to analyze procurement issues, respond to offerer concerns where
appropriate, and defend certain green power acquisition principles (e.g., where the power is generated). In
2 Total purchased as of September 30, 2005 = 224,892,145 kWh (prorated for FY 2005).
Percentage is based on total FY 2004 electricity use (labs and offices) of 295,945,851 kWh.
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FY 2005, EPA assisted DOE with issuing new green power procurement guidance allowing agencies to
specify the type, location, and age of renewable energy technology, thus reducing procurement issues.
New Locations/Contracts
Contracts covering the eight new EPA facilities receiving green power in FY 2005 include:
• San Francisco, California: In November 2004, EPA completed a green power purchase for its
Region 9 Office in San Francisco through the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). The
three-year contract with 3 Phases Energy Services will provide the Region 9 Office with
approximately 2.3 million kWh of RECs per year. The purchase supports the generation of
renewable energy at a geothermal facility in Middletown, California.
• Denver, Colorado: In early FY 2005, EPA worked with WAP A to procure green power for the
Region 8 Office in Denver. A three-year contract with Aquila, Inc., for 4.7 million kWh of RECs
annually will allow the facility to offset 100 percent of its annual electricity consumption by
supporting the Colorado Green Wind Project in Prowers County, Colorado.
• Kansas City, Kansas: In December 2004, EPA finalized green power contracts through WAP A
for two additional locations: the Region 7 Office and Kansas City Science and Technology Center
(KCSTC)-both in Kansas City. EPA signed three-year contracts for both facilities covering a
combined annual total of more than 8 million kWh of green power in RECs from Aquila, Inc.
The procurement offsets 100 percent of annual electricity consumption at each location with
renewable energy, 4.45 million kWh for the Region 7 Office and 3.85 million kWh of RECs each
year for KCSTC. The RECs support the Gray County Wind Farm in Kansas.
• Narragansett, Rhode Island: In February 2005, EPA worked with the Defense Energy Support
Center (DESC) to procure green power for the Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory in
Narragansett. The three-year contract with 3 Phases Energy Services for approximately 3 million
kWh of RECs annually offsets 100 percent of annual electricity consumption at the laboratory
and supports wind power generation in California and Minnesota.
• Ada, Oklahoma: In April 2005, EPA agreed to terms (through DESC) on a three-year contract for
the procurement of 3 million kWh of RECs annually for the Robert S. Kerr Environmental
Research Center in Ada. This allows the laboratory to offset 100 percent of its annual electricity
consumption with green power and makes the Ada facility EPA's first carbon neutral laboratory,
in conjunction with the ESPC there. The purchase supports the generation of renewable energy at
wind farms in Wyoming, California, and Nebraska.
• Chicago, Illinois: In August 2005, EPA finalized a contract (through DESC) for green power at
EPA's Region 5 Office in Chicago. Over the course of the one-year contract, the Region 5 Office
will receive 9 million kWh in the form of RECs from the Basin Electric Power Company. With
this purchase, the Region 5 Office now offsets 100 percent of its annual electricity consumption
and supports wind power projects in Lamoure County, North Dakota, and Hyde County, South
Dakota.
• FortMeade, Maryland: In August 2005, EPA worked with DESC to finalize a contract for green
power at the Environmental Science Center (ESC) in Fort Meade. According to the terms of the
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one-year contract, ESC will receive 6.4 million kWh in RECs from the Basin Electric Power
Company. The RECs, associated with renewable energy generation at wind power facilities in
North Dakota and South Dakota, offset 100 percent of annual electricity consumption at ESC.
Contract Replacements and Extensions
EPA replaced or extended six green power contracts for nine major facilities in FY 2005:
• Cincinnati Ohio: In October 2004, EPA worked with the General Services Administration (GSA)
to extend the green power contract at three facilities in Cincinnati: 1) the Andrew W. Breidenbach
Environmental Research Center (AWBERC); 2) the Testing and Evaluation Center; and 3) the
Center Hill facility. EPA exercised a three-year extension option in the original contract for RECs
worth 15.56 million kWh, 100 percent of the three facilities' annual electricity consumption. As
with the original contract, Community Energy provides 778,000 kWh per year of wind power
from a wind farm in Pennsylvania, and ComEd (a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation) provides the
additional 14.8 million kWh per year from landfill gas in Illinois.
• RTF, North Carolina: In November 2004, EPA finalized a replacement contract through DESC
for several facilities on the Agency's RTP campus. In what was the largest EPA green power
purchase to date, EPA procured 100 million kWh annually in RECs for FY 2005, enough
renewable energy to offset 100 percent of annual electricity consumption at the four main
facilities (Main Building, National Computer Center, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, and the Chapel Hill Human Studies Facility) and all ancillary facilities.
The contract with Unicoi Energy Services supports renewable energy generation at a wood and
paper pulp waste plant in Port Wentworth, Georgia. This procurement replaces the previous one-
year contract, which expired in October 2004, for 30 million kWh annually in RECs.
• Golden, Colorado: In December 2004, EPA signed a green power contract through WAP A for its
Region 8 Laboratory in Golden. The three-year contract provides the laboratory with 2.1 million
kWh in RECs, offsetting 100 percent of annual electricity consumption. The purchase supports
the Colorado Green Wind Project in Prowers County, Colorado, and replaces an earlier contract
for 2 million kWh in RECs annually.
• Chelmsford, Massachusetts: In August 2005, EPA signed a new green power contract through
DESC for its New England Regional Laboratory (NERL) in Chelmsford. The new three-year
contract provides 3 million kWh in RECs per year and supports renewable energy generation at
wind farms in North Dakota and South Dakota. The new contract with Select Energy offsets 100
percent of the laboratory's annual electricity consumption. Previously, NERL had received 1.9
million kWh annually in RECs.
• Edison, New Jersey. In August 2005, EPA worked with DESC to replace its green power contract
for the Region 2 Laboratory in Edison. The new, three-year contract with Select Energy will
provide the laboratory with 6 million kWh per year in RECs, offsetting 100 percent of its annual
electricity consumption and supporting wind power from Wyoming and North and South Dakota.
The Region 2 Laboratory had previously received 4.5 million kWh annually in delivered green
power from biomass and landfill gas.
• Richmond, California: In August 2005, EPA worked with DESC to finalize a replacement
contract for green power at the Region 9 Laboratory in Richmond. The new three-year contract
with 3 Phases Energy Services provides 1.9 million kWh per year in RECs and offsets 100
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percent of the laboratory's electricity consumption. The purchase supports wind farms in
Northern and Southern California and replaces a previous contract for 1.85 million kWh in RECs
from landfill gas.
Additional Green Power Purchases in FY 2005
In addition to these procurement efforts, EPA continued to receive green power at 11 other
facilities in FY 2005:
• Federal Triangle, Washington, D. C.: Beginning in October 2003, EPA began receiving green
power RECs for the Federal Triangle Complex at a rate of 39 million kWh per year through a
short-term purchase coordinated through GSA. In September 2004, EPA updated the initial
contract with a new, three-year contract with Community Energy and Pepco Energy Services for
44 million kWh in RECs per year. The purchase, offsetting 100 percent of annual electricity
consumption at EPA Headquarters' Federal Triangle complex, supports the generation of
renewable energy at wind and landfill gas facilities in the Mid-Atlantic states and extends through
September 2007.
• 1310 L Street, Washington D. C.: This EPA Headquarters satellite facility began receiving 4.56
million kWh per year in RECs in June 2004 as part of a three-year contract with Old Mill Power
Company. The purchase supports the generation of renewable energy at a wind farm in
Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.
• Athens, Georgia: Starting in March 2004, EPA has been purchasing green power in the form of
RECs to offset 100 percent of the electricity consumption at its Region 4 Science and Ecosystem
Support Division Laboratory. A three-year contract with 3 Phases Energy Services, procured
through DESC, supports annual production of 4.15 million kWh of renewable energy from
landfill gas facilities in North Carolina and Kentucky.
• Atlanta, Georgia: In March 2004, EPA's Region 4 Office became the Agency's second regional
office to offset 100 percent of its annual electricity consumption with renewable energy. The
three-year contract with 3 Phases Energy Services (procured through DESC) for 7 million kWh in
RECs annually supports renewable energy generation at landfill gas facilities in North Carolina
and Kentucky.
• Duluth, Minnesota: The Mid-Continent Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth currently
purchases RECs from QVINTA, Inc., to offset approximately 90 percent of the facility's annual
electricity consumption with renewable energy. A three-year contract that began in 2004
supports the annual generation of 2.35 million kWh of green power from a wind farm in Dodge
Center, Minnesota.
• GrosseHe, Michigan: EPA currently receives 700,000 kWh in RECs annually to offset 100
percent of the electricity consumption at its Large Lakes and Rivers Research Station. A three-
year contract with 3 Phases Energy Services, which began in June 2004, supports renewable
energy generation at a landfill gas facility in Lenox, Michigan.
• Houston, Texas: EPA's Environmental Services Branch Laboratory in Houston continued to
receive 3.35 million kWh of RECs, offsetting 100 percent of the laboratory's annual electricity
consumption. The laboratory has been receiving green power since June 2003 through a contract
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procured through GSA with 3 Phases Energy. The purchase supports green power generated at a
wind farm near Clovis, New Mexico.
• Las Vegas, Nevada: EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory and its Radiation and Indoor
Environments National Laboratory on the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus continued to
receive 4.65 million kWh per year in RECs as part of a three-year contract with 3 Phases Energy
Services that began in 2004. The RECs offset 100 percent of the laboratory's annual electricity
consumption with renewable energy and support the generation of wind power in San Gorgonio
Pass, California.
• Manchester, Washington: Since October 2001, EPA has purchased RECs to offset 100 percent of
the annual electricity consumption at its Region 10 Laboratory. During FY 2005, the facility
continued its 10-year demonstration grant with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and
received approximately 3.3 million kWh in RECs that support the generation of wind power in
Wyoming and Oregon.
• New York City: EPA's Region 2 Office, the first regional office to purchase 100 percent green
power, continued to offset its annual electricity consumption with 6.18 million kWh of RECs
from Constellation New Energy. The three-year contract, procured through GSA and signed in
June 2003, supports the generation of wind power at the Fenner Wind Power Project in upstate
New York.
• Corvallis, Oregon: Since 2002, the Western Ecology Division Laboratory in Corvallis has been
purchasing green power to help meet a percentage of its electricity needs. In 2004, the laboratory
increased this percentage from 5 percent to 10 percent. Currently, the laboratory receives
360,000 kWh of delivered renewable energy each year from Oregon wind facilities.
Self-Generated Renewable Energy
In December 2004, EPA completed installation of a 9.5 kW photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof
of its Western Ecology Division Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. EPA continued to operate numerous
other self-generation technologies in FY 2005:
• Solar Arrays: The Agency continued to operate a 100-kW PV array installed in April 2002 on the
roof of its National Computer Center in RTP, North Carolina, and a 10 kW solar array installed
on the roof of its Region 5 Office in Chicago's Metcalfe Federal Building in 2000. EPA's Region
10 Laboratory also continued operation of 28 solar panels with a combined 2 kW capacity.
• PV Lighting: EPA's campus in RTP, North Carolina, includes solar street lights that have served
the entrance road and parking lot facilities since FY 2002. The Agency believes this is the largest
solar road lighting project in the United States.
• Solar Water-Heating Systems: In FY 2004, the Agency installed a solar water-heating system at
its Region 9 Child Care and Fitness Center in San Francisco, California. EPA's Region 2
Laboratory in Edison, New Jersey, utilizes three solar water-heating systems that have been the
primary source of hot water in their respective facilities since 1998. Each system helps augment
its facility's energy use by reducing the need for electricity and natural gas.
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• Solar Power Awnings: EPA's New England Regional Laboratory in Chelmsford, Massachusetts,
has operated a PV awning system since September 2001. The 2-kW capacity awnings feed the
regional electric grid and reduce cooling needs by providing shade for the facility's office
windows.
• Solar Wall: EPA's Region 8 Laboratory's transpired solar collector has augmented the facility's
heating and cooling system since March 2002, generating approximately 1.38 MMBtus of solar
power annually at the Golden, Colorado, facility.
• Ground-Source Heat Pump: A geothermal heat pump (GHP) was installed as part of the Robert S.
Kerr Environmental Research Station's ESPC upgrade in Ada, Oklahoma, for which construction
was completed in June 2004. This GHP generates approximately/reduces EPA's need for
primary fuels (electric and gas) by 7,800 MMBtus annually.
• Lake Cooling Water: EPA's Mid-Continent Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota,
uses water from nearby Lake Superior as non-contact cooling water for building air conditioning
and other mechanical equipment. The facility used an estimated 72 million gallons of water in FY
2005 for these purposes, greatly reducing energy and water costs.
Several of these projects have been recognized on DOE's Web site as examples of the Million
Solar Roofs initiative:
Facility
Western Ecology Division
Laboratory
Region 9 Office, Child Care and
Fitness Center
National Computer Center
New England Regional Lab
Region 5 Office/GSA's Metcalfe
Federal Building
Region 10 Laboratory
Region 2 Laboratory
Location
Corvallis, OR
San Francisco, CA
RTF, NC
Chelmsford, MA
Chicago, IL
Manchester, WA
Edison, NJ
Proj ect/ Amount
Six 150-wattPV panels
One solar water-heating system
100 kW solar roof
2 kW solar sunshade panels
1 0 kW solar roof array
28 solar panels in three PV
arrays
Three solar water-heating
systems
Used Since
December 2004
October 2003
September 2002
September 2001
FY 2000
June 1999
Approx. 1997
Petroleum
In FY 2005, EPA used a total of 183,234 gallons of fuel oil at six of its reporting laboratories
(Narragansett, Rhode Island; Edison, New Jersey; Fort Meade, Maryland; RTP, North Carolina; Duluth,
Minnesota; and Manchester, Washington). Of those six facilities, two are using a blend of soy ester
biodiesel fuel as a clean-burning alternative to traditional diesel fuel. The Atlantic Ecology Division
Laboratory in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Region 10 Laboratory in Manchester, Washington, used a
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combined 28,897 gallons of 100 percent biodiesel, mixed with traditional diesel fuel in a one-to-four
ratio. In addition, the Agency used a total of 8,002 gallons of propane at two facilities during FY 2005
(Edison, New Jersey, and Manchester, Washington).
WATER CONSERVATION
EPA has set an internal goal to reduce water consumption by 15 percent (from an FY
2000 baseline) by FY 2010. In pursuit of this goal, and in accordance with E.O. 13123, EPA has
conducted water use assessments and prepared detailed water management plans that include
best management practices (BMPs) for 45 percent of its laboratories. Through FY 2005, EPA
has completed such plans for 13 of its 29 laboratories, with more underway. EPA far exceeds
the FY 2005 E.O. 13123 requirement to complete water management plans at 20 percent of its
facilities (as well as the FY 2006 requirement for water management plans at 30 percent of its
facilities). These and other efforts to promote water efficiency and implement water-saving
projects have allowed EPA to significantly reduce water consumption.
During FY 2005, EPA facilities reaped the benefits of water conservation initiatives and
continued to take steps to significantly reduce water consumption at the following facilities:
• Corvallis, Oregon: In December 2004, the National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory (NHEERL) replaced a single-pass cooling system in the computer room of its main
laboratory with a closed loop system that uses recycled glycol for cooling instead of a continuous
flow of chilled water. This upgrade was part of a water management plan completed in 2004 that
also included the installation of water control valves on three autoclaves (which has already saved
an estimated 1 million gallons of water), irrigation system controls, and less water-intensive
plumbing fixtures. As a result of these improvements, in FY 2005 NHEERL used less than half
the water consumed on average during the same time period in FY 2003 to FY 2004. In that
time, the water efficiency upgrades have saved 5.4 million gallons of water and approximately
$27,000 in costs.
• Federal Triangle, Washington, DC: In January 2005, EPA began construction of a small cistern
as a pilot of a larger multi-year, multi-phased low-impact development (LID) project to manage
stormwater and conserve water at EPA Headquarters' Federal Triangle complex. Eventually,
significant amounts of rain water runoff collected in the cisterns will be used to supply a new
irrigation system that will include rain sensors and timers. This, along with the planting of native
species, will reduce the amount of water necessary to maintain the lawn and planting beds.
• Golden, Colorado: In Summer 2005, EPA conducted a sustainable landscaping project at its
Region 8 Laboratory. A feasibility study will assess alternatives that will minimize or eliminate
the water consumed to maintain trees and plants on the facility grounds. The study will seek to
identify stormwater utilization strategies, appropriate native plant species, as well as project costs,
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benefits, and payback periods. Xeriscaping, for example, could save nearly 17 percent of the
laboratory's total water consumption, or about 750,000 gallons per year.
• Newport, Oregon: In FY 2005, the Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch Laboratory devised a system
that utilized old laboratory equipment to provide a year-round supply of freshwater. Following
retrofits, the laboratory no longer used several 2,500 gallon plastic holding tanks. Two tanks
were relocated to the boat wash-down area, pumps were installed, and runoff was diverted to fill
the tanks, taking advantage of Oregon's high annual precipitation. The reused tanks now supply
the water needed to wash the laboratory's five small boats and two hovercraft.
New Water Management Plans
During FY 2005, EPA also completed water conservation assessments and water management
plans for the following facilities:
• Houston, Texas: In July 2005, the Region 6 Laboratory completed a water assessment and
established a water management plan that set a goal to reduce water consumption in 2010 by 3
percent. Under the environmental management system set forth in the plan, the laboratory will be
tracking and evaluating water consumption in pursuit of the conservation target. Additionally,
the laboratory will be investigating the feasibility of upgrading the irrigation system with a rain or
moisture sensor, incorporating low flow toilets, urinals, and showerheads, installing faucet flow
restrictors, and promoting water conservation awareness. The Region 6 Laboratory already
recovers air handler condensate for reuse as cooling tower make-up water at the rate of 1.4
million gallons per year, resulting in more than $3,500 annual savings.
• Manchester, Washington: In August 2005, the Region 10 Environmental Laboratory drafted a
water management plan following the completion of a facility water management assessment.
The plan sets a target of a 5 percent reduction in potable water consumption by 2005. The
laboratory has already started to save an estimated 17,000 gallons per year after reducing the eye
wash flush frequency from weekly to monthly. Potential improvements, which in the future
could save more than 100,000 gallons of water and $1,000 per year, include: installing a water
control valve on the autoclave; installing faucet flow restrictors and low-flow showerheads; and
upgrading toilets and urinals to current water-efficient design standards.
• Ada, Oklahoma: At the close of FY 2005, the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center was
finalizing a water management plan based on the results of a water conservation assessment.
Though the facility has already achieved significant water savings from the installation of a
ground-source heat pump, the plan identifies several additional conservation opportunities. The
laboratory is considering adding flow restrictors to bathroom faucets as a relatively inexpensive
means of reducing water consumption, with annual estimated savings of 65,000 gallons and $125.
The facility will also be exploring installation of rain or moisture sensors to minimize water use
for irrigation, a feature that could potentially save 400,000 gallons and $900 per year.
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SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
In FY 2005, the Agency focused on its largest and most energy-intensive facilities-particularly
the four in RTF, North Carolina. Addressing energy efficiency in RTF will be critical to meeting the new
EPAct 2005 energy reduction requirements, because these facilities represent 50 percent of EPA's energy
consumption and are four of EPA's five highest energy users on a Btu per gross square foot per year
basis. The Agency will continue to implement its five-part energy conservation strategy in FY 2005:
• Promoting sustainable design in its new buildings and leases so that new buildings entering the
inventory are better than the ones they replace.
• Re- and retro-commissioning to achieve large energy savings in the near term.
• Designing and constructing physical mechanical system changes to achieve energy savings in the
long run.
• Concentrating efforts where the greatest opportunities for energy efficiency exist, at the Agency's
largest facilities. Regardless of size, however, EPA will also implement energy conservation
projects on smaller laboratories where funding, local management, and local staff support exist.
• Purchasing green power, which is a separate requirement in EPAct 2005 and will always serve as
an important component of EPA's balanced effort to reduce its environmental footprint.
EPA will also continue to conduct energy audits, support life-cycle cost analysis, benefit from
ESPCs, use energy-efficient products, and incorporate water conservation measures across all of its
facilities.
LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS
When developing, constructing, and operating its facilities, EPA makes every effort to conserve
energy and water, incorporate sustainable design, and identify innovative technologies, products, and
services that are environmentally sound and cost-effective throughout their life cycles. All energy
projects, for example, go through life-cycle cost analysis, as evidenced in the two ESPCs EPA
implemented at its Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Ada, Oklahoma, laboratories. These projects have allowed
the Agency to realize significant energy efficiency upgrades and life-cycle savings that would have gone
unrealized under the traditional funding process, which emphasizes up-front costs. Life-cycle cost
analyses help EPA justify energy efficiency improvements; in Richmond, California, for example, the six-
year payback on the upgrades EPA was seeking was short enough to warrant making those mechanical
system investments, as EPA's lease expires at the end of 2013.
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EPA is working to institutionalize its energy master planning process, investigating energy
performance projects over a 15- or 20-year time frame, since laboratories are long-term investments. The
Agency has taken that idea one step further and in FY 2005 drafted a standard statement of work for
sustainable master planning to examine all types of sustainable features on a life-cycle basis for EPA's
future facility projects. When procuring new buildings, EPA generally uses energy modeling during the
design process, to help identify additional opportunities for improvement. Such modeling, conducted
during the 35 percent drawings for EPA's recently completed Science and Technology Center in Kansas
City, Kansas, revealed additional economical energy conservation measures that were incorporated into
the project.
FACILITY ENERGY AUDITS
To help identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements to mechanical systems, EPA's
office and laboratory facilities are regularly audited as part of a tiered process. The first tier, or Stage 1
audit, is a basic energy use assessment conducted as a stand-alone activity or in conjunction with water
use assessments. Stage 2 assessments encompass more thorough energy consumption analysis, focus on
specific areas of concern, identify various energy conservation measures, and calculate simple payback
schedules, allowing facility managers to make decisions and prioritize energy improvements. Nearly
every EPA reporting laboratory has had a Stage 1 or Stage 2 audit conducted in the past one to five years.
FINANCING MECHANISMS
As mentioned earlier, EPA has taken advantage of the ESPC financing mechanism to realize
significant energy and cost savings at its Ann Arbor, Michigan, laboratory (completed in 2001) as well as
in Ada, Oklahoma (accepted in September 2005). EPA is also using ESPC-like mechanisms to finance
future improvements. Under an agreement with the firm from which EPA leases its Richmond, California
laboratory, the lessor is financing a natural gas co-generator to produce electricity and hot water, two
small staging boilers to replace a larger version, and an HVAC controls upgrade. The contract for these
projects was awarded in May 2004, and they were completed in Summer 2005. Lease payments will be
made by EPA using the 15 percent utility savings, plus a one-time $60,000 rebate from the utility, PG&E.
ENERGY STAR® AND OTHER ENERGY-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS
EPA actively promotes the purchase of energy-efficient products that carry the ENERGY STAR
label, including photocopier equipment and computers. The Agency reviews and updates its purchasing
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specifications regularly and incorporates ENERGY STAR and other sustainable product requirements
into new lease provisions when the occasion arises.
EPA encourages its employees and other federal purchasers to participate in the Agency's energy
management activities through its EPP Program. EPP helps train government purchase card users on
buying energy-efficient and sustainable products. In FY 2005, EPA made mandatory for Agency purchase
card holders use of a Blanket Purchasing Agreement (BPA) with office supply company Corporate
Express, which provides environmentally preferable non-electronic office products Through the BPA and
its EPP program, EPA maintains a comprehensive database of environmentally preferable products for
government purchasers and other users, as well as sample contract language for procuring these products.
The Agency also published newsletters, including the EPP Update and Energizing EPA, that promote the
use of energy-efficient products and provide resources to EPA purchasers through articles on specific
products and purchasing procedures.
ENERGY STAR BUILDINGS
ENERGY STAR recognizes buildings that perform in the top 25 percent of their respective
sectors with a special label. Because the ENERGY STAR program does not encompass laboratories in its
labeling program, EPA cannot designate its 29 reporting laboratory facilities as ENERGY STAR
Buildings. However, the Agency continues to work with GSA to achieve the ENERGY STAR Building
label in office facilities it occupies:
• Seattle, Washington: The Park Place Building, which houses EPA's Region 10 Office, received
the ENERGY STAR label in November 2004, after a series of improvements by both the
building's owner, Benaroya Companies, and EPA, which occupies 10 of the facility's 21 floors.
EPA installed occupancy sensors and energy-efficient light fixtures, and the owner replaced the
HVAC systems and modified the penthouse ventilation system to recover heat leaving the
building.
• Atlanta, Georgia: In April 2005, EPA received the ENERGY STAR label at the Sam Nunn
Federal Center in Atlanta, where its Region 4 Office is located. Through a pilot project with GSA
and other tenants in the building, a multi-agency team evaluated the building, conducted pilot
tests, and identified simple, low-cost modifications, such as occupancy sensors, lighting upgrades,
and repairs.
• New York, New York: EPA's Region 2 Office is located within the Foley Square Federal Office
Building, which was labeled an ENERGY STAR Building in 1999. Some of the energy-efficient
features within the building include a building energy management system, T-8 lighting fixtures,
steam turbine centrifugal chillers, high efficiency motors, and a variable air volume (VAV) air
handling system. The building no longer performs in the top 25 percent of similar office
buildings. EPA plans to initiate a re-certification effort with GSA in FY 2006. Plans include re-
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commissioning the building, correcting the "operational drift" (or a slow creep towards non-
optimal building operations and energy waste), and obtaining a current ENERGY STAR label
again.
Chicago, Illinois: EPA's Region 5 Office is located within the 28-story Metcalfe Federal
Building, which achieved the ENERGY STAR label in 1999. The building features an energy
management system, a comprehensive green lighting system, and a rooftop solar array with a
capacity of 10 kW. In addition, the domestic water pumps and cooling tower fans feature high
efficiency motors and variable frequency drives. As with Region 2, EPA anticipates initiating a
re-commissioning effort in FY 2006 to re-optimize energy performance and re-establish the
ENERGY STAR label for this building.
Denver, Colorado (existing office): EPA's Region 8 Office has achieved the ENERGY STAR
Building label in multiple years, including, most recently, 2004. In the past it implemented the
Green Lights program, a precursor to ENERGY STAR.
Denver, Colorado (future office): EPA is working with GSA to develop a new facility to house its
Region 8 Office. EPA requires that this new building achieve an ENERGY STAR Building label
within 14 months of 95 percent occupancy, which is expected in Fall 2006.
Arlington, Virginia: Several EPA Headquarters facilities in Arlington will soon move to one
consolidated 422,000 square foot complex. EPA is requiring that the new building meet
ENERGY STAR performance criteria within 14 months of occupancy, which is expected in
Summer 2006. Energy-efficient mechanical system controls and a highly reflective roof are
being considered for the facility.
Improved Data Collection: In addition to focusing on ENERGY STAR labeling at its office
buildings, EPA continued to expand collection of energy data from each of its major regional and
Headquarters office buildings in FY 2005. Although GSA has had the responsibility to report
energy use for these buildings under E.O. 13123, EPA wants to use this data to further identify
opportunities to improve energy performance in the offices it occupies.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN
EPA incorporates sustainable building design principles into the siting, design, and construction
of all new facilities, as well as the renovation and maintenance of existing facilities. The Agency outlined
in its Green Buildings Vision and Policy Statements, holistic approach to minimize environmental
impacts while maintaining a healthy, comfortable workplace, and its Architecture and Engineering
Guidelines reflect these principles in all aspects of design, construction, and operation of its facilities.
The Agency works closely with GSA in the selection of architects, mechanical engineers, and
building developers, and incorporates sustainable design language into the solicitations for these vendors.
The Agency requires a minimum LEED®-New Construction (LEED® - NC) Silver rating for its major
new office building leases and requires that each major new office facility obtain the ENERGY STAR
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label within a fixed post-occupancy time period. EPA also typically sets a 30 percent better than the
ASHRAE 90.1 (1999) goal for energy performance for all new major facilities. Future projects with
sustainable design features include:
• EPA Headquarters, Northern Virginia Offices: In May 2004, GSA signed 10-year leases for
422,000 square feet of newly constructed space in Arlington, Virginia. The new space will house
EPA employees currently working at three separate facilities in the Crystal City section of
Arlington. As with all of its major new buildings, EPA is requiring that this space obtain a
minimum LEED Silver-NC rating and meet ENERGY STAR building energy performance
standards to receive a label. Water conservation will be a priority, as builders plan to incorporate
low-flow plumbing fixtures. Stormwater management techniques will be used to reduce the
environmental impact of runoff. In addition, the building contractor has agreed to recycle at least
75 percent of construction period waste and incorporate EPA Headquarters' recycling program
into the building design. EPA occupancy is expected by the end of Summer 2006.
• Denver, Colorado, Region 8 Office: In June 2005, EPA and GSA broke ground for the new
250,000-square-foot Region 8 headquarters building in downtown Denver. Designed to achieve a
minimum Silver LEED-NC certification, the building is likely to exceed expectations and achieve
Gold. Numerous environmental features include: a 50,000-square-foot, highly reflective
ENERGY STAR-rated roof to reduce energy consumption and heat island effects; native
vegetation in the roof-top garden to manage and filter rain water; a nine-story atrium that
provides abundant natural lighting to reduce energy consumption; photovoltaic panels that
generate electrical power to supplement green power purchases and reduce energy consumption;
low-flow plumbing fixtures and native, drought-tolerant landscaping to conserve water; low
volatile organic compound (VOC) interior adhesives, paints, sealants, and caulks to improve
indoor air quality; environmentally preferable janitorial and cleaning products to improve indoor
air quality and reduce the use of toxic chemicals; an integrated pest management (IPM) plan to
reduce the use of toxic chemicals; a recycling collection program for newspapers, mixed office
paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals, and toner cartridges; and extensive bike parking and
shower facilities to encourage healthy, low-impact commuting. The project should be completed
and ready for occupancy in October 2006.
• Boston, Massachusetts, Region 1 Office: GSA is renovating and rehabilitating the John W.
McCormack Post Office and Courthouse federal building, with an estimated completion date of
2008. EPA's Region 1 Office will be the largest and lead tenant in the building, occupying
approximately 225,000 square feet. EPA started meeting with GSA in April 2001 to ensure that
sustainable design and energy efficiency experience were considered when selecting the architect
and engineering firms for the project. EPA continues to work with GSA and the design team to
influence and improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of the project, as well as seek
outside funding for energy upgrades. EPA has also funded a "green roof for this building, which
will help control Stormwater runoff and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Occupancy is
scheduled for late FY 2008.
• New Childcare Facility, RTF, North Carolina: Construction of EPA's new childcare facility in
RTP, North Carolina, began in April 2004 and was completed in November 2005. Like the rest
of the RTP campus, the new childcare facility incorporated green building features such as
effective daylighting and energy-efficient design. By incorporating these and other sustainable
design principles, the facility will strive to achieve a LEED-NC Silver rating.
-------
• Lab Annex 2, Cincinnati, Ohio: As part of a new annex to one of EPA's largest laboratories, the
Agency hopes to incorporate a green roof, under-floor ventilation, and a variety of other
sustainable features as it strives for LEED-NC Silver certification at a minimum and possibly
Gold. Construction on this 42,400 square foot annex was awarded in September 2005, with
completion slated for May 2007.
• Central Regional Laboratory, Golden, Colorado: In addition to sustainable building features such
as a passive solar wall, the 50,000 square foot building on six acres initiated a feasibility study in
FY 2005 to eliminate or minimize the amount of water needed for landscaping. Site analysis was
completed in Summer 2005 and designs were completed at the end of FY 2005.
Sustainable Design at Existing Facilities
Some of the newer EPA facilities that have incorporated sustainable design include:
• National Computer Center, RTF, North Carolina (NCC): Built on the main campus in RTP,
North Carolina, and opened in January 2002, NCC houses EPA's central data processing and
exchange operations. The facility includes extensive daylighting and a rooftop photovoltaic
system that helps power the facility. In January 2005, the facility received LEED-NC Silver
certification.
• EPA Headquarters, Washington, DC: In collaboration with GSA, EPA Headquarters initiated a
low-impact development (LID) demonstration project in FY 2004 designed to reduce the peak
volume and pollutant load of stormwater runoff entering Washington, DC-area waterways from
the Agency's Federal Triangle campus. The first phase of the project was completed in Summer
2005 and included bioretention cells and a soil/grass stabilization/parking area installed along
Constitution Avenue. Construction has started in the Ariel Rios South Courtyard on a porous
paving, native landscaping, and rainwater collection system, with construction expected to be
completed by Spring 2006. Design for the EPA West garage cistern began in Fall 2005, with
construction also scheduled for completion in 2006. Stormwater management and water
conservation features will be included in GSA's design for the Benjamin Franklin Circle (12th
Street), and will require final review and approval by the Commission of Fine Arts and the
Washington, D.C., government before moving from concept design to the construction document
and construction phases. The remaining phases, for which designs will be developed beginning in
FY 2007, include plans to introduce native landscaping in the EPA West Courtyard and green
roofs installed on two of the buildings.
• Kansas City, Kansas, Science & Technology Center (KCSTC): In May 2003, EPA opened a
72,000-square-foot laboratory in Kansas City designed to conserve energy, water, and natural
resources. Energy-efficient features include VAV fume hoods and systems, heat recovery, a plate
and frame heat exchanger system, and a variable frequency drive chiller system combined with
two conventional chillers. Water conservation features include a rooftop rainwater recovery
system that reduces water use up to 735,000 gallons per year, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and
Xeriscaping. In addition, environmentally preferable building materials and a construction period
recycling plan were used to help conserve resources. In August 2003, these features helped the
facility earn a LEED-NC Gold 2.0 rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. Energy
performance at this laboratory has been quite good, with Btus per GSF running approximately 18
percent less than other new EPA VAV laboratories.
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New Main Facility, RTF, North Carolina: In constructing its largest facility, which was fully
occupied in January 2003, EPA emphasized solid waste reduction, increased energy and water
efficiency, healthy indoor environmental quality, environmentally preferable building materials,
and natural landscapes. The 1.1 million gross square foot facility was designed to minimize site
disruption and fit within the natural contours of the land. During construction, more than 3,500
plants were transplanted and the entrance road was moved to help preserve and maintain natural
vegetation. The facility installed a digitally controlled building automation system with variable
speed motors, fans, and pumps designed to conserve energy used by the heating and cooling
systems. In addition, native landscaping, stormwater management techniques, and low-flow
plumbing fixtures were incorporated to help conserve water. Unfortunately, energy performance
at this laboratory has not met original projections, and EPA is re-commissioning the facility and
stabilizing its operations.
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Laboratory. EPA's New England Regional Laboratory, which
opened in October 2001, incorporates low-flow plumbing, electronic sensors, a rooftop rain
recovery system, a nighttime system setback, and photovoltaic awnings. In April 2003, the
facility received a LEED-NC Gold 2.0 rating. Relative to other VAV laboratories in EPA's
inventory, this facility has been performing well from an energy use standpoint.
Kansas City, Kansas, Region 7 Office: EPA's Region 7 Office, which opened in 1999, included a
green rider in its lease to incorporate sustainable design elements, including environmentally
preferable construction materials, lighting motion sensors, low-flow plumbing fixtures, native
landscaping, and drip irrigation systems.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN LEASE PROVISIONS
GSA leases most of the office buildings EPA uses. When EPA needs new space, the Agency
works with GSA to ensure the new office facility, whether the lease of an existing building or a build-to-
suit (newly constructed) lease facility, adheres to minimum environmental performance standards. EPA
originally used "green riders" to get the best possible existing or newly constructed building, recognizing
that there may be limitations. Green riders were appended to GSA standard language in leases for the
Region 3, Region 7, and Region 10 office buildings, including requirements for reusing materials,
purchasing environmentally preferable products, recycling construction and demolition debris, promoting
public transportation, and improving the facilities' energy performance through energy-efficient HVAC
systems. As green buildings have become more accepted, GSA has upgraded the environmental
performance requirements of its standard leases, and EPA has continued to raise the environmental
performance expectations and specifications for its facilities. Now, numerous GSA and EPA
environmental performance standards are incorporated throughout lease documents.
As mentioned previously, green lease provisions ensure that the new and renovated buildings
under development in Denver, Boston, and Northern Virginia will promote energy efficiency, water
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conservation, resource reuse, and a healthy work environment. Using appropriate lease language, the
Agency is able to ensure that all new facilities achieve a minimum LEED-NC Silver rating, the ENERGY
STAR building label, and, typically, 20 to 30 percent better than the ASHRAE 90.1-(1999) standard (for
both offices and laboratories).
Even though the Agency is not required to report energy use in its offices, EPA is currently
working with GSA to incorporate mandatory quarterly energy reporting in all of its major office building
leases, so that it can better understand its office energy use profile, identify poor energy performers in its
inventory, and target locations where collaboration among EPA, GSA, and the landlord will economically
reduce energy use.
INDUSTRIAL FACILITY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
Even as EPA met the FY 2005 goal outlined in E.O. 13123 with a combination of mechanical
improvements and green power purchases, the Agency kept its focus on commissioning, re-
commissioning, and retro-commissioning the facilities that use the most energy and water, as well as
identified opportunities to improve efficiencies cost-effectively within laboratories and offices of all sizes.
Following are some of the highlights of work accomplished to increase energy and water efficiency in
EPA facilities in FY 2005:
• Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: EPA's largest energy consumers-the New Main
building, NCC, and their sister facilities, the National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory in Durham and the Human Studies Laboratory in Chapel Hill-continued to be a major
area of focus for EPA in FY 2005. The following are just a few of the efficiency measures
underway or completed:
• New Main: This new facility was fully occupied in January 2003. When the facility was
accepted, the energy metering system for the building was not functional. One of EPA's
current priorities is to properly meter the facility; a contract for a Web-based metering
and energy management system was awarded in May 2005, and the project was
completed in December 2005.
Implementation of a laboratory controls optimization pilot (LCOP) project initiated in FY
2004 should be completed by the end of March 2006. Using laboratory commissioning
protocols developed in Summer 2004, EPA has been safely reducing the ventilation rates
of laboratory modules campus-wide since November 2004. The Agency anticipates
saving 187,000 cfm of outside air by eliminating single-pass air, for an anticipated
campus-wide energy savings of 10 percent.
An office re-commissioning pilot project was designed in Summer 2005 to ensure proper
operation of the VAV boxes and economizers and appropriate integration with the
building automation system. If a pilot project that reconfigures one air handling unit
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(AHU) succeeds, EPA will apply it to all the office AHUs, for an energy savings of
approximately 15 percent.
Humidification problems that first appeared in FY 2004 in one of the four main
laboratory wings (the "A" Wing or the animal wing) have turned into an energy savings
opportunity as well. A humidity system upgrade was designed in December 2004 for the
A wing, which includes heat recovery. EPA awarded a construction contract for this
mechanical system change in July 2005 and expects completion of construction in
January 2006. Together, these projects should solve humidification problems in the A
wing and save 25 to 30 percent of the energy used in the A wing, for a savings to
taxpayers of approximately $200,000 per year. In addition to this project, the A wing is
reconfiguring its controls to reduce airflow in the vivarium laboratory 10 to 15 percent,
which will result in a 1 to 2 percent campus-wide energy use reduction.
In addition to these projects, the first phase of a five-year controls master plan was
completed in the new Main complex in FY 2005, and a study to identify additional areas
for energy/controls improvements in the high bay laboratory was completed at the end of
the fiscal year.
• Human Studies Laboratory. Implementation of energy efficiency projects resulting from
a major energy assessment in FY 2004 began in FY 2005. Air Handling Units (AHU's)
3, 4, and 5, and related systems, were repaired and optimized by the end of CY 2005.
Re-design of AHUs 1 and 2, and related systems, started in Summer 2005. The design of
a glycol loop heating project was completed in FY 2005, with construction award in FY
2006 pending funding. Controls master planning and an operations and maintenance
study were also completed for this facility in Summer 2005.
• National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory. Mechanical engineers
developed an implementation plan for energy savings opportunities identified in a Fall
2003 energy audit. They completed the implementation plan in spring 2004.
Recommendations from the energy audit will be turned into projects for this facility in
FY 2006.
Ada, Oklahoma: In September 2005, the ESPC at EPA's Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research
Center was formally accepted, with the review and approval of a measurement and verification
plan. Major systems construction was completed in November 2004. The ground-source heat
pump, VAV fume hoods and air supply, new fan motors, and integrated direct digital control
system for HVAC, energy, fire, and security management have resulted in energy savings even
higher than expected. Energy use has decreased approximately 45 percent compared to pre-ESPC
baseline consumption. Between the geothermal heat pump, which replaced natural gas use, and
the green power purchase to offset energy use, the Ada laboratory became EPA's first "carbon-
neutral" facility in 2005, meaning the building has virtually eliminated the greenhouse gas
emission footprint associated with its energy use. To track the ESPC's success, EPA completed
the review and approved a measurement and verification protocol in Summer 2005, which
includes cost verification of energy, water, and operations and maintenance expenditures.
Ann Arbor, Michigan: A new cooling tower, air handling units, 200-kW fuel cell, and direct
digital control system completed in April 2001 helped NVFEL use 40 percent less energy than
the ESPC baseline years of FY 1993 to FY 1995. Facility additions since the completion of this
ESPC, however, have recently degraded energy performance since 2001. In response, EPA has
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initiated another round of energy studies to improve energy efficiency at this laboratory. An
upgrade to the facilities scrubber, expected to be completed in March 2006, will also help
NVFEL save an estimated 1.2 million gallons of water annually, by replacing a water-based
system with dry filter packets. EPA initiated a controls upgrade on the scrubber in Summer 2005
as well.
Athens, Georgia: EPA has two adjacent laboratories in Athens, one for its Ecosystem Support
Division (BSD) and one for the Office of Research and Development (ORD), as well as a
childcare center. As part of its overall architectural and engineering master planning conducted
for the campus in FY 2005, the Agency decided to incorporate long-term security and
sustainability planning into the master planning process, which has given EPA the opportunity to
consider numerous efficiency opportunities. The BSD laboratory (a leased facility), for example,
requires emergency, off-grid power generation, so EPA is looking into installing a fuel cell.,
micro-turbine, or other co-generation facility on the ORD laboratory property (which is owned by
EPA) as part of its master plan. Contracts for upgrading the master plan with security and site
sustainability assessments were awarded in August 2005.
Cincinnati, Ohio: The Agency's second largest laboratory, AWBERC, is implementing an
infrastructure/energy master plan to replace the facility's long outdated mechanical systems over
the next several years. Construction on a new "lead and lag" cooling tower with variable
volume/separate cells and a water distribution system featuring variable drive pumps was
completed in March 2005. The replacement of these 30-year-old cooling towers with new, more
efficient ones should reduce energy use by approximately 4.5 percent or 5,895 MMBtus annually.
An infrastructure phasing plan for air handling units, ducts, and exhaust systems replacements
was completed in December 2004, and design of these systems will be awarded in FY 2006. In
March 2005, EPA completed a steam study, which determined that using steam to generate hot
water was more economical that replacing the steam boilers with hot water boilers. However, the
laboratory will replace two 45,000 Ib/hour boilers, which would have required extensive repairs,
with three 22,500 Ib/hour boilers, which can run more efficiently and require full capacity only at
peak loads.
AWBERC is in the process of adding a second annex, Annex 2, that will feature two buildings
with a combined 42,000 square footage designed to LEED-NC Gold standards, including an
efficient underfloor heating and cooling supply. A construction contract was awarded in
September 2005 and construction should be completed May 2007.
Corvallis, Oregon: In May 2005, EPA awarded an architecture and engineering sustainable
master planning contract for a large-scale renovation planned at its Western Ecology Division
(WED) Laboratory. The master plan will delineate all aspects of future changes in terms of
laboratories, office space, and sustainable opportunities. The new VAV laboratory will feature
high-performance fume hoods, a state-of-the-art BAS controls system for nighttime setbacks, and
a more efficient and secure window glazing for added security and energy efficiency. EPA
anticipates completing the master plan by March 2006. WED also realized significant water
savings in FY 2005, due in part to the replacement of a computer room single-pass air
conditioning unit and installation of water-reducing valves on three autoclave units in July 2004.
Duluth, Minnesota: EPA's Mid-Continent Ecology Division Laboratory continued to design a
variety of VAV upgrades to existing units in FY 2005. Designs are expected to be 100 percent
complete by the end of 2005, and construction contracts will be out for bid in 2006. EPA also
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undertook a test and balance study at the Duluth facility in June 2005 to examine the feasibility of
making the entire laboratory VAV.
• Manchester, Washington: Following completion of a new wing featuring VAV fume hoods at the
Region 10 Laboratory, EPA undertook multi-stage upgrades and renovations to the facility's
existing wings. During FY 2005, the Agency focused on Stage 2 of the project, which has two
phases: the Phase I design, which encompasses six fume hoods, was completed in Summer 2004,
and construction and commissioning continued through 2005; the Phase II design started in
Summer 2005 and scheduled for completion in March 2006, will include high-performance fume
hoods that use 30 to 40 percent less energy than conventional ones.
• Richmond, California: Construction started in Fall 2004 on several mechanical upgrades to
EPA's Region 9 Laboratory. Funded by utility savings through an agreement with building owner
Wareham Development, the project includes installation of a natural gas co-generation unit for
electricity and hot water; replacement of a single, oversized boiler with two smaller ones; and an
HVAC controls upgrade. Energy savings from the upgrades, which were completed in June 2005,
are expected to be at least 15 percent. In addition to the six-year payback resulting from these
savings, local utility company Pacific Gas & Electric gave a one-time rebate of $60,000 to
Wareham, or $10,000 for every 10 kW it removed from the grid by generating energy onsite
through the natural gas unit.
• Washington, D. C.: In an effort to "walk the talk" at its own Headquarters, EPA is working to
increase energy efficiency at its historic Federal Triangle buildings leased from GSA. The
Agency initiated a three-phase commissioning effort in January 2005 that covers an evaluation of
the mechanical systems/plumbing/HVAC; current status of fire/life/safety systems and
certifications; and an analysis of contractor-performed operations and maintenance activities.
Upon completion of the final report in October 2005, EPA began partnering with GSA to
prioritize needed mechanical system changes, address required improvements in operations and
maintenance services, and continue to provide expert mechanical engineering support to GSA.
HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYSTEMS
EPA has worked to install highly efficient combined cooling, heating, and power systems at a
number of its laboratories. As part of an energy infrastructure upgrade installed at its Richmond,
California, laboratory in 2005, the Agency began operating a natural gas combined heat and power unit.
The co-generator will help conserve energy while serving both electricity and hot water needs. The
Agency utilizes a geothermal heat pump system installed at its Ada, Oklahoma, laboratory as part of the
ESPC upgrade there. The system, which has been in operation since June 2002, generates approximately
7,800 MMBtus of energy each year, which helps augment the facility's use of electricity and natural gas.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
EPA utilizes distributed generation to diversify its energy portfolio and improve the reliability of
its electric supply. Off-grid electricity sources are an important fixture at NVFEL in Ann Arbor,
Michigan. As part on an energy infrastructure upgrade in 2001, a 200-kW capacity natural gas fuel cell
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was installed to provide both base load power and emergency backup power for the facility. The fuel cell
supplies heating water for the reheat water loop serving the air handling units, saving significant amounts
of energy that would otherwise be wasted in cooling towers and radiators.
ELECTRICAL LOAD REDUCTION MEASURES
In addition to the off-grid projects described earlier at the Ada and Richmond laboratories, EPA is
doing its part to work with local utilities to reduce its buildings' electricity loads during peak times and
throughout the day:
• Atlanta, Georgia: As part of the building's efforts to achieve the ENERGY STAR building label
in FY 2005, EPA's Region 4 Office: strategically reduced lighting in excessively lit areas;
installed occupancy sensors as standard operating procedure; repaired improperly installed or
broken equipment; adjusted after-hours energy usage and system start-up by carefully analyzing
the energy management system; developed polic ies to ban space heaters; and mandated air
balancing when offices are constructed in open space. A team of GSA, EPA, and DOE personnel
were recognized at the 2004 FEMP Energy Awards in October 2004 for their work to improve the
performance of this building.
• Edison, New Jersey: The laboratory has three solar water-heating systems that are the primary
source of hot water in their respective facility areas. Because the building relies on the electrical
systems only for auxiliary water heating when necessary, the solar heaters allow the facility to
conserve electricity and fossil fuel. So far, Edison's solar technology has registered energy
savings results significantly higher than expected.
• Golden, Colorado: The Region 8 Laboratory employs extensive daylighting, energy-efficient
lighting, a solar wall, nighttime setbacks for the ventilation system, and direct digital controls to
monitor the FfVAC system as part of its energy-efficient operations.
• Gulf Breeze, Florida: EPA utilizes timers on approximately 20 electric water heaters to save
energy during off-peak hours.
• Houston, Texas: The Environmental Services Branch Laboratory incorporates a night setback
system to control exhaust fans, fume hoods, and supply air.
• Kansas City, Kansas: Motion sensors controlling general lighting and timers controlling exterior
lighting have been installed throughout EPA's Region 7 Office building.
• Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: A lighting control/automatic shutoff system was phased
in to the new Main Facility from June to October 2003 to reduce the amount of electricity needed
for lighting the building.
12/12/05
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Appendix A
Data Tables
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Agency:
Date:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
12/15/2005
FY 2005 ENERGY MANAGEMENT DATA REPORT
Bucky Green
Prepared by:
Phone:
202-564-6371
PART 1: ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND COST DATA
1-1. Standard Buildings/Facilities
Energy
Type
Electricity
Fuel Oil
Natural Gas
LPG/Propane
Coal
Purch. Steam
Other
Consumption
Units
MWH
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Cubic Ft.
Thou. Gal.
S. Ton
BBtu
BBtu
Standard Buildings/Facilities (Thou.
Gross Square Feet)
Annual
Consumption
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total Costs:
Annual Cost
(Thou. $)
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
Unit Cost ($)
N/A /kWh
N/A /gallon
N/A /Thou Cu Ft
N/A /gallon
N/A /S. Ton
N/A /MMBtu
N/A /MMBtu
Total:
Btu/GSF:
Btu/GSF w/ RE
Purchase Credit:
Btu/GSF w/ RE &
Sec. 502(e) Credit:
Site-Delivered Btu
(Billion)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
Est. Source Btu
(Billion)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
Est. Carbon
Emissions
(Metric Tons)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1-2. Industrial, Laboratory, Research, and Other Energy-Intensive Facilities
Energy
Type
Electricity
Fuel Oil
Natural Gas
LPG/Propane
Coal
Purch. Steam
Other
Consumption
Units
MWH
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Cubic Ft.
Thou. Gal.
S. Ton
BBtu
BBtu
Energy-Intensive Facilities (Thou.
Gross Square Feet)
Annual
Consumption
136,613.9
183.2
390,359.7
8.0
0.0
32.7
382.8
Total Costs:
3,706.7
Annual Cost
(Thou. $)
$8,853.2
$333.9
$3,621.1
$14.9
$0.0
$706.7
$5,715.5
$19,245.3
Unit Cost ($)
$0.06 /kWh
$1.82 /gallon
$9.28 /Thou Cu Ft
$1.87 /gallon
N/A /S. Ton
$21.60 /MMBtu
$14.93 /MMBtu
Total:
Btu/GSF:
Btu/GSF w/ RE
Purchase Credit:
Btu/GSF w/ RE &
Sec. 502(e) Credit:
Site-Delivered Btu
(Billion)
466.1
25.4
402.5
0.8
0.0
32.7
382.8
1,310.3
353,502
214,083
214,083
Est. Source Btu
(Billion)
1,618.9
25.4
402.5
0.8
0.0
45.5
382.8
2,475.8
667,932
528,514
528,514
Est. Carbon
Emissions
(Metric Tons)
23,325
507
5,824
13
0
1,171
30,839
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1-3. Exempt Facilities
Energy
Type
Electricity
Fuel Oil
Natural Gas
LPG/Propane
Coal
Purch. Steam
Other
Consumption
Units
MWH
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Cubic Ft.
Thou. Gal.
S. Ton
BBtu
BBtu
Exempt Facilities (Thou. Gross
Square Feet)
Annual
Consumption
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total Costs:
0.0
Annual Cost
(Thou. $)
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
Unit Cost ($)
N/A /kWh
N/A /gallon
N/A /Thou Cu Ft
N/A /gallon
N/A /S. Ton
N/A /MMBtu
N/A /MMBtu
Total:
Btu/GSF:
Btu/GSF w/ RE
Purchase Credit:
Btu/GSF w/ RE &
Sec. 502(e) Credit:
Site-Delivered Btu
(Billion)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
Est. Source Btu
(Billion)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
Est. Carbon
Emissions
(Metric Tons)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1-4. Non-Fleet Vehicles and Other Equipment
Auto Gasoline
Diesel-Distillate
LPG/Propane
Aviation Gasoline
Jet Fuel
Navy Special
Other
Consumption
Units
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Gal.
Thou. Gal.
BBtu
Annual
Consumption
37.0
70.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total Costs
Annual Cost
(Thou. $)
$62.0
$22.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$84.0
Unit Cost ($)
$1.68 /gallon
$0.31 /gallon
N/A /gallon
N/A /gallon
N/A /gallon
N/A /gallon
N/A /MMBtu
Btu (Billion)
4.6
9.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.3
Est. Carbon
Emissions (Metric
Tons)
89
194
0
0
0
0
283
1-5. WATER CONSUMPTION, COST AND EFFICIENCY MEASURES
Water
Consumption
Units
Million Gal.
Annual
Consumption
176.0
Annual Cost
(Thou. $)
$962.2
Best Management Practice Implementation Tracking Data
Number of facilities
Number of facilities
plans
* in agency inventory
with completed water management
Number of facilities with at least four (4) BMPs fully
implemented
29
13
13
"number in the agency inventory, can be buildings, bases, or campuses
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1-6. RENEWABLE ENERGY/RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATE PURCHASES IN FY 2005
(Only include renewable energy purchases from resources developed after 1990)
Description of Each Renewable Energy Purchase
(examples below, insert additional rows as necessary
for each separate purchase)
Electricity from Renewable Source
Region 2 Laboratory (Edison, New Jersey)
Environmental Research Laboratory (Duluth,
Minnesota)
Environmental Research Laboratory (Corvallis,
Oregon)
Renewable Energy Certificates
Region 1 Laboratory (Chelmsford, Massachusetts)
Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory (Narragansett,
Rhode Island)
Region 2 Laboratory (Edison, New Jersey)
Region 3 Laboratory (Ft. Meade, Maryland)
Region 4 Laboratory (Athens, Georgia)
Research Triangle Park Laboratories (Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina)
Large Lakes Research Station (Grosse lie, Michigan)
Environmental Research Laboratory (Duluth,
Minnesota)
Cincinnati Laboratories (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Environmental Research Center (Ada, Oklahoma)
Region 6 Laboratory (Houston, Texas)
Region 7 Laboratory - Science and Technology Center
(Kansas City, Kansas)
Region 8 Laboratory (Golden, Colorado)
UNLV Campus Laboratory (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Region 9 Laboratory (Richmond, California)
Region 10 Laboratory (Manchester, Washington)
Natural Gas from La ndf ill/Bio mass
Renewable Thermal Enerav
Other Renewable Energy (describe)
Biodiesel
Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory (Narragansett,
Rhode Island)
Region 10 Laboratory (Manchester, Washington)
Total All Purchases
Amount
Purchased
(MWH)
4,277.3
24.0
360.0
375.0
1,790.8
750.0
800.0
4,150.0
100,000.0
700.0
2,350.0
15,531.9
1,250.0
3,180.6
3,529.2
2,100.0
4,400.0
1,434.1
3,333.0
150,336.0
Amount
Purchased
(Million Btu)
2,080.5
1,759.9
3,840.4
State or Region
of Generation or
Source
New Jersey
Minnesota
Oregon
North Dakota,
South Dakota,
Wyoming
California,
Minnesota
North Dakota,
South Dakota,
Wyoming
North Dakota,
South Dakota
Kentucky, North
Carolina
Georgia
Michigan
Minnesota
Pennsylvania,
Midwest
California,
Nebraska,
Wyoming
New Mexico
Kansas
Colorado
California
California
Wyoming
Massachusetts
Washington
End Use Category
(Standard, El, or
Exempt)
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
El
-------
Total Purchases for Standard Buildings
Total Purchases for Energy Intensive Facilities
Total Purchases for Exempt Facilities
0.0
150,336.0
0.0
0.0
3,840.4
0.0
1-7. SELF-GENERATED RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTALLED AFTER
1990
1-8. TOTAL RENEWABLE ENERGY USE AS A PERCENTAGE
OF FACILITY ELECTRICITY USE*
Electricity from
Renewables
Natural Gas from
Landfill/Biomass
Renewable
Thermal Energy**
Other Renewable
Energy ***
Consumption
Units
MWH
MMBtu
MMBtu
MMBtu
Total Annual
Energy
107.4
0.0
7,800.0
0.0
Energy Used by
Agency*
107.4
0.0
7,800.0
0.0
Renewable
Energy Use
(BBtu)
525.0
RE as a
Facility Electricity Percentage of
Use (BBtu) Electricity Use
466.1 112.6%
* includes green power, bio diesel and on site generation
*Energy used by agency equals total annual generation unless a project sells a portion of the energy it
produces to another agency or the private sector. It can equal zero in the case of non-Federal energy projects
developed on Federal land.
"Examples are geothermal, solar thermal, and geothermal heat pumps, and the thermal portion of combined
heat and power projects. Energy savings from geothermal heat pumps should be based on energy savings
compared to conventional alternatives like air-to-air heat pumps. If only electricity savings are known, multiply
kWh savings by 3,412 to estimate renewable energy BTUs.
***For other renewable energy that does not fit any category, fill in the type, units used, annual consumption
and cost, and include any additional information in your narrative submission. For example energy displaced
by daylighting technology or passive solar design.
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PART 2: ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
2-1. DIRECT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS
(Agencies may attach their final OMB Circular A-11 Energy and Transportation Efficiency Management Exhibit
in lieu of completing Table 2-1.)
Direct obligations for facility energy
efficiency improvements, including
facility surveys/audits
Estimated annual savings
anticipated from obligations
FY 2005
(MMBTU)
76,700.0
(Thou. $)
$3,790.0
$962.0
Projected FY 2006
(MMBTU)
38,350.0
(Thou. $)
$3,511.0
$602.5
2-2. ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS (ESPC)
Number of ESPC Task/Delivery
Orders awarded in fiscal year &
annual energy (MMBTU) savings.
Annual savings
(MMBTU)
0.0
Investment value of ESPC Task/Delivery Orders
awarded in fiscal year.
Amount privately financed under ESPC Task/Delivery
Orders awarded in fiscal year.
Cumulative guaranteed cost savings of ESPCs
awarded in fiscal year relative to the baseline spending.
Total contract award value of ESPCs awarded in fiscal
year (sum of contractor payments for debt repayment,
M&V, and other negotiated performance period
services).
Total payments made to all ESP contractors in fiscal
year.
(number/Thou. $)
0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
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2-3. UTILITY ENERGY SERVICES CONTRACTS (UESC)
Number of UESC Task/Delivery
Orders awarded in fiscal year &
annual energy (MMBTU) savings.
Annual savings
(MMBTU)
0.0
Investment value of UESC Task/Delivery Orders
awarded in fiscal year.
Amount privately financed under UESC Task/Delivery
Orders awarded in fiscal year.
Cumulative cost savings of UESCs awarded in fiscal
year relative to the baseline spending.
Total contract award value of UESCs awarded in fiscal
year (sum of payments for debt repayment and other
negotiated performance period services).
Total payments made to all UESC contractors in fiscal
year.
(number/Thou. $)
0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
2-4. UTILITY INCENTIVES (REBATES)
Incentives received and estimated
energy savings
Funds spent in order to receive
incentives
Annual savings
(MMBTU)
1,540.0
(Thou. $)
$60.0
$100.0
2-5. TRAINING
Number of personnel
trained/Expenditure
(number)
35
(Thou. $)
$50,000.0
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Appendix B
Energy Scorecard for FY 2005
-------
-------
FY 2005 Federal Agency Energy Scorecard i2-i5-2oosrvdc
Department/Agency Name
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Name of Senior Energy Official
Luis A. Luna, Assistant Administrator for Administration
and Resources Management
Contact Name and Phone
Bucky Green, 202-564-6371
Signature of Senior Energy Official
Luisfl. Luna 12/28/05
Did your agency...
1. Submit its FY 2005 energy report to OMB and DOE by
January 1, 2006 (Sec. 303)?
X
Anticipated Submittal Date
January 1, 2006
2. Submit a FY 2006 Implementation Plan by
January 1, 2006 (Sec. 302)?
Did your agency...
3. Implement or continue to use renewable energy
projects at Federal installations or facilitate the siting
of renewable generation on Federal land in FY 2005
(Sec. 204)? (Report all self-generated renewable
energy from projects installed after 1990; refer to
Table 1-7 on the Energy Management Data Report)
X
X
January 1, 2006
Comments
If yes, how many projects and how much
energy generated? (Specify unit: MWH or
MMBtu)
# Projects Energy Unit
Solar 5 107.4 MWh
Wind
Thermal1 3
7.800 MMBtu
4. Purchase energy generated from new renewable
energy sources in FY 2005 (Sec. 204)?2 (Refer to
Table 1-6 on the Energy Management Data Report)
X
See
Note
If yes, how much:
Delivered Electricity 4.661.3 MWh:
Renewable Energy Certificates 145.674.6
MWH;
Biodiesel 3.840.4 MMBtu
5. Invest direct FY 2005 appropriations in projects
contributing to the goals of the Order (Sec. 301)?
X
If yes,
how much:
$ 3.790.000
6. Specifically request funding necessary to achieve the
goals of the Order in its FY 2007 budget request to
OMB (Sec. 301)? (Refer to OMB Circular A-11,
Section 25.5, Table 2)
X
If yes,
how much:
$3.511.000
7. Perform energy audits of 10% of its facility space
during the fiscal year (Sec. 402)?
How much facility space has been
audited since 1992?3 72%
*EPA, in partnership with GSA, completed
audits of mechanical systems and operation
and maintenance practices at its Federal
Triangle buildings.
8. Issue to private-sector energy service companies
(ESCOs) any energy savings performance contract
(ESPC) delivery orders (Sec. 403(a))? (Refer to Table
2-2 on the Energy Management Data Report)
X
See
Note
How many?
Annual savings (MMBtu): _
Total investment value4: $_
Cumulative guaranteed
cost savings: $_
Award value: $_
1 Examples are geothermal, solar thermal, and geothermal heat pumps. Thermal energy from geothermal heat pumps should be determined as follows:
Thermal energy = Total geothermal heat transferred - electrical energy used.
2 "New" renewable energy means sources developed after 1990.
3 Should be greater than 100% if all facility space has been audited at least once since 1992.
4 Investment value includes design, materials, labor, overhead, and profit but excludes contractor's financing costs and government's administration
costs. Using investment value allows comparison with other traditional execution methods such as appropriated and working capital funded projects.
-------
Did your agency ..
9. Issue any utility energy services contract (UESC)
delivery orders (Sec. 403(a))? (Refer to Table 2-3
on the Energy Management Data Report)
10. Incorporate energy efficiency requirements into
relevant acquisitions (Sec. 403(b)(3))?
Yes No
X
See
X
Comments
How many?
Annual savings (MMBtu): _
Total investment value4: $_
Cumulative cost savings: $_
Award value: $_
11. Adopt and apply the sustainable design principles
(e.g., Whole Building Design Guide, Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)) to the
siting, design, and construction of new facilities or
major (budget line item) renovations begun in FY
2005 (Sec. 403(d))?
Xs
See
Note
Number of new building (or major
renovation) design/construction projects in
FY 20055:
Number of these projects
that can or will be certified
under LEED5:
12. Provide training to appropriate personnel6 on
energy management (Sec. 406(d))?
X
Number of appropriate personnel trained: 35
Total number of appropriate personnel: 175
13. Implement any additional management tools
(Sec. 406)?
X
Check all that apply:
Awards: X
Performance Evaluations:_X
Showcase Facilities:
Number of Showcase Facilities
designated in fiscal year:
14. Establish Water Management Plans (WMPs) and
implement at least 4 Best Management Practices
(BMPs) in at least 20% of agency facilities (Sec.
207, 503(f))?
X
See
Note
Number of facilities with WMPs and 4
BMPs: 13 (2 new. 11 old)
Number of facilities in agency inventory:.
29
NOTE: Provide additional information below if a "No" reply is used for any of the questions above.
5 Count projects only once, regardless of phase. For example, if in FY 2005, your agency had 10 new building or major renovation projects, of which 2
can be LEED certified, then report 10 and 2, respectively, in the spaces provided. If the project was designed and reported on in response to this
question in a previous year, do not report it as a new project in FY 2005, even if construction commenced or continued in FY 2005.
6 Appropriate personnel include the agency energy management team as well as Federal employees and on-site contractors who are energy or facility
managers, operations and maintenance workers, design personnel, procurement and budget staff, and legal counsel.
-------
Please enter data from annual energy report
^HEfs^H^KjE^^T^^I
pertinent to performance toward the goals of
Executive Order 13123
^B
15. Site Energy Efficiency Improvement Goals
(Sec. 202). 1985 Base Year
16. Industrial/Energy Intensive Facilities Goals
(Sec. 203). 1990 Base Year
16a. Green Power Netted Out
17. Source Energy Use (Sec. 206).
1985 Base Year
18. Water Conservation Goal (Sec. 207).
2000 Base Year
19. Renewable Energy (Sec. 204) Energy used
from self-generation and RE purchases
N/A Btu/Ft2
357,864 Btu/Ft2
357,864 Btu/Ft2
N/A BBtu
187.3MGal
N/A
N/A Btu/Ft2
355,773 Btu/Ft2
296,877 Btu/Ft2
N/A BBtu
167.5 MGal
246.0 BBtu*
HUH
N/A Btu/Ft2
353,502 Btu/Ft2
21 3,886 Btu/Ft2
N/A BBtu
176.0 MGal
525.0 BBtu*
% Change
(Current vs.
Base)
N/A %
-0.64%
-40.23%
N/A %
-6.01%
N/A
Abbreviation Key: Btu/Ft2 = British thermal units per gross square foot
Btu/unit = British thermal units per unit of productivity (or gross square foot when such a unit is
inappropriate or unavailable)
MGal = Million gallons
MMBtu = Million British Thermal Units
BBtu = Billion British Thermal Units
RE = Renewable energy
N/A= Not applicable
*This figure does not include the green power EPA purchases for its offices. GSA reports office electricity use
under DOE implementing guidelines for EO13123.
Notes
Question 4: EPA purchased 150,336.0 MWh of green power (delivered electricity and renewable energy
certificates) and 3,840.4 MMBtu of biodiesel fuel (28,897 gallons of biodiesel at 132,900 Btu/gallon) at its 29
reporting locations. The Agency also purchased an additional 65,407 MWh of green power in FY 2005 for six
regional offices and its headquarters complex. Under EO 13123 guidelines, GSA reports utility data at these
office locations.
Question 8: EPA did not enter into any new ESPCs in FY 2005. However, the Agency accepted ESPC
upgrades at its Ada, Oklahoma laboratory in June 2005.
Question 9: EPA does not use UESCs.
Question 11: EPA continued design and construction on four of the five facilities listed in FY2004 (Region 1
Office renovation of the historic McCormack Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts; construction of the new
EPA Headquarters satellite building in Northern Virginia; construction of a Lab Annex 2 at EPA's Cincinnati,
Ohio Laboratory; and construction the new Region 8 Office in Denver, Colorado) and completed construction
on the fifth (RTP Childcare).
Question 14: EPA also completed a draft plan for its facility in Ada, Oklahoma (to be finalized in FY 2006).
-------
-------
Appendix C
Not Required
-------
-------
Appendix D
Industrial and Laboratory Facilities Inventory
-------
-------
APPENDIX D—INDUSTRIAL AND LABORATORY FACILITIES INVENTORY1
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab
Ada, Oklahoma
Site Energy Manager: Frank Price
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Site Energy Manager: Steven Dorer
National Exposure Research Laboratory
Athens, Georgia
Site Energy Manager: Harvey Holm
Science and Ecosystem Support Division
Athens, Georgia
Site Energy Manager: Betty Kinney
New England Regional Laboratory
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Site Energy Manager: Bob Beane
Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
Site Energy Manager: Rich Koch
Test and Evaluation Facility
Cincinnati, Ohio
Site Energy Manager: Rich Koch
Center Hill Test and Evaluation Facility
Cincinnati, Ohio
Site Energy Manager: Rich Koch
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory - Western Ecology Division
Corvallis, Oregon
Site Energy Manager: Dave Bun-
Willamette Research Station
Corvallis, Oregon
Site Energy Manager: Dave Burr
EPA is required to report to DOE and OMB the energy use at facilities for which the Agency pays utility
bills. Although EPA occupies other facilities, the utilities are paid by GSA.
-------
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory - Mid-Continent Ecology
Division
Duluth, Minnesota
Site Energy Manager: Rod Booth
Region 2 Laboratory
Edison, New Jersey
Site Energy Manager: Joseph Pernice
Environmental Science Center
Fort Meade, Maryland
Site Energy Manager: Rick Dreisch
Region 8 Laboratory
Golden, Colorado
Site Energy Manager: Sue Datson
Large Lakes Research Station
Grosse He, Michigan
Site Energy Manager: Rod Booth
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory - Gulf Ecology Division
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Site Energy Manager: Clay Peacher
Region 6 Environmental Laboratory
Houston, Texas
Site Energy Manager: Daniel Young
Kansas City Science & Technology Center
Kansas City, Kansas
Site Energy Manager: John Begley
University of Nevada, Las Vegas - On Campus EPA Facilities
Las Vegas, Nevada
Site Energy Manager: Fred Childers
Region 10 Laboratory
Manchester, Washington
Site Energy Manager: Mark Ader
National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory
Montgomery, Alabama
Site Energy Manager: Mike Clark
-------
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory - Atlantic Ecology Division
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Site Energy Manager: Russ Ahlgren
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory - Western Ecology Division
Newport, Oregon
Site Energy Manager: Dave Burr
New Consolidated Facility
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Site Energy Manager: Sam Pagan
New Computer Center
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Site Energy Manager: James White/Glen Lowery
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Site Energy Manager: Sam Pagan
Human Studies Facility
Research Triangle Park (Chapel Hill), North Carolina
Site Energy Manager: Sam Pagan
New Page Road
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Site Energy Manager: Sam Pagan
Central Regional Laboratory
Richmond, California
Site Energy Manager: Jennifer Mann
12 1505
-------
-------
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FY 2006 Energy and Water Implementation Plan
December 15,2005
For information call: Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch, 202 564-6371
-------
SECTION I: MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes that efficient energy and water
management must involve all facility management employees as well as senior management. This section
describes EPA's energy management infrastructure and the management tools it has been using to
implement Executive Order (E.O.) 13123, Greening the Government Through Efficient Energy
Management, and will continue to use to meet the new requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(EP Act 2005).
ENERGY MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
E.O. 13123 requires each federal agency to assemble a technical support team to encourage
meeting the energy efficiency goals and requirements of the order. EPA's Sustainable Facilities Practices
Branch (SFPB), which EPA's Office of Administration and Resources Management (OARM) created at
the end of 2000, is dedicated to meeting these requirements. SFPB will continue to serve as an advocate,
coordination point, and technical advisor on sustainable practices, policies, and project implementation to
all of EPA's facility-related organizations and personnel for both E.O. 13123 and EPAct 2005. Key staff
in the SFPB's energy team include the branch chief, education/outreach and Laboratories for the 21st
Century coordinator, two mechanical engineers, a water conservation/green power coordinator, and a
pollution prevention and recycling coordinator.
Senior Agency Official and Energy Team
EPA's Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources Management (currently Luis
Luna) will continue to serve as the Agency Energy and Environmental Executive, supported by SFPB's
national energy team described above. The energy team will continue to be supplemented by architects
and engineers from EPA's Architecture, Engineering, and Asset Management Branch, by members of
EPA's Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Division, and by the U.S. Department of Energy's
(DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory on a project-specific basis. Site energy managers for each
of the Agency's 29 facilities are listed in Appendix D of the annual report.
In FY 2006, EPA will issue new and more challenging guidance from the Agency's
Environmental Executive to EPA's senior managers, program managers, and facility managers to capture
-------
short-term energy savings available at EPA's 29 reporting locations. This move is in response to tighter
energy conservation requirements set out in the EPAct 2005. In addition, the Agency will peer review its
current agency-wide energy master plan to ensure it meets the new energy intensity reduction
requirements in EPAct 2005. The Agency will review the currently proposed energy projects at all of its
laboratories, particularly the energy-intensive ones, to confirm that the best opportunities for increasing
efficiency within its facilities and operations have been identified. EPA will also continue focusing on
sustainable design and procurement for new facilities, re-commissioning of existing facilities, improving
existing mechanical systems, concentrating on large energy users, and making green power procurements
to reduce its environmental footprint and achieve federal agency greenhouse gas reduction goals.
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
EPA will encourage its employees' commitment to improving energy efficiency. EPA's energy
management team will continue to use awards, incentives, and performance evaluations, as well as
continuing education and training programs, to support individual and team efforts in energy efficiency.
Awards (Employee Incentive Programs)
EPA will continue encouraging and recognizing its employees for their achievements in
conserving energy and in overall promotion of energy efficiency awareness. In FY 2006, EPA will
present its fourth annual "Btu Buster" and "H2Overachiver" awards to facility managers that have reduced
the largest volume or percentage of their facilities' energy use and significantly cut water consumption, as
well as recognize employees who have led cutting-edge projects or partnered with EPA's facility
organizations to reduce energy during FY 2006.
Performance Evaluations
Employees who have energy management responsibilities will continue to be evaluated annually
against criteria based on the Agency's energy management principles.
-------
Training and Education
Using several education and training programs, EPA will continue to ensure that employees are
aware of the latest technologies and opportunities to increase energy efficiency.
• Laboratories for the 21st Century: SFPB's Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) program, a
joint partnership between EPA and DOE dedicated to improving the environmental performance
of U.S. laboratories, will continue to support a Web site, workshops, e-mail network, and annual
conference in FY 2006. Approximately 35 EPA employees attended the October 2005 conference
in Portland, Oregon. The 2006 conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas, October 17-19.
Details on registration, the annual call for papers, and other details are available on the Labs21
Web site at . Labs21 will also continue to hold its one-day workshops
on energy-efficient laboratory design and operations throughout FY 2006.
• Green Online Ordering System. EPA's on-line, "green" credit card ordering system under a
blanket purchase agreement (BPA) is now mandatory for all EPA offices, so that employees can
make purchasing decisions consistent with EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Program's (EPP) guidelines. The BPA, which was launched in FY 2004 at EPA Headquarters,
consists only of non-electronic office products that meet or exceed EPA recycled content and
other EPP standards. EPA also conducts training to make green purchasing easier for Agency
personnel and increase such purchases throughout the Agency. Credit card purchasing guidelines
on EPA's EPP Web site also provide easy access for credit card holders to ensure their purchases
comply with environmental laws and EPA policies. The guidelines identify specific
environmental attributes to look for when selecting products, including the ENERGY STAR®
label or other energy efficiency designations.
• Energizing EPA Newsletter: EPA will continue to distribute this quarterly newsletter to all EPA
senior, program, and facility managers and other employees to keep them up to date on energy
and water conservation at new and existing laboratories, green power purchases and projects, and
energy and water efficiency activities in EPA facilities, as well as offer tips on how to conserve
energy in their own jobs and lives.
• Office of Administrative Services Web Site: The Office of Administrative Services Web site
provides the latest information on energy and water performance at EPA facilities, "how to's",
lessons learned, and basic conservation principals, energy efficiency project explanations, green
power procurement information, green fleet updates, and details on other efforts that make EPA
more efficient. In FY 2006 EPA will continue to update the site on a quarterly basis.
• Energy 2006: Approximately 1,200 federal energy managers and other employees attend this
annual conference, which covers topics such as commissioning, energy savings performance
contracts, green power, and sustainable building design. EPA will be actively marketing the
conference internally to EPA managers, facility managers, and green building policy staff.
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Showcase Facilities
EPA anticipates nominating its new regional office in Denver and the Child Care Center in
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina as showcase facilities in FY 2006.
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SECTION II: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
EPA is committed to continuing to use a variety of strategies to reduce energy consumption and
improve energy and water efficiency in its facilities, including: sustainable and energy-efficient new
building design; energy master planning; commissioning, re-commissioning, and retro-commissioning;
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) assessments; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
system upgrades; focusing on large energy users; green power and renewable energy certificate
purchases; and water conservation efforts. As a key component of this effort, and to focus limited
resources, EPA will make energy issues at its facilities in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina
its top priority. These facilities use 50 percent of EPA's reportable energy and present tremendous
opportunities for energy savings.
OVERALL STRATEGY
The Agency will continue to implement its five-part energy conservation strategy in FY 2006:
• Promoting sustainable and energy-efficient design in its new buildings and leases, so that new
buildings entering the inventory are less energy-intensive and more sustainable than the ones they
replace. EPA will also implement mandatory commissioning of new buildings.
• Improving the operation of existing buildings in the near term through re- and retro-
commissioning and O& M program assessments.
• Designing and constructing physical mechanical system changes to achieve energy savings in the
long run. EPA will also implement mandatory commissioning of major mechanical system
projects.
• Concentrating efforts where the most opportunities are, at the Agency's largest energy consuming
facilities. Regardless of size, however, EPA will also implement energy conservation projects at
smaller laboratories where funding, local management, and local staff support exist.
• Purchasing green power, which will always serve as an important component of EPA's balanced
effort to reduce its environmental footprint.
Addressing energy efficiency in RTP is critical to meeting the new requirements of EPAct 2005,
because these facilities not only represent 50 percent of EPA's energy consumption, but four of EPA's
five highest energy users on a Btu per gross square foot per year basis are in the RTP complex.
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LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS
When designing, constructing, and maintaining its facilities, EPA will seek to maximize energy
and water efficiency and incorporate innovative technologies that are cost-effective and environmentally
sound throughout their life cycles.
In FY 2006, EPA will continue to recognize the long-term energy and water savings from its
ESPCs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Ada, Oklahoma, completed mechanical upgrades Richmond,
California, and Narragansett, Rhode Island, and completed re-commissioning projects at Fort Meade,
Maryland. EPA only reports on laboratories that are owned by the Agency or leased under very long-
term leases. EPA will continue implementing its policy of using longer time frames to determine life-
cycle cost savings, examining savings over a 15- or 20-year time frame, as EPA has longer time frames to
recoup the taxpayers' investments in energy efficiency improvements.
FACILITY ENERGY AUDITS
In accordance with the EPAct 2005 and E.O. 13123, and to help identify opportunities for energy
system improvements, EPA's facilities will be strategically audited for energy and water efficiency. EPA
has completed energy assessments at nearly all of its laboratories and major regional offices, but the
Agency will focus on key facilities to examine new opportunities for increasing efficiencies.
Based on re-commissioning experience gained over the last two years in EPA's RTP laboratories,
and O&M assessments at its Headquarters office complex and at a major laboratory, EPA recognized that
many Agency facility managers often do not have an adequate mechanical systems background to judge
the performance of the O& M contractors, that O&M contractors frequently don't understand the
overarching concepts of the mechanical systems they run, that O and M contracts requirements may not
be rigorous enough, and that O&M contractors often don't adequately run preventative maintenance
programs. EPA has initiated a three-step O&M assessment pilot for FY 2006, which will review existing
EPA O&M contract language, evaluate O&M contractor performance, and analyze the effectiveness of
O& M contractors' preventative maintenance programs. The assessments are geared to help EPA facility
managers identify energy savings opportunities and improve building operations. EPA has targeted five
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facilities for this pilot for FY 2006. EPA believes O&M assessments are a significant step forward in
making our energy auditing more robust and effective.
FINANCING MECHANISMS
EPA will continue to use innovative financing strategies where possible and appropriate. Since
ESPC authority was extended in EPAct 2005, EPA is currently investigating new opportunities for using
the ESPC mechanism and is encouraging GSA to explore this approach at a number of EPA occupied,
GSA owned facilities.
ENERGY STAR® AND OTHER ENERGY-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS
EPA will continue promoting the purchase of energy-efficient products that carry the ENERGY
STAR label, including photocopier equipment and computers, during FY 2006. EPA employees are
encouraged to become involved and responsible participants in the Agency's energy management
activities through the EPP program, training for government purchase card users on buying energy-
efficient and sustainable products, and guides and databases that include the environmental attributes of
available products. All EPA purchase cardholders have access to the Blanket Purchase Agreement/online
green products ordering system started in FY 2004, which provides green office products and energy-
efficient office equipment. EPA newsletters including EPP Update and Energizing EPA will continue to
promote the use of energy-efficient products, provide resources to EPA purchasers, and offer employees
energy-saving tips.
ENERGY STAR BUILDINGS
Currently, the ENERGY STAR Buildings program does not encompass energy-intensive
facilities such as laboratories; therefore, EPA cannot designate its 29 laboratory facilities as ENERGY
STAR buildings. However, a re-commissioning effort at EPA's Atlanta Regional Office (a GSA owned
building) resulted in an ENERGY STAR Building certification in April 2005, and EPA's Region 10
Office in the Park Place Building in Seattle achieved its ENERGY STAR label in October 2004. The
building housing EPA's Denver regional office also has recently received the ENERGY STAR building
label. The Agency has made it a requirement that all new major office facilities (i.e. Northern Virginia,
Boston, and Denver) achieve the ENERGY STAR label. In FY 2006, EPA hopes to form a partnership
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with GSA to re-commission the GSA-owned buildings that it occupies in Chicago and New York, both of
which obtained the ENERGY STAR Building label many years ago, but have since drifted away from
good energy performance.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN
As part of its Green Buildings Vision and Policy Statement, EPA incorporates sustainable design
principles into the siting, design, and construction of new facilities, as well as the renovation and
maintenance of existing facilities. The Agency currently requires that all major newly constructed or
renovated buildings: achieve at least a minimum Silver rating from the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED®) New Construction (NC) or Existing Buildings (EB) program of the U.S.
Green Building Council; benchmark energy use and achieve the ENERGY STAR label within a fixed
post-occupancy time period; and achieve 30 percent better than the ASHRAE 90.1-(1999) energy
performance standard. The newly enacted "30 percent better than ASHRAE 90.1- (2004)" established in
the EPACT 2005, will be a much more difficult standard for federal agencies to meet, because of the
significant tightening of the ASHRAE standards. EPA looks forward to the challenges this new much
tighter standard will present.
In FY 2006, EPA will continue work on numerous sustainable design building projects, most
notably:
• Denver, Colorado. Construction of the Agency's new Region 8 Office building, a 250,000
rentable square foot facility with a build-to-suit lease, will be completed in FY 2006 and the
building ready for occupancy in the Fall of 2006. This building will be LEED™-NC Silver or
Gold.
• Arlington, Virginia. Construction for this 422,000 rentable square foot headquarters satellite
facility in Northern Virginia will be completed in early 2006, and occupancy is anticipated in
Summer 2006. This building will be LEED™-NC Silver or Gold.
• Boston, Massachusetts. EPA will continue working with GSA to rehabilitate and renovate the
McCormack Post Office and Courthouse. EPA will occupy 225,000 square feet in the building,
which will house EPA's New England Regional Office and is expected to be ready for occupancy
in late FY 2008. This building will be LEED™-NC certified or Silver.
• Cincinnati, Ohio. Construction of the second Research Support Annex for EPA's Andrew W.
Breidenbach Environmental Research Center (AWBERC) was awarded in September 2005. By
providing 42,400 square feet of additional office space, Annex 2 will free up space in AWBERC
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that can be converted to accommodate new, more energy efficient laboratories. This building will
be LEED™-NC Gold.
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Construction of a new childcare facility in RTF that
began in April 2004 was completed in November 2005. This building was designed and
constructed to the LEED™-NC Silver standard. The 25,400 square foot facility replaces the
current center and allows EPA to extend services to 54 additional children of federal employees.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN LEASE PROVISIONS
GSA leases most of the office buildings EPA occupies. When EPA needs new office space, the
Agency works with GSA to lease existing buildings or newly constructed build-to-suit facilities that meet
minimum environmental performance standards. The Agency requires that all major newly constructed
office buildings achieve the ENERGY STAR® label for buildings. EPA has historically required a 30
percent better energy performance than ASHRAE 90.1-(1999) requirements. In FY 2006, EPA will
continue working closely with GSA to achieve superior energy performance for the Agency's new offices
in Denver and Northern Virginia, including a commissioning effort at both facilities.
INDUSTRIAL FACILITY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
In coordination with its energy master planning exercise, in FY 2006 the Agency intends to
expend its greatest facility improvement efforts on several buildings in Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina. The following are just a few of the improvements that will be underway in FY 2006:
• New Main: One of EPA's current priorities is to properly meter the facility; a contract for a Web-
based metering and energy management system was awarded in May 2005, and the project was
substantially completed in December 2005. An office re-commissioning pilot project designed to
ensure proper operation of the VAV boxes and economizers and appropriate integration with the
building automation system will be completed in FY 2006. If reconfiguring works on one "pilot"
air-handling unit (AHU), EPA will apply it to all the office AHUs, for an energy savings of
approximately 15 percent.
Humidification problems that first appeared in FY 2004 in one of the four main laboratory wings
(the "A" Wing or the animal wing) have turned into an energy savings opportunity. In February
2006, EPA expects to complete a humidity system upgrade for the A wing, including heat
recovery. Together, these projects should solve humidification problems in the A wing and save
25 to 30 percent of the energy used in the A wing, for a savings to taxpayers of approximately
$200,000 per year. In addition to this project, the A wing is reconfiguring its controls to reduce
airflow in the vivarium laboratory 10 to 15 percent, which will result in a 1 to 2 percent campus-
wide energy use reduction.
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• Human Studies Laboratory. As the third and fourth steps in a major re-commissioning effort
begun in FY 2004, a major re-design of two major air handling systems, AHU #1 and AHU #2,
should be completed in FY 2006 and construction should start on a glycol heating and domestic
hot water project if funding is secured.
• National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory. Mechanical engineers
developed an implementation plan for energy savings opportunities identified in a Fall 2003
energy audit. They completed the implementation plan in spring 2004. Contracting for some of
the identified opportunities should be awarded in FY 2006 and FY 2007.
The following efficiency improvement opportunities are also underway or being considered for
other EPA facilities in FY 2006:
Athens, Georgia: During FY 2006, EPA is incorporating long-term security and sustainability
planning into the master planning process at its two Athens, Georgia, laboratories, including
numerous efficiency opportunities such as a fuel cell. Work on the plan, which was initiated in
August 2005, should be completed in FY 2006. Contracts for upgrading the master plan with
security and site sustainability assessments were awarded in August 2005. The Agency
anticipates completing design of a controls upgrade at its Ecosystem Support Division laboratory
in June 2006, with estimated energy savings of up to 10 percent.
Cincinnati, Ohio: AWBERC completed an energy master planning process in April 2003 to
replace the facility's mechanical systems over the next seven years. Design for the air-handling
units, ductwork, and exhaust systems should be completed in FY 2006.
Corvallis, Oregon: By April 2006, EPA anticipates completing a sustainable master plan for a
large-scale renovation planned at its Western Ecology Division (WED) Laboratory. The master
plan will delineate all aspects of future changes in terms of laboratories, office space, and
sustainable opportunities. The new VAV laboratory will feature high-performance fume hoods, a
state-of-the-art BAS controls system for nighttime setbacks, and a more efficient and secure
window glazing for added security and energy efficiency.
Duluth, Minnesota: At the Mid-Continent Division Laboratory, design is nearly completed and
construction is scheduled for FY 2006 for a manifold variable air volume (VAV) exhaust system
for nine laboratory modules, manifolding eight laboratory fume hoods into one exhaust fan
(versus eight existing exhaust fans) and updating the air handling unit that feeds these modules.
Manchester, Washington: During FY 2006, design will be completed on the installation of six
new high-performance fume hoods that will use 30 to 40 percent less energy than the old
versions. This is part of a multi-stage laboratory upgrade.
Richmond, California: In FY 2006, EPA should begin to fully realize energy savings of 17 to 23
percent from the mechanical upgrades completed at the Region 9 Laboratory in Summer 2005.
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HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYSTEMS
In FY 2006, EPA will monitor energy savings from a natural gas combined heat and power
(CHP) unit, part of the energy infrastructure upgrade at its Richmond, California, Region 9 Laboratory
completed in 2005. The co-generator will help conserve energy while serving both electricity and hot
water needs. EPA will also continue to operate a geothermal heat pump at the Robert S. Ken-
Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma, which generates approximately 7,800 MMBtus each
year and helps augment the facility's use of electricity and natural gas.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
EPA will continue to use and study distributed generation technologies to diversify its electric
resources and provide more reliable, off-grid resources for uninterrupted power needs at its labs:
• Ann Arbor, Michigan: A 200 kW natural gas fuel cell, installed in FY 2001, provides heating
water for the reheat water loop serving the air handling units. By integrating the heating and
cooling plant, EPA recovers significant amounts of energy that would have otherwise been
wasted in cooling towers or radiators.
• Chelmsford, Massachusetts: Solar awnings with a capacity of 2,000 watts will continue to supply
electricity daily to the regional electric grid and will provide shade for the facility's office
windows, thus reducing the amount of cooling needed
• Corvallis, Oregon: The Western Ecology Division Laboratory installed 60 150-watt PV panels
and a 9.5 kW grid-tied PV inverter to convert the power for use by the laboratory in December
2004. The system is designed with an energy meter to measure the amount of electricity produced
by the PV array.
• Edison, New Jersey: The laboratory has three solar water-heating systems, allowing the building
to rely on the electrical systems only for auxiliary water heating.
• Golden, Colorado: EPA utilizes a transpired solar collector panel for the south wall of the
facility's hazardous materials building. The solar panel saves energy by preheating ventilated air
when heating is required.
• Manchester, Washington: The facility will continue to utilize a net metering system that includes
28 solar panels.
• Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: A 100-kW roof-top solar array contributes to electricity
use reduction at RTF's National Computer Center. In addition, solar street lights operate
throughout the facility.
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San Francisco, California: The Region 9 Child Care and Fitness Center will continue to use a
solar water heater to offset the natural gas consumed by the previous gas-fired water heating
system.
ELECTRICAL LOAD REDUCTION MEASURES
Following are just a few examples of how EPA will continue to do its part to reduce its buildings'
electricity loads during peak times and throughout the day:
# Better Mechanical Controls: The Environmental Services Branch Laboratory in Houston, Texas,
incorporates a night setback system to control exhaust fans, fume hoods, and supply air. The
Region 8 Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, employs nighttime setbacks for the ventilation system
and direct digital controls to monitor the FfVAC system as part of its energy-efficient operations.
# Occupancy Sensors and Timers: Motion sensors controlling general lighting and timers
controlling exterior lighting are installed throughout EPA's Region 7 Office building. EPA's
Region 4 Office in Atlanta installed occupancy sensors as standard operating procedure, in
addition to adjusting after-hours energy usage and banning space heaters. A lighting
control/automatic shutoff system was phased in to the New Main facility in RTP from June to
October 2003 to reduce the amount of electricity needed for lighting the building. EPA's
laboratory in Gulf Breeze, Florida, utilizes timers on approximately 20 electric water heaters to
save energy during off-peak hours.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
A total of 30 EPA facilities are already receiving more than 225 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per
year of electricity from renewable sources. As of October 1, 2005, the Agency placed number two on the
EPA Green Power Partnership's list of top renewable energy purchasers; in FY 2006 EPA will continue
to work toward a goal of purchasing green power or renewable energy certificates for 100 percent of the
Agency's electricity needs. Green power contracts up for renewal in FY 2006 include the Region 5
Office in Chicago and laboratories in Fort Meade, Maryland, and Houston, Texas. New facilities to be
served by green power in FY 2006 include the Dallas Regional Office and the Potomac Yard Office
building in Northern Virginia.
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WATER CONSERVATION
EPA will continue to implement its water conservation initiative in FY 2006, including:
collecting and analyzing water use data in each of its facilities; developing and implementing water
management plans; conducting in-depth water assessments at select laboratories; and investigating water
conservation projects. EPA's Region 8 Laboratory in Golden, Colorado will be completing a feasibility
study to assess water conservation opportunities. The study will identify strategies, as well as project
costs, benefits, and payback periods for water saving methods such as xeriscaping, which could save
nearly 17 percent of the laboratory's total water consumption, or about 750,000 gallons per year
December 15, 2005
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