Case Study: Energy System Upgrade Reduces
Natural Gas Use
The U.S. General Services Administration's Chicago Federal Center
reduced its natural gas use by 25 percent compared to the previous
year. This was accomplished through the implementation of
multiple heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and
operational improvements. The agency saved $140,000 during one
year as a result of this upgrade.
Several modifications to the center's HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air
Conditioning) system made a significant difference to GSA's energy
reduction efforts. In particular, the agency replaced all of the
system's air handlers, heating coils and perimeter fan coil units to
increase system efficiency and installed two new building
automation systems. In addition, instead of turning on boilers once
in the fall and leaving
them on until spring,
GSA has begun shutting
down the boilers during
winter warm spells.
Turning high-pressure
boilers on and off often
can cause damage to
the complex piping
system from frequent
expansion and
contraction caused by
large temperature
fluctuations. Therefore,
GSA facility engineers
must take extra care to
monitor the system
closely.
The Chicago Federal Center houses the
Dirksen Courthouse (left), the K/uczynsk/
Building (right) and the Loop Postal
Station (foreground).
Sustainable Materials Management
Federal Green Challenge
Key Topics
• Energy reduction.
• Cost savings.
Results
• Reduced natural gas use by
25 percent.
• $140,000 savings.
Facility at a Glance
• Large multi-building and
grounds complex maintained
as federal office space, a
large post office, courthouse,
outdoor public space and an
underground parking
structure.
• 6,700 employees work on
the campus, which occupies
more than an entire city
block in Chicago's downtown
business district.
• Participant since 2011 in the
FGC energy and waste
categories.
• Recipient of EPA Region 5
FGC Award: Most Improved
in the Energy category.
CHANGING HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR RESOURCES FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
United States
EnvlronmBntsI Protection
Agency
www.epa.gov/smm
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Natural Gas Use Reduction
Another important contribution to the complex's
ability to reduce energy is a GSA-reportingtool
which tracks energy use. The reporting tool taps
into the existing GSA energy usage database to
provide reports and analysis for end users such
as property managers and operations and
maintenance contractors.
The energy system upgrade was funded in part
by American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
money.
The entire GSA property management team
worked collaboratively with each other and the
center's agency occupants to implement the
upgrade. "This is a really strong group of people
that were able to work together easily to get the
HVAC upgrade completed," said Sustainability
Program Specialist Bridget Richardson.
Chicago Federal Center
Natural Gas Use
120,000
110,000
100,000
millions of
British
thermal
units of
natural gas 80,000
90,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
FY2010 FY2011
FY2012
About the Federal Green Challenge
The Federal Green Challenge, part of EPA's Sustainable Materials
Management Program, is designed to challenge federal agencies
throughout the country to lead by example in reducing the federal
government's environmental impact. It helps agencies meet obligations
under Executive Orders 13514 and 13423.
In 2012, nearly 300 federal agencies, representing more than 500,000
employees participated in the Federal Green Challenge. Their combined
efforts resulted in an estimated cost savings of more than $31 million to
U.S. taxpayers.
For More
Information
GSA's Chicago Federal Center
contact:
Bridget Richardson
312-385-3038
bridget.richardson@gsa.gov
Federal Green Challenge:
http://epa.gov/fgc
Region 5, Land and Chemicals Division, Materials Management Branch
EPA-905-14-011
February 2014
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