Federal Green Challenge - Energy
Green Challenge Target Areas
Fast Facts
- Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent one saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Compact fluorescent lamps also cost about 75% less to operate and last about 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.
- Typical exit signs lit with 15-watt incandescent bulbs cost about $30 a year to operate and need replacement lamps every year. Light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs cost about $5 a year to operate and can last 25 years without a lamp replacement.
- Flat screen LCD computer monitors use significantly less energy than traditional tube monitors, notebook computers use much less energy than desktop computers, and inkjet printers use less energy than laser printers.
- Repairing a seal that leaks a drop of water every five seconds can save money and hundreds of gallons of water per year. And if it is a hot water leak, you can save even more.
- Unplug electronics or switch off the power strip when they are not in use. Computers, printers, copiers, TVs, microwaves, coffee machines, etc. consume energy even when they are turned off. Such vampire energy amounts to about 5% of energy consumed in the United States.
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On this page: Set Your Goals | Partnership Opportunities | Set Baseline | Actions to Achieve Goals | Measuring & Tracking | Awards | Case Studies | Additional Resources
Set Your Goals - Energy
- Improve energy efficiency through reduction of energy intensity by:
- 3% annually through the end of FY 2015; or
- 30% by the end of FY 2015, relative to the FY 2003 baseline.
- Generate renewable energy on site for agency use, to the extent feasible; and
- Ensure that at least 50% of the statutorily required renewable energy consumed in a fiscal year comes from new renewable sources.
Federal Green Challenge
By July 2009, relative to your 2006 or 2007 baseline:
- Reduce kWhs electricity, cubic feet natural gas, and/or gallons fuel oil used per year by 5% or more; and
- Increase renewable energy use by 5% or more.
Partnership Opportunities - Energy
Partner with Energy Star, a voluntary joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. As of April 2008, 25 federal facilities have partnered with Energy Star. Energy Star helps your facility take control of energy use by providing you the best information, tools, and resources for improving energy efficiency. As a partner, you’ll measure, track, and benchmark your energy performance; develop and implement a plan to improve your energy performance, adopt the Energy Star strategy; and educate your staff and the public about your partnership and achievements. Online Energy Star Partner Registration
Join the Green Power Partnership, a voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Green Power Partnership encourages facilities to buy green power as a way to lessen the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. As a Green Power Partner, you will receive expert technical advice, credible information, tools and resources, and publicity and recognition. Online Green Power Partnership Registration
National Parks: Join the Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program, a collaboration of the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The program has a three-pronged approach: (1) measure park-based greenhouse gas emissions (inventory); (2) develop sustainable strategies to mitigate these emissions and adapt to climate change impacts (action planning); and (3) educate the public about these efforts (education and outreach). Required CFP action plans include Energy, Transportation, and Waste. As a CFP, you’ll get inventory, action planning, and education and outreach support. More Information about the CFP Program.
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Set Baseline - Energy
Gather and track data.
- Use energy bills, meter readings, and other applicable data sources. Gather at least two years of monthly data or a more frequent interval, if available.
- Install metering devices that measure consumption of electricity and thermal energy to the maximum extent practicable.
- Track performance using Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager
- Incorporate collected data into federal tracking systems so it is made available to federal facility managers.
Set baseline. Use data to establish a baseline year, which can be a recent weather-normalized year or an average of several historical years. A baseline should be established for all levels appropriate to your facility. Energy Star's Portfolio Manager is designed to help you establish a baseline:
Benchmark. Compare the energy performance of your facility to the performance of other similar facilities using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
Analyze energy use patterns and trends. Use data to identify patterns and trends in facility energy consumption.
Perform technical assessments and audits of facility system and equipment performance. Compare the actual performance of a facility’s systems and equipment against expected design performance level or against best available technology.
For the Federal Green Challenge, determine (at a minimum) total energy use (kWhs electricity, cubic feet natural gas, and gallons fuel oil) and percent of energy supplied by renewable energy (e.g., wind or solar) in 2006 or 2007.
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Actions to Achieve Goals - Energy
Energy Efficiency
Easy
Lighting
More Information (PDF) (24pp, 1MB)
- Turn off lights when not in use.
- Use compact fluorescent lamps. Choose T8s rather than T12s.
- Use photo-sensors on outdoor lights.
- Remove lights from areas that have adequate light.
- Calibrate lighting controls.
- Replace magnetic ballasts with basic or premium electronic ballasts.
- Replace incandescent exit signs with LED exit signs.
Equipment Upgrades and Settings
More Information (PDF) (24pp, 1MB)
- Purchase energy efficient equipment. Federal buyers are required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to purchase products that are Energy Star-qualified or FEMP-designated.
- Enable power management features on computers and monitors to allow them to “sleep” or shutdown when inactive. Use power management software to centrally control computer and monitor power management. More information on office power management and software options
- Check equipment to make sure that it complies with Federal Energy Management Program recommendations for low standby power consumption.
- Turn off office equipment at night, over the weekend, and during holidays.
- Plug equipment into surge protectors, then turn these off when not in use.
Medium
Recommissioning
More Information (PDF) (19pp, 874K)
Recommissioning or Building Tune-Up is the comparison of actual building equipment systems operation and maintenance procedures against intended or design operation and maintenance procedures.
- Calibrate building controls such as thermostats and occupancy sensors.
- Adjust operating schedules to ensure equipment is on only when necessary.
- Check for leaking or improperly functioning steam traps.
- Clean heat exchanger tubes in the condenser, evaporator, and boiler to maintain optimal efficiency.
Fan Systems
More Information (PDF) (20pp, 1.5MB)
- Rightsize your fan system. Rightsizing can be accomplished by installing larger pulleys (sheaves), adjusting static pressure, and/or replacing the fan’s motor with a smaller, energy-efficient motor.
- Use variable-speed drives (VSDs) when possible. VSDs should be considered as a retrofit for all variable air volume (VAV) systems.
- Improve controls.
- Install smaller and more energy efficient motors.
- Replace drive belts regularly. Drive belts should be a standard replacement part in your building maintenance program, requiring replacement every few months. Use energy efficient belts (e.g., cogged V-belts or synchronous belts).
Harder
Ventilation Upgrades
More Information (PDF) (24pp, 1MB)
- Control ventilation rates to meet minimum requirements.
- Install air side cooling economizer cycle.
- Utilize energy recovery equipment (i.e., heat pipes and heat wheels).
Building Envelope Upgrades
More Information (PDF) (24pp, 1MB)
- Use window films and/or shading.
- Insulate roof.
Heating and Cooling
More Information (PDF) (32pp, 667K)
- Rightsize your heating and cooling loads.
- Replace your chillers with new, more energy-efficient, non-chlorofluorcarbon (CFC) models.
- Implement cooling system efficiency strategies such as free cooling.
- Install variable-speed drives (VSDs) on your pumps and cooling tower fans.
- Replace older boilers and furnaces or upgrade components and controls of existing units.
- Replace older unitary equipment with high efficiency equivalents or heat pumps.
Renewable Energy
Easy
Purchase renewable energy.
Purchasing renewable electricity and renewable energy certificates (RECs) require no up-front capital and are relatively easy to procure. REC quality, not just price, should be evaluated. RECs deliver benefits only for the term of the purchase contract. Options available depend upon the state where the facility is located.
Options Available By Facility Location.
Use the Green Power Locator to determine what is available in the state where the facility is located.
Harder
Design and install on-site renewable technologies that will contribute to the total energy requirements of the facility. Consider and employ solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and biogas technologies. On-site renewable generation requires an up-front investment but the reduction in the consumption of conventional energy can last for as many as 30 years.
Financing.
- Use Energy Savings Performance Contracting (“ESPC”) and Utility Energy Savings Contracting (“UESC”) programs to finance energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy projects. $1.9 billion has been invested in U.S. federal facilities through ESPCs, saving 16 trillion Btu annually. Similarly, more than 45 electric and gas utilities have provided project financing for energy and water efficiency upgrades at Federal facilities, investing more than $600 million through UESCs since 1995. Learn more about: ESPCs | UESCs
- Utilize Enhanced Use Leasing. This tool can be utilized for large or long-term renewable and cogeneration projects when appropriate and authorized. Presentations: Business Model and Case (PDF) (15pp, 622K)| Executive Synopsis of the process and Case Study (PDF) (16pp, 727K)
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Measuring & Tracking - Energy
At 6 and 12 months, check progress on achieving your goals. An energy audit of at least 10% of the facilities’ square footage should be conducted annually. For the Federal Green Challenge, check your total energy use (kWhs electricity, cubic feet natural gas, and gallons fuel oil), percent of energy supplied by renewable energy, and progress towards your set goals.
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Awards - Energy
Federal Green Challenge Partner Recognition
Apply for recognition for your accomplishments under the Federal Green Challenge through the Champions of Green Government recognition program.
Energy Star Awards
Each year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy honor facilities that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency.
Federal Energy and Water Management Award
Each year the U.S. Department of Energy, in conjunction with the Federal Interagency Energy Policy Committee ("656” Committee), sponsors the Federal Energy and Water Management Awards. These awards honor individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the efficient use of energy and water resources in the federal government. More Information
Green Power Leadership Award
Each year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy honor the actions of individuals, companies, and organizations that are significantly advancing the development of renewable electricity sources through green power markets. There are three categories in which awards are given: Green Power Partner of the Year, On-Site Generation, and Green Power Purchase. More information and past award winnersTop of page
Case Studies - Energy
National Park Service, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma
At Buckhorn Campground in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the hot water for one large comfort station and two small ones is supplied completely by solar water heating systems. There are no backup systems. The large station solar system supplies 18,194 kWh per year and has a hot water storage capacity of 1,000 gallons whereas the small station solar systems each supply 9,400 kWh per year and have a hot water storage capacity of 500 gallons. With most visitors coming to Chickasaw in the summertime, solar is the perfect water heat source for comfort stations as the demand for hot water coincides with an abundance of sunlight. Complete case study (PDF) (4pp, 211K)
U.S. Air Force
The U.S. Air Force tops the list of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007 ten best federal Green Power Partners. In fact, its purchase of 457 million kilowatt-hours of green power makes it one of the largest purchasers of green power in the Nation. While this purchase accounts for only 4% of the total electricity used by the U.S. Air Force, some bases are powered entirely by green power. Take Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota for example. A purchase of 104,000 megawatt hours from its local utility represents 100% of the base’s annual electricity load. The source of the power is two wind turbines located just south of the base. Green power purchases happening at U.S. Air Force Bases across the country
U.S. Army, Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington
Building Operator Certification (BOC) graduate Jim Flannery, Mechanical Lead at Fort Lewis Army Base in Tacoma, Washington believes that improving energy efficiency cannot be done with equipment alone. People’s practices and decisions play an important role. BOC training is part of the larger, cultural evolution towards energy efficiency that is happening at Fort Lewis. After the base hosted an on-site BOC training for 25 of its staff, individuals that are responsible for daily operations have the training they need to maintain gains in efficiency achieved through process and equipment changes. A 2002 independent evaluation reported that the BOC program saves the average building on an annual basis: 0.5 Kwh of electricity per square foot, 1.95 million BTU of fossil fuels per 1,000 square feet, and 0.162 gallons of water per square foot. Complete case study (PDF) (2pp, 478K)
U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Using an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), the Department of the Navy partnered with NORESCO to construct a $12 million wind turbine project at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Four wind turbines will supply 3,800 kilowatts of electricity, saving $1.2 million in annual energy costs, 650,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and reducing air pollution by 26 tons of SO2 and 15 tons of NOx. More details (PDF) (1pp, 320K)
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Additional Resources - Energy
Major Utilities in Region 10
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Definitions on this page
“Energy Intensity” means energy consumption per square foot of building space, including industrial or laboratory facilities.
“New Renewable Sources” means sources of renewable energy placed into service after January 1, 1999.
“Renewable Energy” means energy produced by solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project.
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