Kansas City, Kansas - Archive

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Region 7 Office

This page houses older energy and environmental information about EPA's Region 7 Office in Kansas City, Kansas. View the current facility page for the Region 7 Office.

In June 1999, Region 7 Headquarters moved into a new building in Kansas City, Kansas. Built on a brownfield site, the Kansas City regional office was designed to reflect a transition from residential neighborhoods to commercial district. In addition, the building features many award-winning design attributes including a four-story, light-filled atrium that provides natural lighting for most of the office space. EPA's 10-year lease expired in 2009, and in April 2011 EPA announced plans to move the Region 7 Office into a new building.

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

Installation of a small chiller, completed in December 2001, can serve 24 hour-a-day loads such as the computer room and allow the two large main chillers to shut down at night, on weekends, and during the winter (when overall building cooling needs are low). Large chillers operating at low loads operate inefficiently. The addition of the pony chiller has reduced energy use by at least 10 percent.
All occupied spaces contain motion sensors which control general lighting, while timers control the exterior lighting, conserving energy throughout the building.

Green Power

In October 2004, EPA began a three year contract to purchase green power in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs) for its Region 7 Office. The purchase, which represented 100 percent of the facility's electricity use, helped support the annual generation of 4.45 million kilowatt hours (kWh) from the Gray County Wind Farm near Montezuma, Kansas. The wind farm consists of 170 turbines capable of generating 110-megawatts of electricity.

Other Features

EPA obtained an Economic Development Rate Rider, which offered a 5-year, stepped discount on the cost of electric service and resulted in an estimated energy and maintenance cost savings of $1.2 million during the 10-year EPA lease.