Manchester, Washington - Archive

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

Region 10 Laboratory

This page houses older environmental information about EPA's Region 10 Laboratory in Manchester, Washington. View the laboratory's current facility page.

In FY 2005, EPA completed the replacement of the facility's fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient fixtures, such as T8 tubes, electronic ballasts, and light-emitting diode lights. EPA also installed occupancy sensors in several restrooms to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
In FY 2004, EPA began a project to renovate the Region 9 Laboratory's fume hood systems. Phase one focused on the design, construction, and commissioning of new systems, including six new variable air volume (VAV) fume hoods. In FY 2006, in the second phase of renovation, EPA focused on the design, construction, and commissioning of six new high-performance fume hoods, which are designed to use 30 to 40 percent less energy than conventional, constant volume systems.

In an effort to reduce water and energy usage at the laboratory, employees suggested utilizing the facility's autoclave stand-by function. By reducing the use and water consumption of the autoclaves an estimated 60,000 gallons of water were saved.
In 1998, the laboratory replaced its 4-inch PVC water lines with 6-inch ductile iron water lines. The bigger, stronger lines reduce the frequency of leaks and reduce the laboratory's overall water consumption rate. The laboratory also replaced a 20-year-old water cooling tower with a new, more efficient tower, which reduced the water and energy usage of the cooling system.