Golden, Colorado

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power
Water Management Plan

Region 8 Laboratory

Total Facility Area: 50,839 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 32 persons
Energy Consumption: 17,582,954,786 Btu per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 345,856
Total Water Consumption: 2,293,000 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 45.1

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2010.

Description

EPA staff at the Region 8 Laboratory perform physical, chemical, biological, and microbiological analyses of water, soil, air, plant, and tissue samples. The data generated by these studies is used in the Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP), enforcement projects, and remediation projects. Many of these projects are undertaken to ensure successful restoration of contaminated ecosystems. The Region 8 laboratory was dedicated in 1998.

Awards

Mark Burkhardt and Gregory Saunders of the Region 8 Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, received a fiscal year (FY) 2010 Leading Edge Award for their continued work investigating energy management tools and energy reduction equipment and methods during facility projects, modifications, remodels, and utility usages. Specific projects include: implementation of electrical submetering; identification and cost analyses for replacement of individual occupant task lighting to LED table top fixtures; data center/server room sub-metering and tracking; investigation of renewable energy solar equity purchasing; and electric car charging/outlet station feasibility analysis.

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

The Golden laboratory's ventilation system conserves energy after hours by reducing the system by 25 percent of its maximum volume. The system is divided into seven zones so that if employees are working late in a particular area of the facility, only that area will have 100 percent air exchange capacity.
The operating condition of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the laboratory is monitored by a direct digital control system and alerts engineers when equipment is not operating correctly or optimally, saving time, money, and energy by addressing problems immediately.
The laboratory makes extensive use of daylighting, reducing electrical lighting needs. Where additional lighting is needed, energy-efficient T-8 fluorescent bulbs are used, along with motion sensors that turn off the lights when a room is unoccupied.
The building is fitted with 1-inch thick, double-paned thermal windows with solar-flexing film. The roof has been insulated to an R value of 30.

Green Power

EPA offsets 100 percent of the electricity consumption at the Region 8 laboratory with renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased through the Agency's current blanket green power contract. Learn more about EPA's current and past blanket green power contracts.

Water Conservation

In FY 2010, Golden is pursuing a project to optimize its irrigation system by implementing auditor-provided recommendations. This project involves a complete redesign of the system to create the most water-efficient system possible. The new system is projected to save approximately 1,160,000 gallons of water per year.
In October 2003, EPA completed a water management plan (PDF) (17 pp, 326K, About PDF) for this facility.

For More Information About This Facility

Website: www.epa.gov/region8/

Gregory Saunders (saunders.gregory@epa.gov)
16194 W 45th Drive
Golden, CO 80403
Phone: (303) 312-7709
Fax: (303) 312-7800