Energy targets for federal facilities have been around since the 70’s. The most recent and ambitious are contained in the Executive Order 13514 by President Obama in October 2009. There are 24 goals or targets identified related to federal facilities and functions. Most prominent are the energy, green house gases and water reduction requirements for facilities and automotive fleets. These goals include:• Reducing facility energy intensity by 3% annually or by 30% by 2015 with 2003 as a baseline.
• Reducing facility green house gases emissions (GHG) by 3% annually or by 30% by 2015 with 2008 as a baseline.
• Reducing potable water consumption 2% annually or by 26% by 2020 with 2007 as the baseline.
• Reducing automotive fleet fuel consumption by 2% annually by 2020 with 2005 as a baseline.
Nationally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has already reduced its energy intensity by 12.3 percent since 2003 and plans to achieve a further 3 percent reduction each year. For reducing environmental impacts by applying best practices in energy and environmental efficiency, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center achieved two Green Globes last year. Only the top 15% of medical centers receive this award, which is obtained through third party certification.
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center has done a number of projects to reduce energy consumption and costs. Among them are:
• Installation of Advanced Electric Meters for bill verification and to help gauge usage throughout the billing cycle.
• Re-cycled laundry heat and water.
• Retrofitted parking garage with LED technology.
• Began work on the installation of a new high efficiency and green chill water system to reduce the cost of air conditioning operation.
• Installed lighting controls on interstitial space fixtures.
• Built new Cancer Center with the latest technology in heating ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting controls.
The facility has additional energy saving projects in the works for Fiscal Year 2011 which include:
• Dedicated computer/telecom cooling units to reduce costs associated with computer generation of heat and subsequent increases in air condition usage.
• Boiler efficiency upgrades.
• Outside air controls to offset air conditioning and heating usage.
• High efficiency fan system retrofits.
These projects will enable the West Palm Beach Medical VA Medical Center meet the government mandated goals for energy and water reductions by 2015.
