August 7, 2006—The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently released a report on its environmental initiatives, says it has gone beyond being “green powered” by such actions as installing on-site solar and wind power systems and purchasing renewable energy certificates.
The Laboratory is employing renewable energy to offset not only the total energy use of its buildings, but the energy used by NREL vehicles, employee commuting, air travel, and other “life cycle” energy consumption as well.
Other accomplishments include:
- The Laboratory exceeded its five-year goal as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders Partnership, having cut overall greenhouse gas emissions more than 10 percent since 2000.
- Several of NREL’s laboratory buildings are among the most energy efficient of all comparable federal facilities, while on-site electricity production from wind turbines and solar electric systems contributes 138,000 kilowatt hours annually to the Laboratory’s power needs.
- At NREL’s National Wind Technology Center in Colorado, when wind turbines used for research and development are operating, the electricity they generate is used to meet on-site power needs. Thermal energy sources include solar hot water systems and ventilation air-preheat systems. Passive solar heating and daylighting are used extensively.
- All new construction at NREL is committed to exceed the current Federal Model Energy Code by at least 30 percent.
- The Laboratory’s new Science and Technology Facility, a 71,000-square-foot laboratory structure scheduled for completion in the summer of 2006, is projected to use 38 percent less energy than the “base building” standard and was designed in accordance with criteria for Gold-level LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
- NREL’s comprehensive energy management program also includes retrofitting with new energy-efficient equipment and devices, peak demand management, an energy monitoring and metering project, as well as regular staff education on energy-reduction practices.
These achievements are particularly noteworthy for an institution of its size and scope–NREL encompasses 618 acres on several sites, with 665,000 square feet of laboratory and office space, housing more than 1,100 researchers and support staff.
NREL has played an important role in reducing energy consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy across the entire federal government, largely through the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also credited NREL as being “a world leader” with “numerous important advances in photovoltaics, wind energy, building technology, advanced vehicle and automotive systems, solar thermal electric, hydrogen, superconductivity, geothermal power, and distributed energy.”
