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Energy Use

NREL manages its energy-use reduction activities through a Comprehensive Energy Management Plan (CEMP).

Executive Order 13123/DOE Order 430.2A established energy-use reduction goals for federal facilities to achieve by 2005-2010. NREL has exceeded these goals and continues to reduce its energy use (see the energy-use reduction figure).

A chart showing NREL's progress in reducing energy use from fiscal year 2001 to 2005 for electricity and natural gas, including renewable energy credits. The baseline was 350,000 BTU/ft<sup>2</sup> set in 1999. NREL used around 250,000 BTU/ft<sup>2</sup> in fiscal year 2001 through 2004, and around 150,000 BTU/ft<sup>2</sup> in fiscal year 2005.

For a larger view of the chart (MS Excel 25 MB).

Enhanced energy-use reduction and renewable energy use goals that took effect mid-2006 were established by Congress through EPAct 2005. These goals supercede the DOE Order 430.2A goals. NREL is on track to meet these goals and continues to actively pursue all cost-effective, energy-use reduction and renewable energy use opportunities.

To meet or exceed federal energy-use reduction goals, the NREL Comprehensive Energy Management Plan's primary activities include site-metering, energy-management control systems as well as:

Energy Retrofits

NREL is systematically implementing all life-cycle, cost-effective energy retrofits based on funding availability. Projects are prioritized by cost-effectiveness and implemented annually. NREL has made significant progress in implementation and is currently working to implement the longer-payback, cost-effective projects.

New Construction

NREL internal policy is that all new construction will meet at least the Silver Level of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and exceed the Federal Model Energy Code requirements by at least 30%.

The 71,000-square-foot Science and Technology Facility (S&TF), completed in July 2006, is NREL's most recent major new construction project. The Science and Technology Facility, which is a showcase for energy efficiency and sustainability, was designed and constructed at the LEED Gold Level (see sustainability features list).

An image that lists the sustainability featues of the Science and Technology Facility (S&TF) as follows: site was selected to keep the natural resources around the building intact; S&TF is located within one-half mile of a public transportation line; Roof is ENERGY STAR compliant (high reflectivity, low emissivity); rainwater will be captured for irrigation purposes; building is designed to exceed ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) 90.1-1999 requirements for energy efficiency; effective use of daylighting; no CFC-based refrigerants will be used in the heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning (HVAC&R) systems of the building; at least 50% (by weight) of the construction, demolition, and land-clearing waste will be recycled or salvaged; at least 25% of the total building materials will be composed of 20% PCW recycled content; at least 20% of the total building materials will be manufactured regionally within a radius of 500 miles; and CO (carbon monoxide) monitors will be installed to ensure that internal levels do not exceed outdoor levels by more than 530 ppm (parts per million).

The Science and Technology Facility was also constructed in accordance with Laboratories for the Twenty-First Century (LF21C) guidelines. This NREL laboratory facility incorporates features that are expected to reduce energy use by 41%, compared to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) base building. Extensive use of daylighting reduces energy needs for electric lighting; and heating, ventilation, and cooling systems reduce energy consumption by half. Other features include:

  • Chemical hoods that monitor airflow
  • Energy recovery from exhaust air to temperature-condition fresh air
  • Displacement ventilation for the offices
  • High-efficiency pumps, fans, and transformers.

A new, shared high-efficiency chiller will save energy for both the Science and Technology Facility as well as the adjoining Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF).

On-Site Renewable Energy

NREL's strategic goal is to maximize implementation of on-site renewable energy projects and, in the interim, purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) that offset the greenhouse gas emissions as characterized by the overall Laboratory life-cycle "environmental footprint," which includes energy use.

NREL uses the following renewable energy technologies:

  • Photovoltaics (PV) -NREL generates about 53,000 kWh of electricity from grid-connected PV panels each year. These panels are at the Solar Energy Research Facility, the Site Entrance Building, the Outdoor Test Facility, the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) Site Entrance Building, and the Distributed Energy Research Test Facility. There are also remote applications including signs, and walkway and parking lighting.

  • Wind turbines - The National Wind Technology Center has approximately 1,600 kW of installed wind turbine capacity used for research purposes. When the turbines are running, the energy that they produce is used to offset the simultaneous center's site energy load. The turbines produce more than 60,000 kWh per year, most of which is used to offset simultaneous site energy use.

  • Solar thermal - On-site thermal energy sources include solar hot water systems, ventilation air preheating systems, Trombe walls, etc. These combined projects represent an annual thermal output of nearly 10.2 billion Btus. There is also extensive use of passive solar and daylighting.

  • Renewable Fuel Heating Plant (RFHP) - This proposed NREL project is a wood-fired combustion boiler that would utilize forest thinnings generated as a result of Healthy Forests Initiative activities on the Front Range, as well as regional wood wastes. The Renewable Fuel Heating Plant represents a significant on-site renewables project, as it would offset nearly 75% of NREL's natural gas use. The Renewable Fuel Heating Plant will be installed through an Energy Services Performance Contract (ESPC). A final decision on this project is expected in early FY07 with operation expected to be underway by the 2007-08 heating season.

Peak Demand Management

The Comprehensive Energy Management Plan includes a peak demand management activity. This activity is facilitated by an extensive site and process-load metering system, and direct digital control (DDC) energy management system.

Education

NREL completed site metering of its U.S. Department of Energy-owned facilities in FY 2002. Beginning with FY 2003, building-by-building energy use statistics were made available to management, building managers, and building occupants as a method of providing feedback on building energy use.

A program to educate building occupants on energy-saving opportunities has also been implemented. The objective of providing feedback and education on energy-saving opportunities is to institutionalize energy-use reduction at the individual level. A Web-based building performance database of energy and water use is also available online to NREL employees.

Energy-Efficient Purchasing

NREL actively purchase energy-efficient products, including the following:

  • Computer/monitors - NREL's Information Services provides a standard hardware list of recommended ENERGY STAR products for PC and MAC computers, monitors, and peripherals. Staff is encouraged to purchase ENERGY STAR hardware items through the Buyer's Ordering Agreement (BOA) contracts. Web sites for suppliers provide energy information on standard products. Flat-panel monitors, which use significantly less energy than standard monitors, have been added to NREL's standard supply list and are now the norm for new purchases.

  • Printers - NREL configures its networked printers to enter a low-power mode of 15-45 watts or less after a period of inactivity (this time period differs with models). Seventy-seven duplex modules were purchased in FY 2001 and installed on network printers configured to default duplexing. Users can control one-sided printing through the applications print feature.

  • Office equipment - All NREL copiers, fax, and scanners are ENERGY STAR rated.

  • Appliances - All NREL refrigerators/freezers, dishwashers, and water coolers are ENERGY STAR rated.
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