Energy Use Ideas

Denver West lights need to be shut off at night
I know the employees at the Lab are very energy-conscious and have a habit of turning off the lights in their offices upon leaving in the evening. However, I have driven past the office complex (Denver West) many evenings and found that every office light on every floor is turned on at the same time. I assume that this is partly due to the janitorial procedures, and that the lights are eventually turned off. It seems to me that there is an opportunity to reduce our night time energy consumption - and, thus, our electricity bill - by getting a better understanding of why all of the lights are on, and if there is a potentially better solution.

• Response: Protective force officers are responsible for turning off lights in their daily patrol duties, particularly when there is no one in the office or area of the building (and after the janitorial staff has left). However, management is going to ensure that this is reinforced with the security group. We'd also appreciate it if staff could provide input on any specific areas that seem to still need improvement with this practice. We also want to remind staff that is their responsibility to turn off their work-space lights when they leave! (December 2004)

Motion-sensor lights should be used in office spaces
The task lighting around offices are not activated by motion sensors. I notice on weekends and off-hours that many who use task lighting do not turn it off when they are out of their office or at the end of the day. Plugging in the task lighting to a motion sensor would turn off the lights when people are not in their office.

• Response: Many of the plug-strip motion sensors that NREL installed in the past were removed because the users didn't like them. The old-style lights also had a high failure rate and are no longer available. Site Operations was providing watt-stopper power strips to newly remodeled areas for lighting control, but most of the motion sensors were removed and discarded by the space occupants. They quit providing them because, at $50-70 each, there were too many not being used. Staff can contact Site Operations on an individual basis if they would like to voluntarily install the devices. (December 2004)

Efficient building systems would reduce energy use
Here is my suggestion for reducing energy consumption at NREL. How about we invest some effort into getting the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to run properly in buildings, so that people don't bring in space heaters and fans to keep warm/cool? Space heaters, in particular, consume a lot of energy.

• Response: Considerable investment and time is dedicated to upgrading and controlling the Laboratory's HVAC systems. We agree that the use of space heaters and fans should be avoided if at all possible. While this is a great suggestion, the fact that some of our buildings are leased puts a limit on our jurisdiction regarding this issue. We have control over the HVAC systems in buildings on the main campus, but little control over the leased buildings (buildings 27, 15, 16, and 17). However, we carefully monitor these systems in our NREL-owned buildings and consider it a key issue in controlling energy use. (September 2003)

Alternative work schedule (9-80) could help reduce facility energy use
I have a friend who works for the EPA. His facility is on a 9-80 work schedule (work 80 hours in 9 days instead of 10). Every other Friday becomes essentially a weekend day for the staff and for the building. I think that this work schedule is something that NREL could consider as a means to reduce facility energy use (by going to a weekend schedule for an extra day per pay period), transportation energy use (by having everyone come to the office one less day per week) and reduce support costs (janitorial, etc.) as well. If Sustainable NREL has any funds, it would be very interesting to have the Buildings Center do a study to quantify the energy reduction of this work schedule or others.

• Response: We would like to get more information on this 9-80 program. Please help us identify a contact (and the facility or facilities) at the EPA who is using this program. Programs similar to the 9-80 program have been implemented here at NREL. The Laboratory has an Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) program. In response to input received in the FY02 Staff Survey, the Laboratory implemented a pilot telecommuting program. This pilot ended September 30, 2003. Results of this pilot are expected in early FY04. Also, regarding your idea for a study, one of the major goals for Sustainable NREL in 2004 is to develop metrics for all of our SN activities - building energy use already is one of our priorities (we've developed a database that displays energy-use data). This data could be used to evaluate the benefits of ideas such as yours. (September 2003)

Computers should be turned off when not in use
I know that there are several people at NREL who leave both their computers and monitors on 24/7. We need to find a way to prevent this waste of energy.

• Updated response: Sustainable NREL and the IS Client Services group deployed a power-management tool to PC desktops throughout the Lab in April of 2003. Based on the data collected, power-management setting changes will be recommended for NREL's computers and monitors. This program offers a significant opportunity for energy-use reduction and cost savings. Watch this Web site for progress reports. (May 2003)
  
• Response: It seems to us that first we need to find out some further information, and then suggest solutions. We will do a quick staff poll to find out why some people leave their computers on 24/7, and then use NREL Now and the Sustainable NREL Web site to share facts (for instance, how much energy that actually uses) and suggest ways to encourage people to turn them off. (January 2001)

Departments should share costs for light sensor
I am part of a group that enjoys the services of a shared kitchen space. The kitchen is in our section of the floor and lacks an occupancy sensor for the light. Because this is in a shared space, it would not be in our best interest to charge this to our overhead budget. I think it should be part of NREL's overall effort toward energy efficiency, and not require a specific task number in order to have the work done.

• Response: NREL puts occupancy sensors in all new buildings. Leased buildings are a different issue, and this requestor is in Building 16. Ed Weideman (Site Operations) is checking to be sure, but the cost of an occupancy sensor (the parts and installation by Denver West) is roughly $100. Obviously, $100 for this one opportunity won't make or break anyone's budget, and occupancy sensors will always save some energy. But it raises the question of whether retrofitting occupancy sensors throughout leased space is worthwhile—and what about other retrofit energy efficiency projects in leased space? Is this the best use of $100 towards sustainability, or is $100 better spent elsewhere? We can't answer that immediately. But we do have experts on the Sustainable NREL team who are working on these questions, so we will get back with a more definitive answer on the best projects to pursue. (January 2001)

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