Cincinnati, Ohio

Photo of Cincinnati Annex 2 under construction.

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power

Laboratory Annex 2

Total Facility Area: 42,400 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 70
Energy Consumption: not available
Btu per GSF per Year: not available
Total Water Consumption: not available
Gallons per GSF per year: not available

Description

EPA is in the process of constructing a 42,400 gross square foot Research Support Annex for the Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center (AWBERC) located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The second annex to AWBERC, also known as Annex 2, will serve as a temporary swing space for AWBERC employees during the Infrastructure Replacement Project (IRP). IRP is a multi-year, multi-phase, multi-million dollar project that will replace all of the air handlers, vertical and horizontal supply ductwork, control systems, exhaust systems, and associated equipment at AWBERC. The north wing of Annex 2 will serve as the permanent home for EPA's National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC). Annex 2 will also free up office space in AWBERC that can be converted to accommodate new laboratories. The building, which will house approximately 70 personnel, is expected to be completed in early fall 2007.

2007 Award Winner

Cincinnati Annex 2 Construction Photos

Ariel photo of Cincinnati Annex 1 and 2.

Unique Environmental Features

Annex 2 is designed to receive the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ^®) Gold-level certification. The LEED rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance, green buildings, which promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability. View the preliminary LEED scorecard for Annex 2 (PDF) (1 pg, 54 K, About PDF).

In order to ensure maximum building performance, EPA hired a third party, SFA Architects , to make sure the building’s systems and controls function properly once construction is complete and the tenants move in. SFA Architects will then return to the facility in 10 months from completion to verify that all systems are still operating properly.

Energy Conservation

Annex 2 features state-of-the-art, energy-efficient building systems, including temperature controls, variable air volume air and water side economizers that allow for 100 percent outside air ventilation when possible, and under-the-floor ventilation that reduces energy use by 5 to 7 percent. The ventilation system also allows for optimum comfort levels for building occupants.
Because of its energy-efficient design, no additional heating or cooling equipment needed to be installed in Annex 2. The facility draws all of its heating and cooling needs from the existing primary system located in the main AWBERC building.
Extensive daylighting around the perimeter of the building, a skylight in the ceiling, and occupancy sensors throughout the building combine to provide maximum daylight exposure and minimize the use of artificial light.
Advanced metering at the facility, including sub-metering for electrical and water use, will help building facility managers to identify and fix any power drains and water leaks before they continue or get worse.

Green Power

In October 2004, EPA extended its green power contract for 100 percent of the electricity consumption at the three main Cincinnati facilities. This renewed contract provides more than 15 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually for three years. Since these REC deliveries in fact offset more than 100 percent of the annual electricity consumption at the three main Cincinnati facilities, this contract will also offset 100 percent of the estimated annual electricity consumption at the Laboratory Annex 2.
EPA originally began procuring green power for the Agency's Cincinnati facilities in 2001, and deliveries under the existing contract will run through September 30, 2007. Community Energy, Inc. , a renewable energy marketing company, is supplying 778,000 kWh per year of wind power from a wind farm in Pennsylvania. ComEd , a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, is providing the remaining green power with landfill gas from a facility in Illinois.

Water Conservation

All plumbing fixtures installed in Annex 2 are water-efficient and are expected to reduce the facility’s water use by 30 percent annually.
The facility grounds feature xeriscaping and native vegetation; no additional water is required for irrigation.

Photo of the LID courtyard in front of EPA's AWBERC Annex 2 building.

Photo of the low impact development courtyard in front of EPA's AWBERC Annex 2 building.

Stormwater Management

In the triangular courtyard between Annexes 1 and 2, EPA incorporated low impact development sustainable landscaping, including porous pavement and native vegetation. This feature, along with the building's green roof, will help to manage stormwater runoff in the area and minimize the heat island effect of the building.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

During the construction process, EPA selected recycled-content and/or local materials and supplies and diverted 95 percent of construction wastes from landfills through exemplary waste management.
Recycling bins were also installed throughout the Annex 2 facility.

Additional Features

In coordination with the above activities, EPA's Cincinnati facilities have established an environmental management system (EMS).

For More Information

John Kappa (kappa.john@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Phone: (513) 569-7795
Fax: (513) 569-7545

Web Site: www.epa.gov/oarmcinc/index.htm