Gulf Breeze, Florida

This facility features the following green attributes:

LEED-NC 2.2 Silver
Green Power
Water Management Plan
Native Landscaping

Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory

Total Facility Area: 83,460 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 123 persons
Energy Consumption: 18,845,346,060 Btu per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 225,802
Total Water Consumption: 5,643,649 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 67.6

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2008.

Description

The Gulf Breeze laboratory is a primary research facility of the EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory under the Office of Research and Development (ORD). The Gulf Ecology Division on Sabine Island conducts research on the impact of toxic chemicals and pesticides on marine, estuarine, and wetland organisms and communities; monitors and assesses the chemical and biological status of marine and estuarine systems; predicts the ecological effects of the release of genetically altered organisms; and develops microbial strategies to degrade toxic chemicals in the environment.

2007 H2Overachiever and Leading Edge Award Winner

Unique Environmental Features

EPA's Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Building #67, has received the U.S. Green Building Council's version 2.2 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver level certification for new construction (NC). 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 LEED scorecard for Gulf Breeze (1 pp, 83K, About PDF).

Energy Conservation

The new Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building employs a variety of energy-efficient measures, such as occupancy sensors, many skylights and windows to increase daylighting, and a porch with a reflective roof to provide shading.
In FY 2003, EPA completed an HVAC upgrade in the main laboratory, adding an air-to-air heat exchanger and direct digital controls.
EPA utilizes timers on approximately 20 electric water heaters to save energy during off-peak hours.
In 1996, a Dinh-style heat pipe dehumidification system was installed in the air handling system at the Gulf Breeze laboratory. A 1998 EPA study showed that the heat pipe saved 153,775 kilowatt hours (kWh) in annual energy consumption (about 10 percent of the facility's total) and $7,700 in annual energy costs. See the full report: Heat Pipe Effectiveness Study for more information.

Green Power

EPA offsets 100 percent of the electricity consumption at the Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory with renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased through the Agency's current blanket green power contract. Learn more about EPA's current and past blanket green power contracts.
In FY 1998, EPA installed a photovoltaic (PV) system to generate onsite electricity to light the facility's piers. On September 16, 2004, EPA's Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory was hit by intense wind, rain, and a storm surge caused by Hurricane Ivan. Many of the laboratory facilities suffered roofing damage and the strong storm surge resulted in flooding of up to 10 inches in certain buildings. The laboratory's location on the north side of Sabine Island protected it from the brunt of the Gulf of Mexico's wave action, but parts of the facility's piers were washed away by the storm. As a result, the laboratory's PV pier lighting system is no longer operational. After extended clean-up efforts, power and water were restored to the facility in mid-October 2004.

Green Building

EPA's Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Building #67, has received the U.S. Green Building Council's version 2.2 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver-level certification for new construction (NC). View the LEED scorecard for Gulf Breeze (1 pp, 83K, About PDF).

Water Conservation

The Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building includes an extensive rainwater capture and reuse system, which provides 100 percent of the water for the urinals and dual-flush toilets in the building and greatly lowers its potable water needs and consumption. To lower water consumption even further, high-efficiency, high-performance plumbing fixtures were installed throughout the building.
In September 2007, EPA completed a water management plan for the Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory (PDF) (19 pp, 547K, About PDF).
Combined with an initiative to eliminate the use of single-pass cooling water, an adjustment to the cooling tower set points made in May 2007 has helped the facility reduce water use.
Landscaping around the facility is composed of native, self-sustaining vegetation that does not require landscape irrigation.

Stormwater Management

The facility has a grassed swale, which helps convey stormwater from impervious surfaces to those that can detain or absorb runoff. For more information, see Stormwater Management at EPA Facilities.

Additional Features

All of the facility's chlorofluorocarbons were replaced by 1998.

For More Information

Clay Peacher (peacher.clay@epa.gov)
One Sabine Island Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: (850) 934-9239; (850) 934-9200 (general)
Fax: (850) 934-9201

Web site: www.epa.gov/ged/welcome.htm