Ada, Oklahoma

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power
Water Management Plan
Mechanical Upgrades

Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center

Total Facility Area: 87,119 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 160 persons
Energy Consumption: 12,725,679,768 Btu per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 146,072
Total Water Consumption: 3,392,827 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 38.9

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2010.

Description

The research conducted at the Ada laboratory focuses on soil and subsurface environments. The facility's mission is to study the transport and transformation of contaminants in soil and groundwater generated by municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastes.

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma, is EPA's first "carbon neutral" Laboratory. A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system allows the laboratory to operate without natural gas for heating and reheat purposes. Starting with the April 2005 purchase of 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year of wind power green tags and continuing with additional Agencywide green power contracts, EPA offset the remaining conventional electricity (e.g., pumps, fans, lights) with electricity that produces no emissions. As a result, none of the energy consumed by the facility is associated with greenhouse gas emissions.
Average energy use at the Ada laboratory was more than 21 billion British thermal units (Btu) per year between 1994-1996. Fiscal year (FY) 2009 energy use was 12,244,664,216 Btu, representing an approximately 42 percent reduction in energy use.
Construction of a comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade of Ada's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was completed in FY 2005 through an energy savings performance contract (ESPC). The upgrade included installation of the GSHP system for heating and cooling the facility, a complete variable air volume system for air supply and fume hood air exhaust, new and upgraded fan motors, and an integrated direct digital control system for HVAC, energy, fire, and security management. ESPC commissioning was completed in November 2004.
Installation of the GSHP eliminated the use of natural gas for heating and reheat purposes, significantly reducing energy consumption in the Ada laboratory. In addition to the environmental benefits, geothermal systems require lower maintenance than conventional systems, reducing Agency expenditures.
A 2006 Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) case study described the retrofit project undertaken at the Ada laboratory. The case study detailed the various upgrades and energy-efficient systems installed in the building. The study also presented “lessons learned” from the ESPC and commissioning processes, many of which were specific to laboratory facilities. View the Ada Case Study.

Green Power

EPA offsets 100 percent of the electricity consumption at the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center 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.

Water Conservation

In November 2005, EPA completed a water management plan for the Ada laboratory (PDF) (15 pp, 550K, About PDF).

For More Information About This Facility

Website: www.epa.gov/ada/

Garmon Smith (smith.garmon@epa.gov)
P.O. Box 1198
Ada, OK 74821
Phone: (580) 436-8565