Gulf Breeze, Florida

This facility features the following green attributes:

LEED-NC 2.2 Silver

Meets Guiding Principles
Green Power
Water Management Plan
Native Landscaping

Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory

Total Facility Area: 78,006 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 123 persons

FY 2003 Energy Consumption*: 17,137,247,680 Btu per year
FY 2003 Btu per GSF per Year: 215,699
FY 2012 Energy Consumption: 13,566,182,444 Btu per year
FY 2012 Btu per GSF per Year: 173,912; 19.4 percent reduction from the baseline

FY 2007 Water Consumption**: 6,822,061 gallons per year
FY 2007 Gallons per GSF per Year: 85.9
FY 2012 Water Consumption: 4,741,506 gallons per year
FY 2012 Gallons per GSF per Year: 60.8; 29.2 percent reduction from the baseline

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2012.
*FY 2003 is the standard baseline year used by the federal government to measure energy conservation progress.
**FY 2007 is the standard baseline year used by the federal government to measure water conservation progress.

Description

The Gulf Breeze laboratory is a primary research facility of EPA's 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.

Unique Environmental Features

EPA's Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Building #67, received the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED^® for new construction version 2.2 Silver level certification in April 2009. 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.

Energy Conservation

The Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building employs a variety of energy-efficient measures, such as occupancy sensors, skylights, and windows to increase daylighting, and a porch with a reflective roof to provide shading.

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 blanket green power contract. Learn more about EPA's blanket green power contracts.

Green Building

EPA's Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Building #67, received LEED for new construction version 2.2 Silver level certification in April 2009. View the LEED scorecard for Gulf Breeze (1 pp, 83K, About PDF).
Building #67 in Gulf Breeze, Florida, meets the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings (Guiding Principles) due to its existing LEED certification.

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 July 2010, EPA completed a revision of its water management plan for the Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory (PDF) (22 pp, 484K, About PDF).
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.

For More Information About This Facility

For a more detailed summary of the Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building's environmental features, including photos, view Sustainable Facilities at EPA: Computational and Geospatial Sciences Building, Gulf Breeze, Florida (PDF) (4 pp, 1.3 MB).

Website: www.epa.gov/ged/

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