Arlington, Virginia - Potomac Yard

These facilities feature the following green attributes:
LEED-NC 2.1 Gold
LEED-EB 2.0 Gold (Potomac Yard One)

LEED-EB: O&M 2009 Platinum (Potomac Yard Two)
Green Power
ENERGY STAR

Two of EPA's Headquarters Facilities

Total Facility Area: 459,232 rentable square feet (RSF) (EPA share of the North and South Towers)
Estimated Personnel: 1,631 EPA personnel
Energy Consumption: 31,601,575,635 Btu per year (EPA share)
Btu per RSF per Year: 68,814
Water Consumption: 7,042,261 gallons per year (EPA share)
Gallons per RSF per Year: 15.3

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2012.

Description

From May to July 2006, EPA employees that worked in three buildings in the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia, moved into a newly constructed building nearby that incorporates a number of sustainable features. In May 2004, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) signed 10-year leases for 405,117 rentable square feet of space in two interconnected towers known as Potomac Yard (EPA occupies the South Tower, also known as Potomac Yard One, and a portion of the North Tower, also known as Potomac Yard Two).

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In June 2006, the buildings received the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) LEED^® for new construction version 2.1 Gold level certification. View the Potomac Yard One LEED Scorecard (PDF) (1 pg, 55K) and the Potomac Yard Two LEED Scorecard (PDF) (1 pg, 56K).

In July 2008, as part of EPA's new focus on operations and maintenance improvements at existing buildings, Potomac Yard One received LEED for existing buildings (EB) version 2.0 Gold level certification. In December 2011, Potomac Yard Two received LEED for existing buildings: operations and maintenance version 2009 Platinum level certification.

In addition to the Potomac Yard facilities, EPA Headquarters occupies space in several other buildings in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, including:

Environmental Features

The solicitation for offers (SFO) for Potomac Yard contained environmental provisions developed by EPA to ensure that the facility design and operations promote energy and water efficiency and the use of environmentally preferable materials. Included in these provisions were requirements for the new building to acheive the USGBC's LEED certifications, as well as the ENERGY STAR^®. Through these provisions and the achieved certifications, the building has been able to successfully incorporate the following environmental features:

Energy Conservation

The lease required that the building meet ENERGY STAR building energy performance standards. Potomac Yard One earned the ENERGY STAR in August 2007 with a score of 77, in 2008 with a score of 83, in 2009 with a score of 86, in 2010 with a score of 87, in 2011 with a score of 85, and in 2012 with a score of 91. Potomac Yard Two earned the ENERGY STAR in 2010 with a score of 88, and in 2011 with a score of 76.
Only non-chloroflourocarbon-based refrigerants were used.
Additional commissioning and above-standard building mechanical system controls and monitoring capabilities optimize mechanical system performance and minimize energy use at the building.
A highly reflective, ENERGY STAR qualified roof reduces the amount of solar heat absorbed by the building, decreasing the building's cooling load while minimizing the heat island effect of the building.

Green Power

EPA offsets 100 percent of the electricity consumption at Potomac Yard with renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased through the Agency's blanket green power contract. Learn more about EPA's blanket green power contracts.

Water Conservation

Green roof between Potomac Yard One and Two buildings.

The building saves water through the use of plumbing fixtures such as low-flow urinals, dual-flush toilets, and low-flow faucets with electronic shutoff.
Landscaping includes drought-resistant regional plants that do not require extra watering, and, as a result, no irrigation system is needed.

Stormwater Management

Sand filters treat stormwater runoff for each tower and should reduce total suspended solids entering the Potomac River by more than 80 percent and total phosphorous by 40 percent.
A 1,711-square-foot green roof was installed on the area of roof that connects Potomac Yard One and Two.

Waste Reduction and Recycling - Construction

Twenty-seven percent of building materials contain recycled content (value of post-consumer content plus half of post-industrial content as percentage of total cost of materials).
Thirty-five percent recycled content (approximately 670,000 pounds of ground granulated blast-furnace slag) was used in portions of the below grade, poured-in-place concrete structure.
Seventy-one percent of construction waste was recycled, diverting 2,000 tons from landfills.

Waste Reduction and Recycling - Operations

The building was designed and built to be consistent with EPA's revamped Headquarters recycling program. EPA tenants have recycling bins on each floor to collect bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, batteries, CD/DVD/diskettes, and toner/inkjet cartridges. A recycling room next to the loading dock in each building stores recyclables until they can be hauled to offsite recycling facilities.

Alternative Transportation

Extensive bike parking and shower facilities are available for employees that bike to work. The building is located near the George Washington Parkway and Four Mile Run bike paths used by bike commuters.
The building is in close proximity to the local Metrorail trains, Metro buses, and the Agency shuttle bus routes. Shower facilities and onsite bicycle parking for 53 bikes are provided to encourage environmentally responsible commuting.

Other Features

Indoor air quality is protected by the use of low volatile organic compound interior adhesives, paints, sealants, caulks, environmentally preferable janitorial and cleaning products, and integrated pest management practices.

For More Information About This Facility

For a summary of the facility's environmental features, view the Sustainable Facilities at EPA: One and Two Potomac Yard, Arlington, Virginia (PDF) (4 pp, 7.6MB) fact sheet.

Review the Whole Building Design Guide website to learn more about the facility—including details on design, construction, and operations and maintenance activities—in the One and Two Potomac Yard Case Study .

Helen T. Smith (smith.helent@epa.gov)
EPA's Facilities Manager, Potomac Yard
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Mail Code: 3204R
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: (703) 308-8736