Narragansett, Rhode Island

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

Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory

Total Facility Area: 89,922 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 135 persons
Energy Consumption: 24,871,757,391 Btu per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 276,593
Total Water Consumption: 2,633,143 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 29

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2007.

Description

The Narragansett laboratory is a state-of-the-art aquatic research facility for EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory under the Office of Research and Development (ORD). The mission of the Atlantic Ecology Division at Narragansett is to develop and evaluate theory, methods, and data to better understand and quantify the environmental effects of stressors on the coastal waters and watershed of the Atlantic seaboard. In an effort to reduce its own environmental impact, a Conceptual Sustainable Site Master Plan was developed for the facility.

2007 Award Winner

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

Mechanical upgrades completed in July 2004 at the laboratory have increased the energy and water efficiency of its chilled water system. The upgrades were designed to: improve the entire chilled and condenser water system to allow for variable flow; reintegrate an existing small, air-cooled chiller into the primary chilled water loop to allow the large water-cooled chiller to be shut down when it is more efficient to run the small air-cooled chiller; and upgrade the building controls for the chilled water system. Since completion of the upgrade, the laboratory has realized reductions in energy consumption of 18 percent, compared to a FY 2000 to FY 2002 average.
To improve the energy-efficiency of the building's lighting systems, EPA in April 2007 completed the installation of motion sensor controls for more than 1,150 lights and lighting systems, which resulted in a 30 percent reduction in reduced exterior lighting.

Green Power

In March 2005, EPA entered into a three-year contract (procured by the Defense Energy Support Center ), with 3 Phases Energy Services , to purchase approximately 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power annually in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). This contract supports the generation of renewable energy from wind farms in California and Minnesota. The purchase will offset 100 percent of the electricity consumption at the Narragansett laboratory.
From October 2003, to July 2005, EPA purchased a biodiesel fuel mix to be used in the main heating boilers of its Narragansett laboratory. World Energy Alternatives of Chelsea, Massachusetts, supplied the fuel, which consisted of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent traditional fuel oil. The cleaner burning biodiesel portion of the fuel mix was derived from soy bean oil, which made it biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Throughout the contract, 300,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel were consumed by the Narragansett laboratory. Use of biodiesel was discontinued at the laboratory, however, because benefits did not outweigh the rising cost of the fuel.

Water Conservation

Installation of a compressed air delivery system was completed in October 2006 that is expected to save nearly 600,000 gallons of water per year. The system will eliminate once-through cooling water and will also add fully automatic control, 100 percent back-up capacity, and reserve capacity for future expansion.
In FY 2007, EPA completed the design of a replacement project that would convert 5,000 square feet of the existing roof into a vegetated green roof. The vegetation on the roof will help to alleviate the heat island effect and aid in stormwater mitigation.
As part of its sustainable master plan, EPA reduced lawn mowing areas surrounding the Narragansett facility and replaced vegetation with native, non-invasive plant species that encourage healthy foliage growth.
As a result of sanitary fixture upgrades completed in July 2004, the laboratory has saved nearly 350,000 gallons of water each year for a cost savings of approximately $760 per year. Learn more about these upgrades in the Sanitary Fixture Upgrades at EPA's NHEERL Facility Case Study (PDF) (2 pp, 481K, About PDF).
EPA completed a water management plan for the laboratory (PDF) (22 pp, 200K, About PDF) in October 2003.

Stormwater Management

The laboratory is planning to install a green roof to mitigate stormwater runoff. The roof will help filter pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorous from the rainwater through bioremediation and phytoremediation. As the vegetation grows, it not only provides greater aesthetic appeal, but also greater absorption during rain events. In addition, the green roof could drain excess water to rain barrels or cisterns, allowing the facility to reuse it.

Other Features

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

For More Information

Russell Ahlgren (ahlgren.russell@epa.gov)
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: (401) 782-3080
Fax: (401) 782-3030

Web site: www.epa.gov/aed