Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Archive

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Region 3 Office

This page houses older environmental information about EPA's Region 3 Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. View the Region 3 Office current facility page.

In 1996, Region 3 developed green lease language for renovating 300,000 square feet of office space. For more information, read the Report on the Impact of EPA Region III's Green Building Lease Philadelphia, PA (PDF) (16 pp, 257K, About PDF).

Although the renovation reused the bulk of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, EPA installed a state-of-the-art energy management control system that allows operators a tremendous amount of flexibility in monitoring and changing comfort levels.

During renovation, contractors recycled construction and demolition waste (e.g., wood, metals, cardboard, glass, and vinyl baseboards).
Approximately 11,000 fluorescent lamps were removed from the project site and diverted to a specialized recycling company. Fluorescent tubes contain mercury, which can pose environmental concerns if not recycled or disposed of properly.
Instead of buying new building materials, several items were reused during construction, including interior doors; the metal ceiling structure and ceiling tiles; portions of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system; lighting fixtures; bathroom tiles, fixtures, and stalls; and steel wall studs. These creative reuses helped the project finish 25 percent under budget.

During the renovation, contractors minimized air quality problems by limiting the emission of volatile organic compounds from adhesives, carpet, furniture, drywall, paint, and other wall coatings.