2016 Federal Green Challenge Awards
Recognition was a key element of the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program and the Federal Green Challenge. Federal Green Challenge (FGC) awards were offered in two categories – data driven and narrative. Data driven awards, given in the target areas of Waste, Electronics, Purchasing, Energy, Water and Transportation were based on a greatest percentage of change over the previous year. Narrative awards were given in the categories of Innovation, Education & Outreach and Leadership and were self-nominating.
In 2015, 290 federal facilities took steps to reduce pollution, support renewable energy, and operate more efficiently as part of the Federal Green Challenge. Participants saved more than $21 million across natural gas, fuel oil, paper purchasing, water, and municipal solid waste (MSW) categories. The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was equivalent to annual emissions of more than 518,000 passenger vehicles with a carbon dioxide equivalent of more than 2.4 million metric tons (MTCO2E).
EPA recognized the following facilities for their outstanding efforts in 2015 to advance sustainability efforts and for their leadership in reducing the environmental footprint of federal government activities.
2016 National and Regional Award Winners
2016 National Award Winners
Improvement by Target Area - Highest Increased Percentage Over Previous Year
- Waste: Texas Army National Guard, Department of Defense, Austin, TX, diverted 3506 tons of MSW and Construction and Demolition from landfills, saving $157,849 in tipping fees.
- Electronics: James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Altoona, PA sent 8.2 tons of used electronics to third party recyclers. More »
- Purchasing: DEA Southeast Laboratory, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami, FL reduced purchasing by 100% from 2014.
- Energy: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Department of Defense, San Diego, CA reduced the amount of fuel oil consumed by 100% from the previous year.
- Water: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico reduced potable water consumption by 26,185 Gallons from 2014.
- Transportation: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN for increasing their electric vehicle fleet size by 50 percent.
- Learn More »
2016 Regional Award Winners
New England (Region 1)
- Leadership: Manchester Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Manchester, N.H.
- Innovation: West Haven VA Medical Campus, West Haven, Conn.
- Water: U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, R.I.
- Learn More »
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Region 2)
- Education and Outreach, and Leadership: Caribbean VA Healthcare Facility System, San Juan, P.R.
- Leadership: Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y.
- Leadership: General Services Administration Region 2, New York, N.Y.
- Learn More »
Mid-Atlantic (Region 3)
- Overall Achievement Award: James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, Pa.
- Leadership: Department of Justice, McDowell Federal Correctional Institution, Welch, W.Va.
- Innovation: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, District of Columbia
- Waste: Coatesville VA Medical Center, Coatesville, Pa.
- Purchasing: Department of Justice, Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pa.
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Southeast (Region 4)
- Leadership: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Southeast Regional Office, Orlando, Fla.
- Energy: Department of Energy, East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
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Great Lakes (Region 5)
- Waste: Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, Minn.
- Energy and Education and Outreach: Minnesota National Guard, Little Falls, Minn.
- Purchasing and Innovation: U.S. EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, Minn.
- Electronics: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Detroit Field Office, Detroit, Mich.
- Transportation, Water and Leadership: U.S. Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Ill.
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South Central (Region 6)
- Electronics and Purchasing: Department of Interior, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, Farmers Branch, Texas
- Energy: General Services Administration at the B. Casey Federal Courthouse, Houston, Texas
- Water: General Services Administration at the Fort Worth Federal Service Center, Fort Worth, Texas
- Waste: VA North Texas Health Care, Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, Bonham, Texas
- Education and Outreach: Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso, Texas
- Innovation: New Mexico VA Health Care Service, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Learn More »
Pacific Southwest (Region 9)
- Energy: Department of Interior, National Park Service Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, Calif.
- Outreach and Education: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Forecast Office, Guam
- Innovation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Region 5, Vallejo, Calif.
- Electronics: Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency Southwest Laboratory, Vista, Calif.
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Pacific Northwest & Alaska (Region 10)
- Purchasing and Waste: Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Spokane, Wash.
- Energy: General Services Administration Region 10, Auburn, Wash.
- Learn More »