Procure Products
in the Green Procurement CompilationLearn & Plan Topics
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is most simply described as the conditions inside the building. It includes air quality, but also access to da...
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Energy & Atmosphere
Buildings and facilities rely on the operation of mechanical systems and electrical systems to maintain a high level of indoor environmental qual...
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Space Reconfiguration and Renovation Projects
As needs change over time, tenants often need to convert space or phase the conversion of individual space or rooms to meet these changing needs....
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Building Operations and Maintenance Services
Follow these sustainable strategies as your space renovations are complete and the building and interiors are operated in an environmentally sustai... -
Building Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for approximately 44% of commercial building energy use.Source: U.S.... -
Enhancing Health with Indoor Air
Four key levers to enhance health and performance by improving indoor air. -
Water Efficiency
Buildings are significant users of the Earth’s freshwater supply. The goal of a responsible building operator should be to encourage a sma...
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Sustainable Sites
Choosing a building's site and managing that site during construction are important to ensure a project's sustainability. Environmentally responsibl... -
Materials, Furniture, and Furnishings Replacement
Daily wear and tear means that materials, furniture and furnishings require periodic replacement.
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Building Systems Upgrades
This page details Sustainable Strategies to consider as your space undergoes a building system upgrade to improve energy, water use, and occupant co... -
Net Zero Energy
Net Zero Energy means that a building balances its energy needs with energy produced from renewable, zero-emission sources. While Net Zero Ene... -
Enhancing Resilience and Reducing Vulnerability to Observed and Expected Changes in Climate
Adapting to observed and expected changes in climate is a complex, long term process that requires personnel to work together across their organizat... -
Best Practices & Case Studies
One of the best ways to learn and make the case for high-performance building innovations is to point to others’ experience in implementing th... -
Framework for Managing Climate Risks to Federal Agency Supply Chains
GSA developed this supply chain risk management framework to provide guidance to Federal agencies ready to assess climate or weather-related risks t... -
Biophilic Design
Learn why nature is so important to us, what we know about the benefits of nature, and how biophilia is being applied in buildings, particularly in ... -
Building Selection
A variety of physical building characteristics and operations policies should be evaluated for compliance with and support of the spaces’ heal...
Green Products
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Heat Pumps, Air-Source
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Chillers
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Furnaces
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Commercial Gas Water Heaters
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Heat Pumps, Geothermal or Ground-Source
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Non-Mechanical Heat Transfer Systems
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Industrial Process Air Conditioning
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Light Commercial Heating and Cooling
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Non-Pressure Pipes
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Air Conditioning, Room
in Appliances -
Air Conditioning, Room
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Heat Pumps, Air-Source
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Clothes Washers
in Appliances -
Furnaces
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Commercial Gas Water Heaters
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Heat Pumps, Geothermal or Ground-Source
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Non-Mechanical Heat Transfer Systems
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Heat Transfer Fluids
in Lube, Oil, Hydraulic Fluid, & Grease -
Light Commercial Heating and Cooling
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Candles and Wax Melts
in Miscellaneous -
Air Conditioning, Central
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Residential Water Heaters
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Residential Water Heaters: Whole-Home Gas Tankless
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Residential Water Heaters: Solar
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Residential Water Heaters: High Efficiency Electric Storage (Heat Pump)
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Residential Water Heaters: High-Efficiency Gas Storage
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Residential Water Heaters: Electric Storage Water Heaters
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Clothes Dryers
in Appliances -
Ductless Heating and Cooling
in HVAC/Mechanical -
Commercial Clothes Washers
in Appliances -
Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Hybrid Solar Systems
in Construction Materials -
Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Hybrid Solar Systems
in Renewable Energy -
Liquid Applied Solar-control Films
in Construction Materials -
Heat-Set Ink
in Contracted Printing Products -
Heating fuels and wick lamps, excluding fire logs and fire starters and candles and wax melts
in Miscellaneous
Search by these terms
Whole Building Systems
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Planted Roof - EPA | Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands
https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands
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HVAC - System Overview
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for providing thermal comfort and fresh air to building occupants. This is...
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Water - Green Globes for Existing Buildings
Does the building have high-efficiency water heating equipment?
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Planted Roof - SSc3
Heat Island Reduction
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Planted Roof - SSc5
Heat Island Reduction
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Planted Roof - C4.9
Reduce urban heat island effects
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Planted Roof - LEED O+M: Existing Buildings (v4)
LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) for Existing Buildings addresses many of the benefits that planted roofs provide. Planted roofs have a positiv...
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Planted Roof - LEED BD+C: New Construction (v4)
While there is no unique credit that specifically addresses the construction of planted roofs, LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C)...
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Planted Roof - The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES)
SITES is an interdisciplinary partnership to transform land development and management practices through voluntary guidelines and rating system...
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Lighting - Mechanical Engineer
The mechanical engineer will size the heating and cooling equipment based on both internal heat loads and heat loss through the building envelope. ...
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HVAC - Mechanical Engineer
The mechanical engineer is responsible for sizing the heating and cooling equipment based on both internal heat loads and heat loss through the buil...
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Lighting - Green Tips
Reduce electrical lighting consumption and associated waste heat by pairing harvested daylight with automated dimmers and photosensors.
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Lighting - Green Tips Impact
Control uncomfortable glare and heat gain using internal shading devices such as louvers, shades, or blinds and exterior shading strategies such as ...
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HVAC - Green Tips and Strategies
At a minimum, comply with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55 Thermal Environmental Condi...
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HVAC - Example Questions
Is the building sited and oriented to optimize the effect of microclimatic conditions for heating and cooling?
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Lighting - Optimize Building Energy Efficiency
Some water system components, when bundled together, can significantly reduce overall building energy consumption as over eight percent of total ene...
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Planted Roof - Energy Use Reduction
Planted roofs reduce building energy use by cooling roofs and providing shading, thermal mass and insulation. Building-Level Energy Reduction The ...
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Water - Energy Use
Water efficiency measures do more than conserve water; they conserve a significant amount of energy as well. Federal facilities use sixty billion Bt...
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Planted Roof - System Bundling
Planted roofs have synergistic benefits that result in energy saving and stormwater management; they are an attractive alternative to traditional ro...
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Water - Water and Energy Consumption
Water and energy go hand-in-hand in a relationship often referred to as the "water-energy nexus." Financial cost savings are achieved through not on...
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Submetering - Green Globes NC
Is there sub-metering installed for the following systems: light and lighting controls by floor or by zones, plug loads by floor or by zone, major e...
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Water - Boilers/Steam Systems
Boiler and steam system equipment consume varying quantities of water within large heating systems depending on the size of the equipment, the amoun...
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IEQ - Lighting Engineer
The lighting engineer, in cooperation with the rest of the integrative team, should ensure as much natural daylight permeates the space as possible....
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HVAC - System Adjustments
The most frequently cited measures/opportunities are: Adjust reset and set-back temperatures and temperature settings – Settings are often adjust...
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HVAC - Did You Know
Moderate conservation measures could save the government over 40% on water and sewage utility costs.Source: NREL, Implementing Water Conservation ...
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Water - DYK2
Moderate conservation measures could save the government over 40% on water and sewage utility costs.Source: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/3130...
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HVAC - Lighting Engineer
The lighting engineer ultimately determines the power used by the lighting system. The engineer’s equipment selection also affects how much of this ...
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HVAC - Green Globes for Existing Buildings
Green Globes for Existing Buildings encourages the proper maintenance of not only HVAC equipment but also building elements that have an impact on h...
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Water - Occupant
The behavior and well-being of the intended users of the water system – the occupants – should be considered at the integrative table. W...
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Water - Green Globes for Existing Buildings
Green Globes for Existing Buildings encourages cognitive implementation and metering of water heating equipment for energy efficiency measures. With...
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Planted Roof - Air Cleansing
Planted roofs contribute to improved air quality by capturing greenhouse gases, particulates, pollens, and molds. The vegetation on a planted roof c...
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Planted Roof - System Overview
A “roof over our heads” is an essential part of a building envelope, protecting occupants and building structures and systems from the e...
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Lighting - Optimize Daylighting
Large windows can provide daylight to interior spaces, but the daylight can be best used when complementary technologies are employed. Lighting cont...
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Lighting - Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) established a number of energy management goals for federal facilities involving components of a sustaina...
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HVAC - Architect
The architect has as much or more impact on the HVAC system than any other member of the integrative team. An architect’s decisions - the building ...
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HVAC - HVAC Impact on Humans
Providing high quality thermal and ventilation comfort as part of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in commercial offices is a high priority for fe...
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Water - Single Pass Cooling Equipment
Single-pass (or once-through) cooling equipment uses water for only one cycle before subsequently discharging it. Examples of this equipment include...
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Water - Cooling Tower
Water leaves the cooling tower system through evaporation, blow-downdrift, and basin leaks and overflows, and therefore has to be replaced. Since co...
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HVAC - Energy Use
HVAC consumes an average of 30% of a facility’s energy use.1 Much of that use is wasted, at times right through the front door. Other times t...
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HVAC - Utility Demand Charges
Your electricity bill tends to have several line items, such as costs for generation, distribution, and taxes. Some of these are related to consump...
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HVAC - Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) amends EPAct 1992 and establishes a number of energy management goals for federal facilities involving co...
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Submetering - Impact on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Submetering systems help to improve resource efficiency and conservation practices in a building, which can be used to improve indoor environmental ...
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Solid Waste - System Overview
Cost Savings The national average landfill tipping fee was $45 per ton in 2012. Diverting waste from landfills can lower total waste disposal cos...
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Planted Roof - Ocean Acidification and Sea Level Rise
If all of the ice located at the poles were to melt today, global sea levels would rise by 220 feet. Although this is unlikely to occur soon, scient...
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Lighting - Energy Use
By consuming 17% of the building’s total electricity consumption and further influencing overall energy demand by the waste heat it emits, lig...
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HVAC - Human Behavior on HVAC
Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Desired gains in energy effi...
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Planted Roof - Human Behavior on Planted Roofs
Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Benefits can only be achieve...
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Water - System Overview
Typical Federal Office Building Potable Water UseA typical Federal office building with 200 employees uses about 3,000 gallons of water in one day...
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Submetering - O&M
One of the best ways to save energy is to measure and manage it. There are two basic methods for managing resource use: through improved resou...
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Water - Plumbing Fixtures
High efficiency plumbing fixtures (toilets, urinals, faucets, and showers) can lead to significant water savings. FEMP BMP #6 gives some guidance on...
Materials
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Overhead Air Distribution
Overhead air distribution is the most common approach to mixing and delivering conditioned air to a space, though the delivery method can vary from ... -
Under Floor Air Distribution
Under floor air distribution systems supply conditioned air to an occupied space via diffusers in a raised floor. This system effectively maintains... -
Thermostat
A thermostat is a component of the HVAC controls system. Detection and communication of the space temperature is a critical component of overall HV... -
Soup Station
Soups are kept at a constant temperature in urns that use electricity to heat coils around a container, or heat water into steam. Make sure units c... -
Oven
Convection ovens are common in food service. Look for equipment that carries the Energy Star label for energy efficiency. -
Pasta Cooker
Pasta cookers use a large vat of boiling water to cook individual portions of pasta in small metal baskets. These units use ener... -
Hot Food Holding Cabinets
Warming cabinets can be stationary or mobile carts that are plugged into convenience outlets, and generally have multiple racks to keep several tray... -
Perimeter Units
Known by a number of commons terms such as "induction units," "window units," and "floor units," perimeter HVAC units bring conditioned air out to t... -
Deep Fryer
Deep Fryers require energy to heat oil to high temperatures. They also require ventilation directly above the equipment and specialized suppression ... -
Gas Burner
Natural gas is often used in cook-top equipment similar to a residential range. Electric burners can be used in lieu of gas. Coo... -
Grill and Griddle
A grill and griddle uses heat elements under a metal surface to cook food. The heat elements can be powered by natural gas or el... -
Occupant Sensor
Occupant controls use sensors to deter... -
Glass - Tinted / Colored / Fritted
Although clear glass is the most common glass component of a window system, tinted glass may be used to reduce solar heat gain. Multiple colors are ... -
Glass - Single Pane
Single pane windows are not typical in new commercial buildings as they resist the transfer of heat poorly and have an insulating value (R-value) of... -
Glass - Low Emissivity
A Low-E coating is a microscopic thin layer of metal or metal oxide deposited on window glass to prevent heat and ultra-violet (UV) rays from passin... -
Skylights / Solar Tubes
Skylights/light tubes allow daylight to penetrate into a space. They are typically located in the roof/ceiling and can vary in size. Certain solar... -
Paper Composite
Paper Composite is a type of solid surfacing countertop made from paper, fibers and resin. The resin typically does not come from recycled source... -
Laminate
Laminate is created from layers of decorative paper and kraft paper - a strong, moisture-resistant product. These papers are treated with melamine... -
Aluminum Frame
Window frames are one component of a window assembly. In naturally ventilated buildings window frames allow the window to be opened to bring in fre... -
Skylights / Solar Tubes
Skylights/light tubes allow daylight to penetrate into a space. They are typically located in the roof/ceiling and can vary in s... -
Hot to Order Food
Certain food items are often prepared to-order in front of patrions. These stations are often composed of cooking equipment behind a counter that i...