Sustainable Facilities Tool General Services Administration

https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for providing thermal comfort and fresh air to building occupants. This is...

Does the building have high-efficiency water heating equipment?

Heat Island Reduction

Heat Island Reduction

Reduce urban heat island effects

LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) for Existing Buildings addresses many of the benefits that planted roofs provide. Planted roofs have a positiv...

While there is no unique credit that specifically addresses the construction of planted roofs, LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C)...

SITES is an interdisciplinary partnership to transform land development and management practices through voluntary guidelines and rating system...

The mechanical engineer will size the heating and cooling equipment based on both internal heat loads and heat loss through the building envelope. ...

The mechanical engineer is responsible for sizing the heating and cooling equipment based on both internal heat loads and heat loss through the buil...

Reduce electrical lighting consumption and associated waste heat by pairing harvested daylight with automated dimmers and photosensors.

Control uncomfortable glare and heat gain using internal shading devices such as louvers, shades, or blinds and exterior shading strategies such as ...

At a minimum, comply with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55 Thermal Environmental Condi...

Is the building sited and oriented to optimize the effect of microclimatic conditions for heating and cooling?

Some water system components, when bundled together, can significantly reduce overall building energy consumption as over eight percent of total ene...

Planted roofs reduce building energy use by cooling roofs and providing shading, thermal mass and insulation. Building-Level Energy Reduction The ...

Water efficiency measures do more than conserve water; they conserve a significant amount of energy as well. Federal facilities use sixty billion Bt...

Planted roofs have synergistic benefits that result in energy saving and stormwater management; they are an attractive alternative to traditional ro...

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...

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...

Boiler and steam system equipment consume varying quantities of water within large heating systems depending on the size of the equipment, the amoun...

The lighting engineer, in cooperation with the rest of the integrative team, should ensure as much natural daylight permeates the space as possible....

The most frequently cited measures/opportunities are: Adjust reset and set-back temperatures and temperature settings – Settings are often adjust...

Moderate conservation measures could save the government over 40% on water and sewage utility costs.Source: NREL, Implementing Water Conservation ...

Moderate conservation measures could save the government over 40% on water and sewage utility costs.Source: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/3130...

The lighting engineer ultimately determines the power used by the lighting system. The engineer’s equipment selection also affects how much of this ...

Green Globes for Existing Buildings encourages the proper maintenance of not only HVAC equipment but also building elements that have an impact on h...

The behavior and well-being of the intended users of the water system – the occupants – should be considered at the integrative table. W...

Green Globes for Existing Buildings encourages cognitive implementation and metering of water heating equipment for energy efficiency measures. With...

Planted roofs contribute to improved air quality by capturing greenhouse gases, particulates, pollens, and molds. The vegetation on a planted roof c...

A “roof over our heads” is an essential part of a building envelope, protecting occupants and building structures and systems from the e...

Large windows can provide daylight to interior spaces, but the daylight can be best used when complementary technologies are employed. Lighting cont...

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) established a number of energy management goals for federal facilities involving components of a sustaina...

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 ...

Providing high quality thermal and ventilation comfort as part of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in commercial offices is a high priority for fe...

Single-pass (or once-through) cooling equipment uses water for only one cycle before subsequently discharging it. Examples of this equipment include...

Water leaves the cooling tower system through evaporation, blow-downdrift, and basin leaks and overflows, and therefore has to be replaced. Since co...

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...

Your electricity bill tends to have several line items, such as costs for generation, distribution, and taxes. Some of these are related to consump...

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) amends EPAct 1992 and establishes a number of energy management goals for federal facilities involving co...

Submetering systems help to improve resource efficiency and conservation practices in a building, which can be used to improve indoor environmental ...

Cost Savings The national average landfill tipping fee was $45 per ton in 2012. Diverting waste from landfills can lower total waste disposal cos...

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...

By consuming 17% of the building’s total electricity consumption and further influencing overall energy demand by the waste heat it emits, lig...

Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Desired gains in energy effi...

Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Benefits can only be achieve...

Typical Federal Office Building Potable Water UseA typical Federal office building with 200 employees uses about 3,000 gallons of water in one day...

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...

High efficiency plumbing fixtures (toilets, urinals, faucets, and showers) can lead to significant water savings. FEMP BMP #6 gives some guidance on...