B_0415_Buzz_Building

Federal Green Challenge Diverts 336,000 Tons of Landfill Waste

July 20, 2017

EPA officially recognizes Federal Green Challenge participants. 

Federal Green Challenge participants have reduced the federal government’s environmental impact by reducing fuel oil consumption by more than 500,000 gallons, sending 310 tons of end-of-life electronics to third-party certified recyclers, saving 9.2 million gallons of industrial water, and diverting over 336,000 tons of waste from landfills. 

And for their work, the EPA has U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially recognizes the efforts of federal facilities that took steps to improve efficiency, save resources and reduce costs.

“Federal agencies across the country are doing their part to minimize their environmental impact, in doing so saving American taxpayers millions of dollars,” says EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Their efforts resulted in an estimated cost savings of $17 million across the federal government.” 

The program is now in its fifth year and involves a yearlong commitment under EPA's Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Program in which participants focus on efficiently managing their resources to reduce the costs of building operations, maintenance and supplies. Specifically, participants track their data in two of six categories for a year. 

The following participants have been awarded by the EPA for their efforts in improving the efficiency of their facilities in FY16: 

• Waste: The Department of Defense, Vermont Army National Guard (Jericho, Vermont) increased its composting efforts by 2,217 percent from the previous year, saving nearly $4,000 in tipping fees. 

• Electronics: The Department of Energy, East Tennessee Technology Park (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) increased its Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered equipment by 1,328 percent and sent 11.6 tons of used electronics to third-party certified recyclers. 

• Purchasing: The Department of Veterans Affairs, Minneapolis Health Care System (Minneapolis, Minnesota) decreased its printer and copier paper purchased by 44 percent from the previous year, saving $125,600. 

• Energy: The Department of Veterans Affairs, Connecticut Health Care System (West Haven Campus, West Haven, Connecticut) reduced the amount of fuel oil it consumed by 58 percent, saving $59,456. 

• Water: The Department of Energy, East Tennessee Technology Park (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) reduced its potable water consumption by almost 94 million gallons, saving $375,412. 

• Transportation: The Department of Veterans Affairs, The James E. Van Zandt Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Altoona, Pennsylvania) increased its hybrid vehicle fleet size by 125 percent. 

For more information on the Federal Green Challenge and this year’s winners, please visit www.epa.gov/fgc

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Buildings, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Building Better Schools

Download this digital resource to better understand the challenges and opportunities in designing and operating educational facilities for safety, sustainability, and performance...

Tips to Keep Facility Management on Track

How do you plan to fill the knowledge gap as seasoned facility managers retire or leave for new opportunities? Learn about the latest strategies including FM tech innovations ...

The Beauty & Benefits of Biophilic Design in the Built Environment

Biophilic design is a hot trend in design, but what is it and how can building professionals incorporate these strategies for the benefits of occupants? This eHandbook offers ...

The Benefits of Migrating from Analog to DMR Two-Way Radios

Are you still using analog two-way radios? Download this white paper and discover the simple and cost-effective migration path to digital DMR radios that deliver improved audio...