GSA’s Green Proving Ground Program

Putting Innovative Building Technologies to the Test

Overview

GPG leverages GSA’s real estate portfolio to evaluate innovative technologies that accelerate GSA’s sustainability goals, reduce operational costs and lead market transformation.

Established in 2010

Green Proving Ground

GSA Targets

Executive Order 13514, 2009Energy Independence and Security Act, 2007MOU on High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, 2006Energy Policy Act, 2005www.wbdg.org/references/federal_mandates.php

30%Reduction in Energy Use Intensity, by 2015

26%Reduction in Water Use Intensity, by 2020

28%Reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHGs, by 2020

Net ZeroAll capital project designs starting 2020Achieve net zero by 2030

How Does it Work?Innovative building technologies are evaluated within the real world operating environment of GSA’s real estate portfolio. Successful technologies:

Increase environmental performance

Decrease operational costs

Improve tenant satisfaction

Have potential to transform markets through limited or broad deployment

Green Proving Ground

What Are We Looking For? Technology Types

Green Proving Ground

EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES

• Lighting• HVAC• Building

Envelope• Energy

Management

• Water

ASSESSMENT & DESIGN TOOLS

• Auditing & benchmarking

• Meters and sensors

• Retrofit design tools

OPTIMIZED OPERATIONS

• Information & management systems

• Behavioral interventions

SUPPLY & DEMAND

INTEGRATION• On-site

generation & storage

• Demand response & ancillary services

• Microgrid

Translation: Product demonstration – pre & early

commercial

Adoption: Emerging market place as technology

begins to be adopted

Diffusion: Well defined commercial product – sub-

optimal market penetration

What Are We Looking For? Technology Maturity

Green Proving Ground

Deployment of “Proven” Technologies

Green Proving Ground

Choose the best in class performance and payback, from

the beginning

Introduce technologies that

immediately improve

performance

Retrofit

Next time you need to replace

this equipment, invest in this

technology instead

Replace at End of Life

New Construction

BUILDING ENVELOPE Vacuum Insulated Panels, 03.14

Chromogenic Windows, 03.14

High R Value Windows, 12.13

ENERGY MANAGEMENT Wireless Sensor Networks, 03.12

Plug Load Control, 09.12

LIGHTING Occupant Responsive Lighting, 09.12

GPG Technology Evaluations

Completed

HVAC Indirect Evaporative Cooler, 03.14

Synchronous & Cogged Fan Belts, 03.14

Variable Speed Mag-Lev Chiller, 12.13

Variable Refrigerant Flow, 12.13

Condensing Boilers, 12.12

ON-SITE ENERGY CONSUMPTION PV Guidance, 12.13

Photovoltaics, 12.12

GPG Technology Evaluations

Ongoing

BUILDING ENVELOPE Glazing Retrofit Coating

ENERGY MANAGEMENT Central Plant Optimization Strategies

ON-SITE ENERGY GENERATION & STORAGE

PV with Solar Water Heating Honeycomb Solar Thermal Collector

WATER Non-Chemical Water Treatment Wireless Moisture Sensing Irrigation BAS Integrated Weather Station

Irrigation

HVAC High efficiency RTU Modular Absorption Chiller Occupant-responsive HVAC controls Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat Wood-Pellet Fired Biomass Boiler

LIGHTING Integrated Daylighting Systems LED Luminaire w/ integrated controls LED Retrofit Luminaire Wireless Lighting Control Systems

Back Up SlidesGPG Technology Evaluations

SAMPLE PROJECT FINDINGS

Originally intended for refrigeration; thin profile, R-50 is 1”, Conventional R-50 is 15”

VIPS proved durable for roofing application

R-50 offers favorable payback in one-story buildings in regions with extreme climates and high utility costs

Recommended if R-50 required and conventional insulation necessitates costly alterations

Translation Phase : Building Envelope

VIPs for Roofing

Tint automatically based on outside temperature and brightness. Electrochromic (EC) use operable switches and automation systems; Thermochromic (TC) use adhesive coating

EC window reduction in heat gain — 58%; TC — 46%

TC windows were sensitive to surrounding surface geometry and ambient conditions which created an uneven appearance

GPG currently assessing next-generation EC technology, results in 2015

Translation Phase : Building Envelope

Chromogenic Windows

Eliminate heat, noise and vibration with magnetic levitation and improve efficiency with variable speed drive

Quiet performance allows chillers to be placed closer to occupant spaces

42% energy savings, < 5 year payback

Deploy as end-of-life replacement for rotary screw chillers

Adoption Phase : HVAC

Maglev Chillers

Energy savings over 7 locations between 27% - 63%

Largest savings at a call center where payback was < 7 years

Deploy at sites with operating days > 14 hours, utility costs > $0.11/kWh and variable occupancy patterns

Adoption Phase : Lighting

Occupant Responsive

Lighting

Schedule-based control, where users determine the day and time when a circuit is energized, found to be most effective.

26% energy reduction at workstations with advanced computer management already in place, 50% energy reduction in kitchens and printer rooms

Deploying at 80 federal facilities across the county

On GSA Schedule

Diffusion Phase : Energy Management

Advanced Power Strips

Dense network of wireless sensors provides real-time information enabling facility operator to better manage HVAC.

48% reduction in facility cooling load

3.4 years simple payback

Deploying at two GSA-operated data centers

On GSA Schedule

Diffusion Phase : Energy Management

Wireless Network

Sensors