EPA New England: Greening Our Operations

Energy

Increasing energy efficiency

Energy use is the number one source of air pollution in New England.   New England also has some of the highest energy costs in the nation. 

As our demands for energy continue to rise - to heat and power our buildings and factories, and to power our vehicles - we’re pressed as an Agency and as individuals to become smarter and more efficient about how we use energy.

EPA New England is a leader in promoting a smart approach to energy usage. Our Energy Team is working with community, state and business partners to:

• Increase the availability of clean and renewable sources of energy and ensure an adequate infrastructure to maintain reliability.
• Improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions.
• Promote energy efficient technologies and practices that cut emissions while saving money.
• Promote energy conservation in transportation.

While our Energy Team carries our message externally, our Green Team is ensuring we do what we're asking of others. We're conserving energy and increasing energy efficiency in our own operations.

In our Boston Office

• An energy/lighting management system moderates office energy consumption throughout the day and powers down in the evening. Heat demands are maintained from 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM and staff are advised to dress warmly during the winter months.
• We have upgraded our Boston-based motor pool to include hybrids and other more fuel efficient vehicles, raising the overall fuel economy rating of the fleet to 30 mpg.
• Hallway lighting is being reduced.  Staff are reminded to turn off lights when leaving rooms or in areas with sufficient daylight; computers and monitors are to be turned off at day's end.
• The transit subsidy that EPA established under Executive Order 13150 helps to encourage the use of mass transit among all employees.
• Expanded video conferencing capabilities reduce the need for travel to meetings.

We're working with the building owner to implement additional energy efficiency measures that will provide a comfortable working environment while helping reduce our power consumption.

In our Chelmsford, Massachusetts laboratory
Our building is a national model for green building design -- it's at least 30% more energy efficient than the typical laboratory. The facility is equipped with occupancy sensors, skylights that magnify and redirect daylight into the building and have drastically reduced the need for hallway lighting, modular gas-fired boilers, photovoltaic sun shades that supply 2000 watt hours of power back to the building daily, and dozens of other “green” features. The building is also powered with wind generated electricity. And, the lab continues to make improvements to its energy performance, reducing energy use by an additional 17% over the past year alone.

EPA New England Regional Laboratory (NERL)
Take a virtual tour and learn more about its green features.

EPA New England Green Team
Learn more about our many other projects with significant energy savings.

EPA New England is reducing its energy use … and so can you!  It can be as easy as changing a light bulb.

Learn more about energy usage in New England, the impacts of our choices, energy efficiency, renewable energy and lots more.

Energy & New England's Environment

New England: Cleaner Environment through Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy (PDF) (8 pp., 761 KB, about PDF)
New England neighbors making energy efficiency and clean energy a part of their lives.

Solar panels at a supermarket

Energy-saving traffic lights

Biodiesel-powered municipal vehicles

Regional Snapshot Photovoltaic sun shades are just one of the features that make our Chelmsford laboratory at least 30% more energy efficient than the typical laboratory.