Montgomery, Alabama

photo: National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL)

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power

Native Landscaping

National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL)

Total Facility Area: 54,639 gross square feet
Estimated Personnel: 55 persons
Energy Consumption: 11,415,309,797 Btu per year
Btu per Square Foot per Year: 208,922
Total Water Consumption: 2,204,000 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 40

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2007.

Description

Located on Maxwell Air Force Base, the Montgomery laboratory provides radiological monitoring data to support rulemaking and radiological emergency response activities. The Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) is the only nationwide environmental radiation monitoring network in the United States. NAREL also supports Superfund and enforcement activities with laboratory and field measurements and technical assistance for radioactive and hazardous chemical (mixed waste) contaminants. The facility includes a state-of-the-art radioanalytical laboratory and office space.

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

In FY 2007, EPA upgraded the current facility chiller system to a more efficient system with updated controls.

Green Power

In FY 2008, EPA continued to support the renewable energy market by purchasing green power through two separate Agencywide blanket contracts for a combined total of 380 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy certificates (RECs), or “green tags,” from Sterling Planet , Luminant Energy Company , and FPL Energy . These purchases will allow EPA to offset 100 percent of electricity consumption for FY 2008 and the first half of FY 2009 at the Montgomery laboratory, as well as many other EPA facilities across the Agency. Procured through the Defense Energy Support Center, these contracts support renewable energy generation from wind and biomass resources in nine states.
In June 2006, EPA signed a contract to acquire 110 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in renewable energy certificates (RECs), or "green tags," from 3 Phases Energy Services over the period September 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007. This blanket purchase supplied EPA with enough RECs through FY 2007 to offset 100 percent of annual electricity consumption at the Montgomery laboratory and other EPA facilities not covered by separate green power contracts. Procured through the Defense Energy Support Center , this contract supported wind power generation in California, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Water Conservation

In FY 2008, the National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory continued development of a water management plan.
The laboratory has eliminated all forms of single-pass equipment cooling.
No landscape irrigation water is used at the laboratory, as grasses and shrubs are climate-appropriate and survive on natural rainfall.
A new central chiller plant was recently constructed at the laboratory. Historically, cooling towers have been maintained by a cooling tower maintenance contractor that performs monthly quality, performance, and water chemistry reviews of cooling tower operation. The laboratory plans to regularly test the new towers to achieve maximum water use savings.

Other Features

All of the facility's chlorofluorocarbons were replaced by 1998.

For More Information

Contact

Michael Clark (clark.michael@epa.gov)
Maxwell AFB - Gunter Annex
540 South Morris Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36115
Fax: (334) 270-3434

Web site: www.epa.gov/narel