Manchester, Washington

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power
Water Management Plan

Region 10 Laboratory

Total Facility Area: 71,698 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 54 persons
Energy Consumption: 18,635,370,544 Btu per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 259,915
Total Water Consumption: 647,663 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 9

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

Description

The Manchester Environmental Laboratory provides physical, chemical, biological and microbiological analyses of air, soil, sediments, water tissue, and unknown chemicals in drums. It measures contaminants and pollution effects in a variety of media in support of criminal enforcement, civil enforcement, site assessment, remedial investigation, ecosystem monitoring and public health initiatives. It also serves as a technical reference laboratory with the capability of providing consultation and interpretation of data in such areas as organic and inorganic chemistry, environmental microbiology, and aquatic biology. Construction of a new wing was completed in May 2003.

2007 Pollution Prevention Partner of the Year Award Winner

The Region 10 laboratory was recognized with a 2008 White House Closing the Circle Award Honorable Mention for the facility's comprehensive recycling program. Employees collected more than 23,000 pounds of recyclable materials in 2007. The facility's strong Environmental Management System (EMS) and willingness of employees to not only recycle but contribute new ideas for conservation provided the foundation for this remarkable achievement.

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

EPA is in the process of replacing most of the Region 10 laboratory's constant volume systems with high-performance fume hoods. In FY 2004 and FY 2005, during the initial stage of renovation, EPA focused on design, construction, and commissioning of new variable air volume (VAV) systems, including six new VAV fume hoods. In FY 2006, in the second phase of renovation, EPA focused on the design, construction, and commissioning of six new high-performance fume hoods, which are designed to use 30 to 40 percent less energy than conventional, constant volume systems.
In FY 2005, EPA completed the replacement of the facility's fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient fixtures, such as T8 tubes, electronic ballasts, and light-emitting diode lights. EPA also installed occupancy sensors in several restrooms to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

Green Power

In March 2004, EPA began purchasing biodiesel fuel mix to be used for heating its Manchester laboratory. Pacific Northwest Energy Company of Tacoma, Washington, supplied the fuel, which consisted of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent traditional fuel oil. After the first quarter of FY 2006, the Manchester laboratory discontinued use of biodiesel fuel.
In September 2000, EPA agreed to a 10-year demonstration grant with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for the purchase of 3.3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power annually in the form of renewable energy certificates. This grant supports the generation of renewable energy from wind farms in Wyoming and Oregon, as well as the development of new renewable energy projects in the Pacific Northwest. The purchase will offset 100 percent of the electricity consumption at the Manchester laboratory.
Since the end of 2000, EPA's wet laboratory in Manchester, Washington—one of the facility's multiple laboratory buildings—was the first commercial, solar-powered net metering project in the Northwest. Under net metering, any excess electricity produced by the laboratory's 28 photovoltaic panels will reduce the flow of power from the local utility power grid, slowing the spin of the electric meter, and offsetting the laboratory's energy costs.

Water Conservation

EPA completed a water conservation assessment and developed a water management plan for the Region 10 Laboratory (PDF) (17 pp, 381K, About PDF) in August 2005.
In an effort to reduce water and energy usage at the laboratory, employees suggested utilizing the facility's autoclave stand-by function. By reducing the use and water consumption of the autoclaves an estimated 60,000 gallons of water were saved.
In 1998, the laboratory replaced its 4-inch PVC water lines with 6-inch ductile iron water lines. The bigger, stronger lines reduce the frequency of leaks and reduce the laboratory's overall water consumption rate. The laboratory also replaced a 20-year-old water cooling tower with a new, more efficient tower, which reduced the water and energy usage of the cooling system.

Additional Features

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

For More Information

Linda Donahue (donahue.linda@epa.gov)
7411 Beach Drive East
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Phone: (360) 871-8724

Web site: Region 10 Laboratory Web Page