National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)
I. Background
ESPC is a congressional mandate which authorized federal agencies to contract with private companies to finance, install and operate building systems which will improve energy efficiency. No up-front federal funding is required. The companies are reimbursed exclusively from measured energy savings in future years up to a prescribed limit. The National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory is the EPA's first ESPC Contract.
II. NVFEL ESPC Goals
- Meet or exceed federal energy reduction mandates defined in the Energy Policy Act and Executive Order 12902 (20% by 2000, 30% by 2005 and 35% by 2010).
- Reduce source (powerplant), and site (Facility) emissions.
- Optimize energy cost savings.
- Restore obsolete and aging (30 year old) infrastructure.
- Eliminate CFC refrigerants.
- Minimize energy waste.
- Maximize use of waste energy streams.
III. Impact of ESPC on NVFEL - This contract will result in the replacement of the entire HVAC infrastructure ($10.6M expenditure). This includes:
- Replacing the entire HVAC system with advanced high-efficienty system.
- Adding Digital Control System to operate Energy Conservation System.
- Installing 200kW Fuel Cell to generate 1/3 of own electricity.
IV. Projected Annual Energy, Water and Pollution Reductions
- Electricity: 52% reduction
- Water: 81% reduction
- CO2: 57% reduction
- SO2: 53% reduction, from 203,000 to 97,000 pounds
- NOx: 54% reduction, from 74,000 to 35,000 pounds
V. Status of the ESPC Effort
- The system is now fully installed and operating.
- NVFEL expects to exceed all its energy and pollution reduction goals.
- NVFEL expects an energy savings and pollution reduction of greater than 50% of baseline levels.
- FY01 utility costs are projected to be $800,000.
- Without ESPC, FY01 utility costs would have been about $2,000,000.