Ada, Oklahoma

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

Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center

Total Facility Area: 77,875 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 160 persons
Energy Consumption: 11,996,620,408 Btu per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 154,050
Total Water Consumption: 3,806,403 gallons per year
Gallons per GSF per Year: 49

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

Description

The research conducted at the Ada laboratory focuses on soil and subsurface environments. The facility's mission is to study the transport and transformation of contaminants in soil and groundwater generated by municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastes.

Unique Environmental Features

Energy Conservation

The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma, is EPA's first "Carbon Neutral" Laboratory. A ground source heat pump (GHP) system allows the laboratory to operate without natural gas for heating and reheat purposes. With the April 2005 purchase of 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year of wind power green tags, as well as additional Agencywide green power contracts, EPA offset the remaining conventional electricity (e.g., pumps, fans, lights) with electricity that produces no emissions. As a result, none of the energy consumed by the facility is associated with greenhouse gas emissions.
Following the award of an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), construction of a comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade of Ada's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was completed in FY 2005. The upgrade included installation of a GHP system for heating and cooling the facility, a complete variable air volume system for air supply and fume hood air exhaust, new and upgraded fan motors, and an integrated direct digital control system for HVAC, energy, fire, and security management. ESPC commissioning was completed in November 2004. Energy use has been reduced by 45 percent compared to the pre-ESPC baseline (average FY 1994-1996).
A 2006 Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) case study described the retrofit project undertaken at the Ada laboratory. The case study detailed the various upgrades and energy-efficient systems installed in the building. The study also presented “lessons learned” from the ESPC and commissioning processes, many of which were specific to laboratory facilities. View the Ada Case Study.
Average energy use at the Ada laboratory was more than 21 billion Btu per year between 1994-1996. FY 2007 energy use was 11,996,620,408 Btu, representing a 44 percent reduction in energy use.
Installation of the GHP eliminated the use of natural gas for heating and reheat purposes, significantly reducing energy consumption in the Ada laboratory. In addition to the environmental benefits, geothermal systems require lower maintenance than conventional systems, which will reduce Agency expenditures. EPA estimates the energy costs for operating the laboratory with the GHP will be less than $1 per square foot, compared to the historic cost of $2.71 per square foot.

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 Ada 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 April 2005, EPA entered into a three-year contract with Sterling Planet , to purchase 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power annually in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). Procured by the Defense Energy Support Center , this contract supports the generation of renewable energy from wind turbines at facilities located in Wyoming, California, and Nebraska, and will help offset 100 percent of annual electricity use at the Ada laboratory.

Green Building

As part of the facility's ESPC, Ada is one of the first EPA facilities to be retrofit in conjunction with the Labs21 program, which focuses on improving the environmental performance of public and private sector laboratories in the United States.

Water Conservation

In November 2005, EPA completed a Water Management Plan for the Ada laboratory (PDF) (15 pp, 550K, About PDF).

Additional Features

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

For More Information

Garmon Smith (smith.garmon@epa.gov)
P.O. Box 1198
Ada, OK 74821
Phone: (580) 436-8565

Web site: www.epa.gov/ada/kerrlab.html