News Releases from Region 02
EPA Recognizes Brookhaven National Laboratory & the General Services Administration for Saving Resources and Taxpayer Money
(New York, N.Y.) Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the efforts of federal facilities that took steps to improve efficiency, save resources and reduce costs as part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC).
“Federal agencies across the country are doing their part to minimize their environmental impact, in doing so saving American taxpayers millions of dollars,” EPA Administrator Pruitt said. “Their efforts resulted in an estimated cost savings of $17 million across the federal government.”
Through their involvement, FGC participants reduced the federal government’s environmental impact by reducing fuel oil consumption by more than 500,000 gallons, sending 310 tons of end-of-life electronics to third-party certified recyclers, saving 9.2 million gallons of industrial water, and diverting over 336,000 tons of waste from landfills.
FGC, now in its fifth year, is a yearlong commitment under EPA's Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Program in which participants focus on efficiently managing their resources to reduce the costs of building operations, maintenance and supplies. Specifically, participants track their data in two of six categories for a year.
EPA has awarded the following participants for their efforts in education and outreach and waste management at their facilities in FY16:
Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
2016 FGC Regional Award for the Waste and Education and Outreach Categories
Brookhaven National Laboratory increased its recycling rate by 5.6 percent from 2015 to 2016 and diverted all 6,114 tons of its waste from landfills. In addition, more than 32,000 K-12 students, teachers and others participated in educational programs at Brookhaven National Laboratory ranging from basic science concepts to in-depth research and collaboration with laboratory scientists and engineers.
Photo courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory
“Brookhaven National Laboratory continues to demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship and STEM education,” said Frank Crescenzo, manager of the Department of Energy office at the Lab. “To be recognized for these core values honors the Lab and the people who make its science possible.”
General Services Administration, Region 2, Alfonse D’Amato U.S. Courthouse, Central Islip, NY
2016 FGC Regional Award for the Solid Waste Category
From 2015 to 2016, the General Services Administration decreased the amount of trash going to landfills by 5.6 tons. The Alfonse D’Amato U.S. Courthouse recycled 21.2 tons more than the previous year, and increased its waste diversion rate by 10.5 percent. The cost savings for the waste diversion was $3,430.
Photo courtesy of U.S. General Services Administration.
“GSA promotes energy efficiency and water conservation along with waste reduction, recycling, and composting in federal buildings. GSA has participated in EPA’s Federal Green Challenge for several years, and we are proud of this year’s recognition, which highlights just one of our many efforts to improve efficiency, while promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable building operations,” said Tom Burke, program manager, GSA’s Region 2 Energy and Sustainability Branch.
For more information on the Federal Green Challenge and this year’s winners, please visit www.epa.gov/fgc
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/eparegion2
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