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Pacific Northwest and Alaska Federal agencies reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 380 million pounds in 2010

Release Date: 02/01/2011
Contact Information: Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-1203, brown.anthony@epa.gov

(Seattle – Feb. 1, 2011) - Federal agencies in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska walked their talk in 2010 and significantly reduced their carbon footprint. Through energy efficiency, waste diversion, lighting retrofitting, and water saving projects, federal agencies reduced their combined footprint by 380 million pounds of CO2e. This is the equivalent of taking 33,000 passenger vehicles off the road for a year. These reductions also resulted in cost savings of more than $1 million in 2010.

This week at the third annual Federal Green Challenge Symposium in Portland, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce the 2010 Champions of Environmental Leadership and Green Government Awards.

The program recognizes individuals and initiatives in the federal government that have gone beyond regulatory compliance and have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. These agencies have proven results towards an overall goal of five percent or more reduction in GHG emissions.

The 2010 Champions of Environmental Leadership and Green Government Awards are part of the Federal Green Challenge, a comprehensive federal program to reduce the federal GHG footprint.

The following agencies have been recognized for their outstanding green projects in 2010:

Overall Environmental Leadership Award: Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Smart Federal Partnership – Since 2001, energy efficiency projects have been completed with 21 federal agencies, producing more than 170 million kWh per year of electricity savings, as well as gas, steam, and water savings in the Pacific Northwest.

Waste Award: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Waste Diversion Program – JBLM achieved an 85 percent waste diversion rate (with construction and demolition) in 2010. This is up from 77 percent in 2009. This can be attributed to the comprehensive diversion program which in 2010 alone was responsible for the diversion of almost 67,000 tons of waste and over $3 million in avoided costs.

Energy Award: Bonneville Power Administration, Grand Coulee Dam – The lighting retrofit project at 20 hydro electric facilities, 20 transmission facilities, and 15 hatcheries has saved a megawatt of electricity, allowing that megawatt to serve the electricity needs of the Pacific Northwest. The new system provides more and better quality light while saving about 50 percent of overall lighting energy usage.

Water Award: General Services Administration, Thomas A. Foley, U.S. Courthouse, Spokane, WA. - In 2010, the Foley Courthouse Team field tested touch-less/self-closing faucets in the public restrooms and introduced new landscaping practices. The Courthouse saved a total of 385,220 gallons of water, a 12.32 percent reduction in 2010 by implementing these projects.

For additional information about the 2010 Champions of Environmental Leadership and Green Government Awards, visit: http://go.usa.gov/YXZ

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