Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Champions of Green Government
2005 Recipients
On this Page:
1) MCB CampPendleton - Facilities Maintenance Department
Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Thomas, Jay Bergamini, Richard Mandrigues, Jeff Allen, Timothy Vincent, Greg Rippen, David Macek, Ralph Hargis, Douglas Spence, Randy Monohan
In 2004, the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Facilities and Maintenance Department (FMD) decommissioned the aged and energy-intensive Area 22 central steam plant. The decommissioning resulted in energy and cost savings of 933,323 therms and $653,326 respectively.
The effort allowed Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton to surpass the mandated (E.O. 13123) energy reduction goal of 35% by 2010 six years early, achieving a noteworthy 44% reduction in energy consumption from the FY 85 baseline. (See chart)
In addition, the changes resulted in the following emissions reductions:
- Greenhouse Gases (CO 2) 10,927,346 Pounds per year
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 503 Pounds per year
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) 14,000 Pounds per year
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) 2,240 Pounds per year
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 56 Pounds per year
*Emission savings calculated by The Cleaner and Greener Emission Reduction Calculator 
The central steam plant provided heat and domestic hot water to more than thirty (30) buildings. Originally constructed in 1954, it used an extensive underground steam distribution system extending as much as 1.5 miles from the plant and operated 365 days per year to meet demands.
During 2004, all of the thirty buildings were provided separate, individual heating and domestic hot water boilers, eliminating the need for the central steam plant. The steam plant consumed more than 1.8 million therms costing over $1.2 million dollars annually before decommissioning. After decommissioning it is estimated that the thirty buildings now use only 866,677 therms per year, costing about $606,000 per year to operate. The reasons for the savings include the following:
- The domestic hot water heaters are independent of the building heating systems, enabling them to be shut off independently,
- Direct Digital Controls (DDC’s) shut down the heating systems at night and on weekends to unoccupied areas (90% of the heating degree-days occur after 5:00 pm and before 7:00 am),
- Smaller more efficient boilers result in reduced emissions, water usage and chemical treatment, testing and certification costs, and
- Increased system reliability results in fewer repairs and reduced operation & maintenance costs.
Throughout the entire project, the quality of life and mission readiness of the Marine Corps were not compromised.
2) NASA Ames - Federal Electronics Challenge Team
NASA Ames, Moffett Field, CA
The Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) is a voluntary partnership program that empowers federal agencies to manage their electronics in an environmentally sound manner during all three life-cycle phases: acquisition and procurement, operation and maintenance, and end-of-life management of these assets.
As part of the FEC program NASA Ames developed goals for improving its management of electronic equipment. Ames developed a fact sheet detailing what Ames does with their equipment, what the potential impacts of this waste stream are, resources for information, pertinent regulations, and recycling service providers. Ames minimizes their liability from improper handling of donated equipment, and educates their recipients about the importance of recycling this material.
Highlights of Ames’ electronics management program included the following:
- Developing a brochure for all NASA Ames employees describing e-waste issues and how Ames is managing e-waste,
- Completing a full on-site audit of their recycling vendors,
- Recycling 77 CPUs, 536 Monitors, 38 peripherals, 7 laptops, and 25 printers,
- Donating 78 CPUs, 41 Monitors and 10 laptops,
- Including in their recycling contracts a requirement that no unprocessed material or scrap material would be sent overseas, and
- Establishing a power-off policy for computers, printers and other office equipment when employees leave for the day.
NASA Ames has helped mentor other Federal agencies about how to improve electronic equipment to save resources, conserve energy and promote environmentally preferable products in the marketplace.
3) Nellis AFB – Environmental Management System Team
Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, NV
Nellis AFB’s efforts in implementing an EMS place it at the leading edge of compliance with Executive Order 13148. By integrating mission sustainability and sound environmental stewardship Nellis completed EMS aspects & impacts identification three months ahead of the Air Force goal of June 30, 2004.
Specific achievements include the following:
- Nellis exceeded it’s solid waste recycling goal of 40% for the installation by averaging 67% recycling diversion rate for 2004,
- Nellis realized annual recycling revenues in excess of $150,000, one of only a few Air Force installations to raise recycling revenues,
- Nellis paid its recycling operational costs with recycling revenue, resulting in no cost to the installation,
- Nellis prepared an EMS awareness pamphlet and provided to all personnel, and
- Nellis provided its EMS Policy Statement on the Nellis public website for review by the local community.
Nellis AFB has achieved full implementation of its EMS well before the December 2005 deadline established in the Executive Order.
4) Luke Air Force Base (AFB) – Pollution Prevention Program
Luke AFB, AZ
Luke AFB has successfully implemented numerous P2 initiatives, redefining pollution prevention and waste minimization in the Air Force. The entire pollution prevention program has been overhauled to reduce the generation of non-hazardous solid wastes and hazardous wastes, increase solid waste diversion, and enhance awareness at Luke AFB and the local surrounding community.
Luke personnel performed a process review of the F-16 aircraft painting process in March 2004. By utilizing the new PreKote preparation system, zero hazardous waste is generated. This effort reduced hazardous waste costs by $25,000 per year and removed all associated Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulatory liability for bulk storage of hazardous waste, training, and tracking. In addition, the new system increased the integrity of the primer application process and improved corrosion prevention.
Luke personnel reduced the amount of hazardous material turned in for disposal. By determining hazmat needs versus requests, base-wide hazardous material turn-ins were reduced by an amazing 89%, resulting in a $33,200 reduction in labpack and disposal costs for 2004. Over 3,200 material safety data sheets were reviewed and updated, directing over 600 requirement changes, reducing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions by 82% and dropping the amount of flammables stored locally by 57%. As a result, Luke AFB reduced the expired shelf-life turn-ins by 80% from February to June 2004.
In February 2004 the aircraft maintenance squadron designed a new plug to eliminate fuel dumping. The evaluation period was successful and the idea was shared, resulting in a permanent Air Force-wide Technical Order. This simple solution reduced spillage by 98% and reduced POL sorbent pad disposal by 63%, saving over $119,000 in disposal and related fuel consumption by December 2004.
In just one year, Luke AFB has instituted five new programs to reduce or reuse Arizona industrial solid waste. POL sorbent pads are a common waste for many public and private agencies, especially for Luke. Sorbent pads are now used for energy recovery to increase solid waste diversion efforts. The impact is significant: 68,000 pounds were utilized for bulk energy recovery in six months. As an added bonus, all diesel, jet fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid filters, once thrown away as municipal waste, were commingled with soaked sorbent pads and shipped for recycling. Over 8,000 pounds of designated filters were recycled in 2004. The program is being promoted to other military and airport agencies statewide.
Luke is generating 300% more alkaline batteries from 10 years ago, 70% more toner/ink jet cartridges, and personnel are generating 700% more cell phones. In order to prevent toxic contamination in local landfills and in order to re-use plastics, Luke established recycling programs for each item in January 2004. In just one year, over 55,000 battery cells, 12,000 cartridges, and 350 cell phones were recycled.
Luke has authored and published a stormwater pollution prevention training handbook which was used to train 410 unit facility managers on critical impacts. The education also included over 1,200 local residents at the Tres Rios River festival, in partnership with state agencies in March 2004. In January 2004, Luke founded the Earth Day Protection Committee which orchestrated its very first Earth Day Fair and Arbor Day event for 1,400 elementary school students in the surrounding community. Activities included a “recycling fashion show” where 38 contestants modeled apparel made of recyclable goods, a button and poster contest, and 11 exhibitors, while incorporating an element of fun.
At one point, Luke was the only facility in the city recycling and was inspired to extend their recycling efforts to others in the city. As a result, Luke created the "Thunderbolt Recycling" program which distributes quarterly newsletters and brochures to base personnel, transient populations, and newcomers who live and work in the area. The effort has led to a solid waste diversion increase of 18% at Luke in 2004. By performing an aggressive desk-side paper management campaign, Luke distributed over 700 bins to increase paper recycling by an additional 37%.
In 2004, Luke AFB has gone above expectations to implement affirmative procurement and Executive Order 13101 regarding green procurement. In 2004, over 29 tons of recycled paper and $75,000 in recyclable building materials were purchased.
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