National Archives Releases 2nd Annual Environmental Sustainability Plan
Press Release · Monday, October 31, 2011

Washington, DC

Archives Reduces Energy Consumption by 31%

The National Archives and Records Administration has released its 2012 Agency Sustainability Plan pursuant to Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. The goal of the Executive Order is to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in the Federal government and cut waste, pollution and costs in Federal operations. See a copy of the plan [http://www.archives.gov/about/plans-reports/sustainability/].

The National Archives is a leader in energy intensity reduction within the Federal government. The new Sustainability Plan outlines an expanded set of sustainability goals for the agency. In FY2010, the National Archives achieved a 31% energy intensity (Btu/GSF) reduction as compared to the FY2003 baseline.

The National Archives has surpassed its goals for water conservation and established green building requirements for all new construction projects. The first new building to be constructed under these requirements was the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, which achieved the highest rating, Platinum, under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The George W. Bush Presidential Library is being built to LEED Platinum as well.

The National Archives has undertaken several renewable energy initiatives this year including:

• The installation of an additional 50 kilowatts of photovoltaic solar panels at the National Archives at College Park which, when added to the existing 103 kilowatt panels, produced an average of 120,000 kilowatt hours last year. This is equivalent to supplying eight 3-bedroom houses with electricity for one year and also eliminating 77 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
   
• The continued use of 5,247 square feet of photovoltaic solar panels at the Clinton Library which produced an average of 165,000 kilowatt hours last year, enough to supply eleven 3-bedroom houses for one year and eliminate 106 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
   
• The installation of new cool white roofs on two large sections of the National Archives at College Park building and a new green vegetative roof on another section of the roof.
   
• The installation of a new cool white roof on the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, MI, and the awarding of a contract to install a white roof on the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, MI.

Through the targets and actions outlined in its report, the National Archives will renew its focus on reduction of green house gas (GHG) emissions, water conservation and green building. In addition, the agency will expand the scope of its sustainability goals to include regional and local planning, pollution prevention and waste elimination, sustainable acquisition, and electronic stewardship and data centers.

To implement this plan, the National Archives will undertake the following major projects during the 2012 fiscal year:

• The continuation and expansion of efforts to conserve energy at all facilities;
• The expansion of energy generation via renewable and other on-site sources;
• The expansion of existing internal energy audit procedures to cover all sustainability goals; and
• Continued development of an agency-wide environmental plan and directives to pursue new goals and challenges.

These projects will strengthen the National Archives’ reputation as a leader in sustainability. The National Archives was one of eight Federal agencies to win the FY2010 GreenGov Presidential Award for outstanding achievement in building energy efficiency and renewable energy development and deployment. The National Archives was one of four government agencies to win a FY2008 Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management for its support, leadership, and effort in promoting and improving energy use in facilities and operations.

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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at 202-357-5300.

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