U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Energy Management Program

Sustainable Building Case Studies

These case studies feature examples of sustainably designed buildings and facilities from Federal agencies and industry.

High Performance Federal Buildings Database

The High Performance Federal Buildings database presents a sampling of sustainable buildings projects in the Federal Government. This database taps into the existing Department of Energy (DOE) High Performance Buildings database, showcasing only Federal examples. Use this database to review details about projects such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Research Triangle Park Campus or the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Research Station.

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Third Party Certification

The following three resources offer information about third-party certification.

• ENERGY STAR for Federal Agencies: A site that provides access to the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, the Federal High Performance Sustainable Buildings Checklist, and ENERGY STAR qualified products, and much more.

• Green Globes: A Web-based program from the Green Building Initiative for green building guidance and certification that includes an onsite assessment by a third party.

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): A voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven program from the U.S. Green Building Council that provides third-party verification of green buildings. A map detailing Federal LEED buildings by state is also available.

Federal ENERGY STAR-Labeled Buildings

As of March 12, 2008, 175 Federal buildings have been labeled with ENERGY STAR. Ten agencies are represented in 41 states across the country with general office, courthouse, hospital, and medical office building types. The ENERGY STAR labeled Federal building projects are provided in a list and can also be accessed on the ENERGY STAR website.

Federal Showcase Facilities

The following case studies describe the features of several new buildings designed with sustainable principles.

• NREL Research Support Facility in Golden, CO
• NREL Science and Technology Facility in Golden, CO
• Nathanial R. Jones Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in Youngstown, OH
• Zion National Park Visitor Center in Springdale, UT
• Naval Base Ventura County - Building 850 in Port Hueneme, CA
• Environmental Protection Agency Campus in Research Triangle Park, NC

Greening Reports

FEMP served as lead agency in several Federal "greening" initiatives. These initiatives involve increasing energy efficiency, protecting the environment, and encouraging the green associated with saving taxpayer dollars. Visit the following status reports of FEMP-assisted greening projects:

• Denali National Park
• DOE Headquarters
• Grand Canyon National Park
• The Pentagon
• The Presidio
• The White House
• Yellowstone National Park