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

Federal Energy Management Program

Federal Sustainable Building Case Studies

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's 71,000-sq. ft., $22.7-million, state-of-the-art Science & Technology Facility (S&TF) in Golden, CO, is the first Federal laboratory building to receive a Platinum rating, the highest in the LEED Green Building rating system.

The case studies featured below include sustainable design examples 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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Federal LEED® Certified Buildings

As of January 13, 2010, 189 Federal buildings have been certified under the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Rating System. Twenty-one agencies are represented across three countries, 44 U.S. states, and the District of Columbia with a variety of new construction, major renovation, existing building, commercial interior, core and shell, schools, and retail projects. The certified Federal building projects are provided in a summary list. A map detailing Federal LEED buildings by state is also available (JPG 250 KB).

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