Greening EPA

National Computer Center

95,322 gross square feet (GSF)
Personnel: 120

Energy Intensity:
FY 2014: 492,719 Btu per GSF
26.0% reduction from FY 2003 baseline

Water Intensity:
FY 2014: 3.30 gallons per GSF
32.5% reduction from FY 2007 baseline

NCC, provides large-scale computing services for EPA nationwide.

NCC received the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED^® for new construction version 2.0 Silver level certification in January 2005.
NCC meets the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings due to its existing LEED certification.
An extensive, third-party review of the data center’s operating conditions resulted in EPA shutting off six of the facility’s 13 computer room air conditioning units, while still meeting the sensitive cooling needs of the computer equipment. EPA also optimized and diversified the location of energy-intensive equipment to better match heat loads and cooling capacity.
Energy-efficient lighting includes high-efficiency fluorescent lighting, motion sensors, daylight dimming sensors and manual override switches.
Variable speed motors, fans, and pumps meet actual energy demand and therefore prevent energy waste. Outside air economizers reduce energy costs by bringing in outside air when the temperature and humidity meet acceptable levels.
A building automation system (BAS) controls temperature, pressure, humidity, electrical systems, computer room cooling units, cooling and heating equipment, maintenance indicators, lighting, and security.
A 100-kilowatt, integrated roof power system installed on the roof of the NCC, is one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) installations on the East Coast. The system's PV cells are also backed with foam that increases the building roof's thermal insulation.