The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced plans to use $975 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades to federal buildings across the country.
The investment will impact about 40 million sf, or about 20% of GSA’s federal buildings portfolio. It will expand the agency’s sustainable building portfolio to 134 million sf. The projects will enable 28 buildings to achieve net zero emissions, and 100 more buildings to become all-electric. GSA currently has about 200 buildings that are all-electric.
The plans include electrifying the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, one of the largest structures in GSA’s portfolio. The work will include installation of heat pumps as the primary heating source, while eliminating onsite combustion emissions and the use of steam onsite for space and water heating. The project calls for installation of 57,000 LED light bulbs, upgrading over 500 high efficiency transformers, and installing a reverse osmosis groundwater recovery system that is estimated to save 35 million gallons of water annually. After work is completed, the Reagan Building is estimated to reduce energy usage by 40% and realize an estimated $6.3 million savings in energy costs annually.
GSA plans to tap into private sector funds through performance contracts such as Energy Savings Performance Contracts and Utility Energy Savings Contracts; make direct investments in building retrofits to maximize greenhouse gas reductions as well as energy and water savings; and expand building technology innovation programs such as the Green Proving Ground and Applied Innovation Learning Lab programs as well as electric vehicle infrastructure.
“The Inflation Reduction Act investments put GSA three-quarters of the way toward meeting the Federal Building Performance Standard released last year, which sets an ambitious goal to cut energy use while electrifying equipment and appliances in 30% of the building space owned by the federal government by 2030,” according to a GSA news release.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 28, 2020
2020 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
The 2020 Giants 400 Report features more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Healthcare Facilities | Aug 13, 2020
New VA care center showcases the agency’s P3 approach to financing healthcare facilities
Clinic programming enhances patient privacy.
Sustainability | Aug 11, 2020
Sustainability is key for Denver Water’s modernized campus and distribution system
The utility is showcasing a new admin building and a water reuse plan that’s a first for the state.
Cultural Facilities | Jun 19, 2020
A new ULI report chronicles the depaving of America
Fifteen examples of how parks and green spaces emerged from parking lots, garages, and underpasses.
Green | Mar 9, 2020
BuroHappold commits to all new building projects achieving net-zero carbon by 2030
The engineering firm also launched a long-term partnership with ILFI.
Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2020
Government Buildings Sector Giants Report for 2019 [Updated]
AECOM, HOK, Jacobs, and Turner Construction top the rankings of the nation's largest government buildings sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Government Buildings | Nov 13, 2019
The Washington Monument reopens with a new visitor center
This is one of several landmark restoration projects underway in the nation’s capital.
Government Buildings | Apr 17, 2019
St. Petersburg’s police headquarters is a transparent yet secure government facility
Harvard Jolly designed the building.
Industrial Facilities | Mar 10, 2019
The burgeoning Port San Antonio lays out growth plans
Expansions would accommodate cybersecurity, aerospace, and defense tenants, and help commercialize technologies.
Government Buildings | Feb 27, 2019
Design unveiled for U.S. embassy in New Delhi
Weiss/Manfredi is designing the project.