Attachment 5_USDA Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan.doc

12639522R00015, Attachment 5

CONTENTS

I. Executive Summary, Background and Issues II. Policy and Purpose for the Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan III. USDA Goals and Objectives

IV. Sustainable Buildings Actions V. Performance Targets and Agency Accomplishments VI. Furthering Progress VII. Action Item Checklist and Milestones

VIII. Sustainable Building Resources and Information

IX. Direction for 2010

I. Executive Summary, Background and Issues Executive Summary Facilities consume approximately 68 % of the energy produced in electrical power plants in the United States, and even more of all energy obtained from burning fossil fuels. Natural resource inputs are also required, throughout a building’s existence, in the construction and operations and maintenance, and disposal phases. Buildings account for a large measure of that which leads to greenhouse gas emissions, and are the places where energy and water are expended, where green electronics, solid waste and recycling and environmentally-preferred products are used. Beyond environmental integrity, human health depends upon positive indoor environmental quality. Because these issues depend upon building sustainability, it is essential that the Federal government lead in designing, constructing, and operating Sustainable Buildings. The recently-signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” requires that Federal agencies apply sustainable building strategies throughout their portfolio for all construction and major and minor renovations over 5,000 square feet in size, and for existing building operations as well. USDA is steward over a 57,558,472 square foot building footprint; the department is assessing sustainability of 2,232 buildings in the over 5,000 square feet category.

The largest USDA agencies, who are the property holding agencies, such as the Forest Service (FS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and GIPSA, are achieving sustainable building measures using strategies similar to those sought by other government agencies, and those encouraged in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

The executive office directs that agencies achieve specific sustainability measures in designing, constructing and operating buildings. Executive Order (E.O.) 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance” Federal Government must lead by example to create a clean energy economy, promote energy security, and safeguard the environment. As a matter of policy, Federal agencies must increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and operate Buildings in a sustainable manner. E.O. 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management,” signed in early 2007, requires that the Federal government lead in these three distinct areas. OMB evaluates and tracks agency progress areas using a scorecard.

Background and issues

Building and operating facilities consume most of the electrical and total fossil fuel energy produced in the United States. Buildings also require natural resources and other inputs. From OFEE’s The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and Expectations “Buildings in the United States have a significant impact on the environment and account for:

Energy

· 37 percent of primary energy use

· 68 percent of all electricity use

Materials Use

· 60 percent of non-food/fuel raw materials use

Waste

· 40 percent of non-industrial solid waste4 or 136 million tons of construction

· and demolition debris per year5

· 31 percent of mercury in municipal solid waste6

Water

· 12 percent of potable water use7

· 36 billion gallons of water per day8

· 20 percent loss of potable water in many urban systems due to leakage9

Air Quality

· 35 percent of carbon dioxide emissions

· 49 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions”

· 25 percent of nitrous oxide emissions

· 10 percent of particulate matter emissions

USDA is steward of a sizeable building footprint, totaling 57,558,472 square feet. Of this total, a total of 32,797,097 square feet are in 2,232 buildings over 5,000 square feet. Because the recent Executive Order (E.O.) 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” mandates that Federal agencies apply sustainable strategies to all new buildings, major and minor renovations over 5,000 square feet in size, USDA is analyzing and reporting to the executive branch on these 2,232 buildings.

The Executive Office of the President directs that agencies achieve specific sustainability measures in designing, constructing and operating buildings. E.O. 13514 requires that the Federal Government lead by example to create a clean energy economy, promote energy security, and safeguard the environment. As a matter of policy, Federal agencies must increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and operate Buildings in a sustainable manner. E.O. 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management,” from 2007, requires that Federal government agencies leads in these three distinct areas. Under the Bush administration, OMB created a scorecard system to evaluate and track agency progress in these three areas.

II. Policy and Purpose for the Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan Policy President Obama’s new sustainability Executive Order (E.O.) 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” and existing E.O. 13423 establish aggressive goals for Federal buildings. E.O. 13423 requires that Federal agencies follow the Five Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings -- the “Guiding Principles -- in constructing and renovating all Federal buildings. E.O. 13423 set specific goals and requirements in sustainable building actions, as well as in acquiring goods and services, in operating and maintaining facilities energy efficiently, in generating renewable energy, conserving water, reducing the acquisition, use, and disposal of toxics and hazardous chemicals, recycling, electronics stewardship, and operating fleets. Additionally, at least15 percent of existing buildings of 5,000 gross square feet or more must incorporate sustainable practices by the end of fiscal year 2015. Federal agencies must demonstrate annual progress towards meeting the 15 percent goal to meet the OMB end-of-year reporting requirements. Therefore, the USDA is assessing its existing building inventory for buildings 5,000 gross square feet or greater, as required, to determine which facilities follow sustainable principles and practices and report to OMB.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will implement the following objectives:

1) Ensure all new facilities and major renovation projects implement design, construction, and operations and maintenance practices in support of the sustainable design/high-performance buildings goals of Executive Orders E.O. 13514 and 13423, as well as statutory requirements of Energy Policy Act and EISA and Epact; and

2) Ensure that a minimum of 15 percent of the existing Federal capital asset building inventory of USDA as of the end of fiscal year 2015 incorporates the sustainable design practices in the Guiding Principles.

Purpose

The Council on Environmental Quality issued “Instructions for Implementing E.O. 13423” on March 29, 2007. Agencies are required to submit an annual Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan (SBIP) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB, on June 29, 2007, issued the Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan Guidance, with detailed objectives, requirements and guidance to agencies. That is the purpose for this plan. The 2009 SBIP seeks to update the 2007 SBIP, the first plan USDA developed, and to detail both past accomplishments and future goals.

III. USDA Goals and Objectives The USDA seeks to build new buildings, and renovate, operate, and maintain existing buildings sustainably, with a view towards resource conservation and effective environmental land management. Sustainable Building strategies address the Guiding Principles in all building life cycle stages:

· siting

· design

· construction

· operations and maintenance

· disposal and deconstruction The USDA places a high priority on using integrated building concepts and high performance green building standards, enhancing occupant welfare, and protecting mission critical assets. USDA agencies raise building condition through financial decisions weighted towards those that provide the greatest return on investment (ROI). Investment Decisions affect all Real Property over the Capital Asset Threshold . Initiatives to secure the greatest ROI on agency resources in sustainable buildings practices include:

· using known data and characteristics to select potentially sustainable buildings, and creating a survey to evaluate and assess all USDA existing buildings, and measure and validate the extent to which these buildings meet the guiding principles;

· promoting and adhering to sustainable practices by writing solicitations to include Sustainable Buildings Guiding Principles; and

· using a third-party certification system, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) system, to measure sustainability.

IV. Sustainable Buildings Actions

The USDA furthered progress in measuring and reporting on building sustainability in FY 2009. EMD is assessing all buildings’ sustainability, in response to Executive Branch requirements, with agency-wide use of an internal measurement system. USDA is reporting accurately on sustainability of its portfolio, and remains on track for 15 percent Sustainable Buildings in 2015. In 2009, the department continues to execute Sustainable Buildings goals and to initiate goals in keeping with current priorities. These include creating individual agencies’ sustainability policies and strategies.

USDA staff are achieving several Sustainable Buildings measures:

· initiated a measurement and reporting system, and

· started a USDA Sustainable Buildings SharePoint site, to share information and to raise awareness of Sustainable Building accomplishments, both within the Department, and to recognize agency achievements in sustainable building design, construction and operation.

USDA is moving towards reaching 15 percent Sustainable Buildings in 2015 using these strategies:

· “Raise the bar” and strive to further agency Sustainable Buildings accomplishments within the Facilities Work Group forum by setting goals, sharing successes and lessons learned;

· Continue to use LEED®, or another 3rd-party certification process, as a USDA-wide design and construction, and leasing standard, for all new construction and leasing actions;

· Follow green procurement methods and using green contract language in leasing, constructing, repairing, altering, and operating and maintaining facilities, like methods and contract language used in contracting for Biopreferred products;

· Raise performance in offices, laboratories, farm and forest buildings through increasing levels of sustainable design and energy and water conservation;

· Refine internal systems to track sustainability characteristics, and develop new systems with increased capabilities;

· Measure, recognize, and reward positive sustainable building performance within USDA;

· Share information and raising awareness of departmental Sustainable Building practices:

create training presentations, and internet-based tools such as the Sustainable Buildings SharePoint site;

· Cooperate with Energy, Biopreferred, EMS, Green Procurement programs to reach environmental objectives, such as showcasing Biopreferred products in the USDA sustainable buildings, gathering facility environmental management data for sustainable building reports; and

· Form research and interest groups to pilot projects in sustainable sites/ sustainable land management, alternative energy, and water conservation and Low Impact Development (LID) technologies.

V. Performance Targets and Agency Accomplishments USDA staff developed specific criteria for sustainable buildings, and provided a survey to evaluate and assess all USDA sustainable existing buildings, currently in use to measure 2009 performance. Staff formulated agency guidance and required both appointed agency staff responsible to report on sustainable building performance, and the annual data call on sustainable building performance.

USDA agencies such as ARS, DA’s Office of Operations, and FS continue to implement the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings. These principles are incorporated into facilities design standards. Specifically, appropriate sustainable design considerations were given in the siting, design, and construction of new facilities. Also, new building construction projects are managed by integrated design teams and commissioning is integrated into design and construction phases. Additionally, indoor environmental quality specifications are included in the design of all new building construction. Furthermore, new construction requires the use of hazardous materials and hazardous substances abatement services; and gives preference to the reuse or recycling of materials.

The USDA Headquarters South Building Modernization design team is using LEED® for Commercial Interiors. The building’s registration with USGBC is well positioned to earn a silver or gold-level certification.

Agricultural Research Service Sustainable Building Accomplishments in 2009 Within Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Consolidated Laboratory Facility Building in Ames, Iowa, is constructed to LEED® standards. For existing buildings, ARS devised and completed a sustainability survey this year. The ARS Existing Building Survey, conducted in the field of all locations, to find those deemed the most sustainable so as to concentrate efforts on improving them. The survey, distributed with the FY 2008 annual energy report call for data, was based on the prerequisites and points in LEED®-EB v2.0. Currently ARS has a baseline, for all locations, focusing on the sustainable locations. ARS uses the survey results to identify and implement cost effective, affordable, sustainable practices, agency-wide. ARS currently has 6% of its existing buildings sustainable and is making progress.

In FY 2009 ARS published the REE Energy, Water and Sustainability Policy and Procedures (P&P) 134.2. This document promulgates the agency’s sustainability policy and provides an Action Plan for accomplishing it.

As part of ARS’ sustainability effort the following specific actions are underway:

· ARS is transitioning to an all green cleaning policy by the end of FY 2010, and providing training and information to locations. Green cleaning products are to be used exclusively, including in janitorial contracts, unless they do not meet mission requirements along with entrance mats, isolated cleaning closets, and cleaning equipment with a low environmental impact.

· ARS performs regular outreach to energy managers, engineers, procurement specialists, facility managers and the EMS/safety community on sustainability and the agency’s sustainability policy. A communication structure has been established, conference calls are held and a Sharepoint site is maintained.

· The Five Guiding Principles are being incorporated into new construction where cost effective. ARS is partnered with Labs 21 and uses their methodology. Where practicable major new construction follows the LEED® methodology, however they are not being submitted to USGBC.

· ARS submitted the newly constructed Combined Laboratory Facility in Ames IA to the USGBC in December 2009. Certified level is expected.

· ARS has incorporated sustainability requirements into all of its standards and design contracts.

· ARS has engaged the EMS structure in the accomplishment of sustainability goals. EMS committees have been trained on the Five Guiding Principles and the elements of LEED® EB and are incorporating them into their EMSs.

FS Sustainable Building Accomplishments in 2009

Sustainable Buildings and LEED® Requirements:

Sustainable building design is inherent in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification process, adopted by the Forest Service (FS). New building construction projects for regional offices, supervisor’s offices, district offices, visitor centers, and research offices/labs, must be registered and certified under the LEED® rating system at a minimum Silver certification level, where 10,000 gross square feet or greater. All building projects, whether for new construction or major renovation, must be designed to incorporate the sustainable principles of the most recent LEED® rating system into the appropriate building systems and components.

The FS updated its agency Sustainable Buildings policy, Forest Service Handbook 7309.11 – Buildings and Related Facilities Handbook, Chapter 70. Part of this Policy sets forth details on using The Guiding Principles and practices when designing, constructing, or conducting major renovations of the following types of Forest Service-owned administrative buildings:

· New building construction and major renovation projects where the project includes 2,500 gross square feet or more in scope, or

· Any building or group of buildings that by design would have energy intensive activities, such as tree coolers, commercial kitchens, processing plants, and so forth. A general guideline for this criterion is whether the anticipated electric (or other appropriate energy) bill would exceed $40,000 annually.

Within the Forest Service, twenty buildings have been designed to meet LEED®. Most of the buildings are still under construction or were very recently completed and are not yet LEED certified. Six buildings have already achieved LEED® certification.

The FS is achieving other sustainable building measures including:

· The FS established a Sustainable Operations Western Collective, and is writing a collective work plan for sustainable practices, across Regions1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and the Rocky Mountain Research Station;

· The FS is completing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, for six National Forests in the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem;

· With the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the Rocky Mountain Region (Region 2) of the FS is developing a net-zero energy model for buildings, and partnering with EPA on what net-zero waste means, plus establishing an implementation model for a FS ranger district;

· The FS is using a micro grant program, to implement energy, water and resource-conservation activities, and an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) to complete energy and water conservation projects and to install renewable energy systems;

· The FS Rocky Mountain Region installed a pair of five (5) kilowatt wind turbines at Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, and is building a ten-person bunk house in Montrose CO, using LEED® for homes to measure accomplishments; they anticipate achieving a minimum LEED® silver rating;

· At the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) Green-Built house in Madison, Wisconsin, FP constructed a green sustainable demonstration bldg. for interpretive purposes, design awarded the E-Star rating in 2001 principles are incorporated into all aspects of construction of new facilities and, where feasible, into existing facility renovations. The design and construction incorporate environmentally sensitive practices that reduce pollutants and improve indoor air quality, while conserving water, energy, and other natural resources. Many of the building materials were derived from recycled products;

· Forest Products Laboratory was awarded the Energy Star® label in October 2001, and is also certified as a Green Built House.

Forest Service LEED® Certified Buildings in 2009:

LEED® Gold:

· Chattooga River Ranger District Office, Chattahoochee NF, Region 8-Southern Region

LEED® Silver:

· Savannah River Laboratory, Southern Research Station

· Bessey Ranger District Office, Nebraska NF, Region 2-Rocky Mountain Region

· Kawishiwi Ranger Station, Superior NF, Region 9-Eastern Region

LEED® Certified:

· Lee Ranger District Office, George Washington-Jefferson NF, Region 8-Southern Region

· Sylamore Ranger District, Ozark-St. Francis NF, Region 8-Southern Region

Examples of Certification Pending: (these projects are currently under construction/design):

Registered on the USGBC web site:

· Bradford Ranger Station, Allegheny NF, Region 9-Eastern Region

· Cle Elum Ranger District Office Addition, Region 6-Pacific Northwest Region

· National Forests in Texas Supervisor’s Office, Region 8-Southern Region

· Sacramento Ranger Station, Region 3-Southwestern Region

· Hidden Springs, Region 9-Eastern Region

· Broken Bow Ranger Station, Region 8-Southern Region

· Hell Canyon District Office Addition, Region 2-Rocky Mountain Region

· Misty Fjords Admin Building, Region 10 – Alaska Region

· Verde Ranger Station, Region 3-Southern Region

· Santa Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District, Region 5-Pacific Southwest Region

· Truckee District Office, Region 5-Pacific Southwest Region

· Appalachian Ranger District Office, Region 8-Southern Region

· Watersmeet District Office, Region 9-Eastern Region

· International Institute of Tropical Forestry Headquarters Renovation

On-going – not registered:

· Sandpoint Ranger District Office, Region 1-Northern Region

· Big Piney Ranger District, Region 4-Intermountain Region

· Rock Creek Barracks, Region 5-Pacific Southwest Region

· Barlow Ranger District Office Addition, Region 6-Pacific Northwest Region

· Francis Marion Ranger District, Region 8-Southern Region

· White Mountain Administrative Site, Region 9-Eastern Region

· Forest Products Lab Modernization, Research

· Photovoltaic and Solar Hot Water System, Missoula Technology and Development Center

· Energy Savings Performance Contract (retrofit all offices with energy/water conservation measures), Region 4-Intermountain Region

· Office Energy Reduction (3 District Ranger Stations), Region 1-Northern Region

· Sisters Ranger District Office, Region 56

· Bend-Fort Rock District Office, Region 6

· Appalachian Ranger District Office, Region 8

· Ozark-St. Francis Forest Supervisor’s Office Renovation, R-8

· Cheat-Potomac District Office, R-8

· Vienna Ranger District Office, Shawnee NF, Region 9

· Bent Creek Conference and Office Building, Southern Research Station Experimental Forest

The LEED® certified, certification pending, and green buildings not yet registered, as listed above, represent approximately 494,000 SF. The current total gross square feet of Forest Service buildings is approximately 33,420,800 SF.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Sustainable Building Accomplishments in 2009

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is organizing policy strategies and practices that meet the SBIP milestones. NRCS constructed a new equipment storage and shop building in Bismarck, North Dakota. They wrote the solicitation for offers to direct sustainable building practices using the Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan Guiding Principles. These, influenced the building’s envelope and indoor environmental quality. NRCS is reviewing the applicability of the survey form used by ARS as an initial action for evaluating sustainable buildings. NRCS is assessing its inventory, with the survey, since mid-August 2009.

APHIS and GIPSA are also assessing their inventory, with the Sustainable Buildings survey, since mid-August 2009. They are forming ways to write green leases and to green the construction procurement process.

VI. Furthering Progress

The new sustainability E.O. 13514, and E.O. 13423, require USDA to prove that the Department has achieved 15% sustainable buildings by 2015. The Department is on a glide path to achieve this, because agency building sustainability is 12.9% . USDA staff is working to include building evaluation in the Environmental Management System (EMS) process. Program management is creating a Sustainable Buildings user view in the corporate database, and developing a module for Sustainable Buildings data, for implementation in 2010.

VII. Action Item Checklist and Milestones

PROGRAMMING AND IMPLEMENTATION

Identify, and report upon, all USDA assets that meet the five Guiding Principles. Assess sustainability of the existing capital assets over 5,000 sq. ft.

Establish a collaborative team working across agencies and functions, responsible for decision-making directly related to the execution of the SBIP. Collaborate with Facilities Working Group of the Sustainable Operations Council.

Define and assign responsibilities for sustainable buildings requirements to: 1) key players in building engineering and real property; 2) decision-makers in the programming, funding, and acquisition process; and 3) the management chain of command committing and approving actions

Analyze and identify gaps in sustainable buildings policies, programs, criteria, and processes, and specifications, and take steps to fill gaps.

Establish specific sustainability performance targets for meeting goals in the Guiding Principles.

Identify specific data which serves the Sustainable Buildings Program. Create a means to collect field data.

Establish agency policies that all new construction or major renovation projects include using a cross functional team with representation from sustainable design, energy, environment, commissioning, facilities, and other green building qualifications for the design, construction, and commissioning.

Create vehicles to educate and share information both internally and externally, such as websites and agency newsletters.

Modify all pertinent agency policies to incorporate Guiding Principles and correct shortfalls identified in the gap analysis.

Incorporate the Guiding Principles into criteria, specifications, and contract language for new construction and major renovations.

Develop a sustainability strategy for existing building repairs, alterations, and operations and maintenance.

AGENCY TRACKING AND REPORTING

Develop procedures to identify and track new construction and major renovation projects.

Measure the degree to which agency project officers incorporate the Guiding Principles into project criteria, specifications, and contract language, and into existing building operations and maintenance.

Develop semi-annual system to report agency progress in following the Guiding Principles in all building life cycle stages: Siting, Design, Construction, Operations & maintenance, and Disposal or Excessing.

Establish a process to track and report existing facilities continuous commissioning strategy success.

03/31/10 recurring annually

Identify and prioritize existing facilities for a continuous commissioning strategy, which addresses key environmental aspects, including energy use and Indoor Environmental Quality.

03/31/10 recurring annually

Report all Sustainable Building accomplishments into the High Performance Buildings database

Institute measurement, verification, and training to ensure continual improvement.

Report on Agency progress toward meeting the Guiding Principles in all building life cycle stages, Siting, Design, Construction, Operations & maintenance, and Disposal or Excessing.

Develop corrective action plans for addressing shortcomings in implementation

VIII. Sustainable Building Resources and Information Many public and private-sector organizations offer information on Sustainable Buildings:

1. Whole Building Design Guide Sustainability at http://www.wbdg.org/design/sustainable.php

2. USDA’s Greening and Sustainable Operations at http://www.greening.usda.gov and http://greening.usda.gov/performance.htm

3. USDA’s Biopreferred Program at http://www.biopreferred.gov

4. General Services Administration (GSA) GSA Sustainable Design webpage at http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.docontentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=8154o Real

5. Department of Energy Roadmap for Integrating Sustainable Design into Site-Level Operations at <http://www.pnl.gov/doesustainabledesign>

DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Buildings Technology

Program, High Performance Buildings website at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/program/sustainable_buildings.html Greening Federal Facilities website at <http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/techassist/green_fed_facilities.html>

Energy Star Sustainability program at http://www.energystar.gov/ DOE/FEMP’s Interagency Sustainability Working Group four-page brochure on Federal Green Buildings: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/iswg_update_dec2009.pdf

DOE’s High Performance Federal Buildings Database at www.eere.energy.gov/femp/highperfomance/index.cfm

6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA’s Sustainability program at http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/ EPA Green Building website:<http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding>

Laboratories for the 21st Century: <http://www.epa.gov/labs21century>

Energy Star: <http://www.energystar.gov>

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: <http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp>

Non-point Source Pollution: <http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/urban.html>

Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris:

<http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/debris>

Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines: <http://www.epa.gov/cpg>

Indoor Environmental Quality:

- Comprehensive guidance, data, and tools for commercial buildings. <http://www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/>

Software to evaluate ventilation and humidity control performance of energy recovery ventilation systems and to calculate their cost effectiveness. Available at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign/saves.html

7. U.S. Department of Defense Defense Environmental Network and Information Exchange (DENIX):

<https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Sustain/sustain.html>

Pentagon Renovation sustainable design information at <http://www.whs.mil/PENREN/sustainabledesign.cfm> U.S. Air Force

AFCEE’s Sustainable Development website at http://www.afcee.brooks.af.mil/eq/programs/progpage.asp Air Force Environmentally Responsible Resources Guides at < http://www.afcee.af.mil/resources/ >

8. U.S. Department of the Interior - National Park Service NPS has a climate friendly parks site at < http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/ > and a sustainability information site at <http://www.nps.gov/sustain>. Both contain extensive resources and case studies. The NPS periodical Sustainability News features information on sustainable National Park facilities and additional resources that parks can use.

9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NPG 8570.1, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Technologies and Practices:

<http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/displayDir.cfm?Internal_ID=N_PG_8

570_0001_&page_name=main>

NPD 8820.3, Facility Sustainable Design:

< http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?Internal_ID=N_PD_8820_002C_&page_name=main >

10. Building Green Sustainable Buildings information at http://www.buildinggreen.com/ Building Green publishes Environmental Building News, and maintains an online database of more than 1,600 screened and reviewed green building products with guideline specifications, called the GreenSpec Directory, available through subscription only.

11. The U S Green Building Council LEED® Rating System at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19 IX. Direction for 2010

USDA agencies, particularly in ARS, Forest Service, NRCS, and APHIS/GIPSA, are working to improve sustainable practices at individual sites. The ARS is using both sustainable design and energy conservation practices to improve performance in offices, laboratories, and other facilities. The FS anticipates furthering progress with using internal means of tracking sustainability, and developing new metrics and database capabilities. Metrics and data that the FS considers include: energy and water conservation practices and measures, sustainable site strategies, alternative transportation systems/location/incentives, acquisition and use of sustainable materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and solid waste management.

United States Department of Agriculture�Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan�December 29, 2009 fig. 1�The Consolidated Laboratory Facility Building Ames, Iowa fig.2

Bessey Ranger District Office, Nebraska NF, Rocky Mountain Region fig. 3�Lee Ranger District Office, George Washington-Jefferson NF, Southern Region �HVAC geothermal heat pump fig. 4

Verde Ranger Station, Region 3, Solar Power Interpretive Display

� Capital Asset Threshold definition: from DR 2200-002, December 24, 2003: “ This regulation revises Departmental Regulation 2200-002, Capitalization and Depreciation of Real and Personal Property, dated February 28, 1994. The Internal Use Software (IUS) capitalization threshold is $100,000, effective fiscal year (FY) 2002 and forward. Effective FY 2003 and forward, personal property (other than IUS) shall be capitalized at $25,000. Also, effective for FY 2003 and forward, the real property capitalization and accountability threshold is $25,000.”