What's Green?

Introduction

As one of our agency’s top priorities, GSA is making buildings more sustainable and reducing their environmental impact through wise and efficient use of energy, water, and material resources.

The Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building is currently undergoing a major modernization. This renovation involves many different greening measures; explore the categories below to learn more.

Water

As part of the current modernization, a green roof has been installed at the Department of the Interior building, which has many environmental benefits, including controlling storm water run-off and improving urban water quality.

Aiming for LEED-EB Silver certification, the Department of the Interior building has also achieved a 10% reduction in water consumption through technology implemented during the current modernization.

Energy

The Department of the Interior building contains many energy saving features, including low-mercury florescent lighting and fan coil units, in addition to utilizing renewable energy sources to account for 5% of the building’s total energy use.

The green roof at DOI is also a major energy saving feature. The roof helps insulate the building, reducing the energy necessary to heat and cool the building throughout the year.

Renewables

One of the most important renewable resources that we have today is our historic buildings. Finding ways to reuse and recycle existing buildings is integral to creating a sustainable tomorrow.

The Department of the Interior is responsible for publishing and maintaining guidelines on the care and restoration of historic buildings and has added to its standards a Guide for Sustainability in Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

Awards

As part of the on-going modernization effort at the Department of the Interior, DOI and GSA are taking part in a pilot program with the US Green Building Council to participate in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings Pilot Program (LEED-EB). Participation in the pilot affords the Department of the Interior the opportunity to be a major contributor in determining how sustainability standards for government buildings, often historic in nature, can be applied, integrated, and improved upon.

Currently, the Department of the Interior building is aiming to achieve a LEED-EB Silver rating at the end of the current modernization. As of June 2013, both the Bison Bistro cafeteria and the Child Care Center have achieved LEED Platinum rating – the highest available rating for a facility.