Service Wins 5 Awards in Energy Efficiency, Water Usage
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability shown brightly during the Federal Energy Management Program’s (FEMP) 2011 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards as David Guthrie, the energy coordinator for the Service, took home the prestigious Program Manager’s Award and three national wildlife refuges won team awards.
Guthrie, who also won an Exceptional Service honor, has helped make the Service a federal leader in energy management, and his work has helped the Service save millions of Btu of energy, millions of gallons of water and much taxpayer money.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to have had the chance to be recognized,” Guthrie said. “Receiving the FEMP Program Manager Award was quite a surprise! It is such an honor, and there were so many deserving candidates and other individual energy award winners.”
“I believe I received the individual award based on the outstanding achievements of our dedicated Regional and field station champions and Washington Office staffs, who have worked so hard to promote and complete model sustainable building, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with limited resources,” Guthrie said, adding that he “will strive to live up to the high expectations garnered by receiving these awards.”
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge and San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex all built or renovated structures that showcased sustainability efforts.
“We at the Fish and Wildlife Service are in the business of conservation,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “David and all our energy-conscious employees deserve praise and thanks for conserving water and energy, and taxpayer money.”
The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards honor contributions in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of advanced and renewable energy technologies at federal facilities. The Program Manager’s Award honors what are considered exceptional contributions in those fields.
Guthrie also promised to “continue to push harder to help the field stations and the Service achieve carbon neutrality" by 2020, a Service goal.
The three refuges that were honored are:
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, Massachusetts, was honored for the sustainable design of its 5,879 square-foot visitor center. The building features passive solar architecture, a cool roof, daylighting, low-e glazed windows and much more. The 19 megawatt-hours of renewable power generated offsets 13.1 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Low flow plumbing fixtures and waterless urinals conserve 3,000 gallons of water a year. Individual Service members honored were:
• Libby Herland – Project Leader/Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Tom Eagle – Deputy Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Susan J. Russo – Visitor Services Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Marsha Browning – Contracting Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Tony Leger – Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired)
Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Great Falls, Montana, was recognized for its hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)/wind energy system. The integrated system accomplished a 93 percent decrease in purchased electricity consumption for the headquarters building and a 33 percent reduction in energy intensity from the field station's FY 2003 baseline. This equates to a cost savings of approximately $4,000 per year, an energy savings of 121 million Btu, and a reduction in greenhouse gases of 25 metric tons annually. Individual Service members honored were:
• Kathleen Burchett – Project Leader/Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Chuck Gess – Project Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Eric Jordan – Contracting Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Rick Coleman -- Assistant Regional Director, National Wildlife Refuge System
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex in ark, California, was cited for the renovation of its 9,000 square foot headquarters, which incorporated sustainable design measures that reduced energy consumption 52 percent. The project saved more than 350 million Btu in FY 2010 and more than $34,000 in energy costs. Individual Service members honored were:
• Mendel Stewart – Project Leader/Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• John Bradley – Deputy Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• James Burby – Civil Engineer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Doug Damberg – Assistant Refuge Supervisor, Region 8, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
In addition, the Morris Wetland Management District Office and Visitor Center, Minnesota, was selected by the Department of the Interior for recognition as part of the FEMP "You Have the Power" campaign. The campaign is a Department of Energy initiative to spread the word about saving energy costs and resources among Federal workers. The 8,240 square-foot Office and Visitor Center at Morris Wetland Management District is a model of sustainable design excellence.
Guthrie, who also won an Exceptional Service honor, has helped make the Service a federal leader in energy management, and his work has helped the Service save millions of Btu of energy, millions of gallons of water and much taxpayer money.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to have had the chance to be recognized,” Guthrie said. “Receiving the FEMP Program Manager Award was quite a surprise! It is such an honor, and there were so many deserving candidates and other individual energy award winners.”
“I believe I received the individual award based on the outstanding achievements of our dedicated Regional and field station champions and Washington Office staffs, who have worked so hard to promote and complete model sustainable building, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with limited resources,” Guthrie said, adding that he “will strive to live up to the high expectations garnered by receiving these awards.”
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge and San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex all built or renovated structures that showcased sustainability efforts.
“We at the Fish and Wildlife Service are in the business of conservation,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “David and all our energy-conscious employees deserve praise and thanks for conserving water and energy, and taxpayer money.”
The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards honor contributions in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of advanced and renewable energy technologies at federal facilities. The Program Manager’s Award honors what are considered exceptional contributions in those fields.
Guthrie also promised to “continue to push harder to help the field stations and the Service achieve carbon neutrality" by 2020, a Service goal.
The three refuges that were honored are:
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, Massachusetts, was honored for the sustainable design of its 5,879 square-foot visitor center. The building features passive solar architecture, a cool roof, daylighting, low-e glazed windows and much more. The 19 megawatt-hours of renewable power generated offsets 13.1 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Low flow plumbing fixtures and waterless urinals conserve 3,000 gallons of water a year. Individual Service members honored were:
• Libby Herland – Project Leader/Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Tom Eagle – Deputy Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Susan J. Russo – Visitor Services Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Marsha Browning – Contracting Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•Tony Leger – Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired)
Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Great Falls, Montana, was recognized for its hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)/wind energy system. The integrated system accomplished a 93 percent decrease in purchased electricity consumption for the headquarters building and a 33 percent reduction in energy intensity from the field station's FY 2003 baseline. This equates to a cost savings of approximately $4,000 per year, an energy savings of 121 million Btu, and a reduction in greenhouse gases of 25 metric tons annually. Individual Service members honored were:
• Kathleen Burchett – Project Leader/Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Chuck Gess – Project Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Eric Jordan – Contracting Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Rick Coleman -- Assistant Regional Director, National Wildlife Refuge System
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex in ark, California, was cited for the renovation of its 9,000 square foot headquarters, which incorporated sustainable design measures that reduced energy consumption 52 percent. The project saved more than 350 million Btu in FY 2010 and more than $34,000 in energy costs. Individual Service members honored were:
• Mendel Stewart – Project Leader/Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• John Bradley – Deputy Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• James Burby – Civil Engineer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Doug Damberg – Assistant Refuge Supervisor, Region 8, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
In addition, the Morris Wetland Management District Office and Visitor Center, Minnesota, was selected by the Department of the Interior for recognition as part of the FEMP "You Have the Power" campaign. The campaign is a Department of Energy initiative to spread the word about saving energy costs and resources among Federal workers. The 8,240 square-foot Office and Visitor Center at Morris Wetland Management District is a model of sustainable design excellence.
