June 28, 2001
White House Energy Savings Plan
President Bush is firmly committed to expanding and promoting energy
conservation. He believes the federal government
should set an example for all Americans by finding innovative ways to
increase efficiency, and is starting the efforts at the People's House.
-- Ari Fleischer.
President Bush instructed all federal government agencies to review
energy use and develop a plan to reduce energy consumption.
The White
House has completed a review and has begun taking steps to conserve
energy. The following actions to reduce energy consumption
and improve building and equipment conditions could result in an
estimated 25% to 35% reduction in energy usage.
RECENTLY COMPLETED IMPROVEMENTS:
- Installation of new air
conditioning chillers to support the East and West Wings and selected
areas of the Old Executive Office Building.
- Former President Bush initiated this plan, the
contract was awarded during the Clinton administration and the action
was completed during the present Administration.
- The White House anticipates a 10% - 12%
savings as a result of this modernization.
ACTIONS TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY
- The White House will begin to
implement a series of administrative actions helping each member of the
staff contribute to the conservation effort.
- With the diligent implementation of these
immediate changes, we anticipate a 3%-5% reduction in energy
consumption.
- These actions include:
- The installation of motion switches for lights
in conference rooms.
- Turn out lights when
leaving the office for an extended time and at the end of the day.
- Turn up the thermostat on window air
conditioners in the EEOB upon departure.
- Do
not use accent lighting where more efficient overhead lighting is
adequate.
- Turn off monitors at the close of
business each day
- Turn off computers if it
will not be in use for two or more days.
- Building Engineers will regulate temperatures
based upon the temperature and humidity relationship. (This
could mean that temperatures might be 78 degrees at 50% humidity but 74
degrees at 80% humidity.)
- Remove halogen lamps
of 100 watts or more from EOP buildings.
- Delay the turn-on time for exterior lighting
for all buildings until dusk each day.
- Eliminate the use of portable heaters unless
minimum conditions cannot be met.
- Turn off
lights in public areas at the conclusion of events, tours, or other
activities.
- Set thermostats for hot water
heaters at approximately 105 degrees F.
- Turn
off lights, pull down shades, and close doors for rooms not in use.
- For computerized spaces, re-program them to
allow the rooms not in use to have a higher temperature setting in the
summer and a cooler setting in the winter.
- Keep all windows closed when not required to
be open.
MID TERM REDUCTION PLANS:
- The White
House will continue to renovate and modernize buildings in the White
House Complex to make them more energy efficient.
- These mid term changes could result in a 5%
reduction in energy consumption.
- Install
motion switches for lights in all offices.
- Continue replacement of equipment, such as
motors and pumps, with new equipment that is more energy efficient.
- Upgrade lighting with compact fluorescent
lamps (CFLs) and other more efficient systems wherever feasible.
- Proceed with the HVAC upgrade for the eleven
Jackson Place Townhouses.
- Install energy
efficient doors wherever possible.
LONG TERM ENERGY SAVINGS PLANS:
- President Bush plans to initiate a significant
modernization of the buildings on the White House grounds, providing
energy savings for years to come. Many of the proposed
projects will require Congressional action.
These renovations include:
- Modernize the EEOB
electrical and mechanical systems to eliminate the approximate 400
window air conditioners and improve the primary and secondary
electrical distribution.
- Computerize the all
buildings through the use of a building management system that will
zone the HVAC and lighting systems.
- Change
the switching for the overhead lights so that two switches in each
office controls approximately 50 percent of the lighting on each
switch, allowing office inhabitants to use only the light necessary for
the actual task.
- Install more high
performance insulated glass wherever possible.
|
