Sustainability in Operations
Greener Facilities
Tom Samra
Vice President,
Facilities
What’s New
- Expanded program to reduce energy consumption and energy intensity.
- Implemented water reduction opportunity identification and design standards.
Facilities energy and sustainability program
This program, started in 2006, is designed to help USPS have the greatest energy efficiency and the lowest possible facility-related energy cost and impact on the environment.
The program covers all facility-related energy management activities, such as planning, standardization, implementation and reporting. And it includes all aspects of energy consumption at USPS facilities — from buildings and their contents to how we go about energy management.
Our goal is to make all USPS buildings as energy efficient as is cost effective over the lifetime of the facilities.
To achieve this, USPS develops programs and strategies to reduce electricity, natural gas and other utility costs, and to purchase energy-efficient products. We construct, operate and maintain energy-efficient facilities, regularly conduct and follow up on facility audits, and encourage efficient energy use by USPS employees.
And by reducing energy use, our Facilities team has significantly lowered operating costs. Since 2007, USPS has avoided more than $400 million in energy costs.
Our goal of reducing energy intensity (energy use per square foot) is ambitious, but achievable. Currently we have a 21 percent reduction and are more than two-thirds of the way to achieving our goal of 30 percent by 2015.
Since 2005, facility energy use has decreased by 10.8 trillion Btu. We continue to improve our accuracy in measuring and reporting energy use, minimizing our need to estimate it.
USPS remains committed to providing and improving transparency in data reporting.
Facts and Figures
10.8
trillion
Btu reduction in facility energy use since 2005
109,000
square-foot
green roof at Morgan facility is largest in New York City
$400
million
in energy costs avoided since 2007
Energy champions
Many of our facilities have made impressive energy conservation improvements. Three of them were recognized as energy champions for reducing their energy use.
The Carol Stream, IL, Manasota, FL, and Charleston, SC, processing and distribution centers (P&DC) reduced electrical energy consumption (kWh) by an average of 30 percent from the same period in FY 2008.
Each facility implemented several energy-saving projects identified during facility auditing.
- Energy-efficient lighting and lighting controls systems.
- Dock door seal replacement.
- Mechanical system controls upgrades.
- Energy-efficient chillers.
- Air compressor with control system.
Water conservation
The Postal Service has several activities under way to minimize water consumption and improve water efficiency in postal buildings.
Overall water use for the Postal Service is quite low even though we occupy thousands of facilities. Most water use is for restrooms, with minimal amounts for irrigation, cooling and maintenance.
We use high-efficiency, low-flow plumbing fixtures that are in line with EPA’s WaterSense guidelines and our own building design standards — a key strategy for conservation. Our standards specify interior and exterior water-efficiency measures for all buildings.
We use native plant species in our landscaping and try to eliminate using drinkable water for exterior irrigation at new construction sites.
Only a few facilities with vehicle wash bays use water as part of their standard operation. Some of our large facilities use energy-efficient cooling towers to help condition the interior air.
Each of these water conservation efforts is part of our focus on peak performance and identifying conservation opportunities.
Morgan P&DC’s green roof in New York City.
How green is your roof?
The Postal Service completed a green roof project in July 2009 at the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center in New York City.
It’s the largest green roof in the city, and will last 50 years. It will reduce the amount of polluted storm water runoff by as much as 70 percent in summer and 40 percent in winter. And it’s projected to help USPS save $30,000 annually in heating and cooling costs.
Covering nearly 2.5 acres, this 109,000-square-foot roof in midtown Manhattan also will provide a safe, sustainable outdoor environment for employees.
