Northwest federal agencies are combating climate change - reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy, water, waste efficiency improvements

EPA News Release:

Northwest federal agencies are combating climate change - reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy, water, waste efficiency improvements

Contact:   Suzanne Skadowski, EPA Region 10, 206-553-6689, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov

(Seattle – April 23, 2013) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 recognized federal agencies in the Northwest and Alaska as Federal Green Challenge winners for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions 5 percent or more in two target areas - energy, electronics, transportation, waste, water, or purchasing.

The combined efforts of 47 participants, 100s of facilities, and more than 100,000 federal employees in the Northwest and Alaska saved over $3.5 million for U.S. taxpayers by:

• Saving more than 32,000 gallons of fuel oil
• Saving 10 million cubic feet of natural gas
• Reducing potable water use by 166 million gallons
• Diverting more than 38,766 tons of waste from landfills
• Recycling nearly 1,200 tons of end-of-life electronics

EPA recognized these Region 10 Federal Green Challenge Award winners at today’s 5th annual symposium in Seattle:

Energy & Water Award

Department of Homeland Security - - U.S. Coast Guard Base Seattle, Washington

• Reducing water consumption by 59 percent and energy consumption by 25 percent

Waste Award

U.S. Postal Service - - Anchorage Processing and Distribution Center, Alaska

• Expanding waste recycling to 70 percent of all solid waste from the Anchorage plant and its nine feeder offices

Waste Award

Bureau of Land Management - - Robert Duncan Plaza, Portland, Oregon

• Increasing waste diversion by 12 percent through recycling and office clean up

Education and Outreach Award

Presented to the Green Team located in the Federal Office Building and Jackson Federal Building, Seattle, Washington

National Park Service, Housing and Urban Development, Bonneville Power Administration, General Services Administration - Office of High Performance     Buildings, U.S. Geological Survey  - - Federal Office Building

Department of Commerce - Economic Development Association, U.S. Coast Guard District 13, Federal Trade Commission, Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, Department of Commerce - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education – Office for Civil Rights, Veterans Affairs – Veterans Benefits Administration, General Services Administration,  Internal Revenue Service - - Jackson Federal Building

• E-Cycle events recycled 13,200 lbs of E-waste; Resolve to Revolve Campaign increased revolving door use 3 percent over less energy efficient doors; Green Pages Quarterly news; environmental stewardship training

Federal Green Challenge: http://www.epa.gov/fgc/awards/

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