Research Facilities – U.S.D.A. Level 1 Energy Audit

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) annually performs energy audits and water surveys for one-quarter of facilities that are in the top three-quarters of energy consumers at the department level. The goal is to assist the USDA energy team in understanding where the building performs relative to its peers, establish a baseline for measuring improvements, and determine if further action is warranted and how best to focus the effort.

The USDA contracted Commissioning and Green Building Solutions, Inc. to provide Level I energy audit and water surveys for (3) units in Corvallis, Oregon, that included the Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit, Horticultural Crops Research Unit and National Clonal Germplasm Repository locations.

Added Value through CxGBS Services:

• Identified a number of opportunities for reduced energy and water consumption in the audited facilities. In addition to reductions in energy use and water use for the facilities, many of the items identified will positively impact indoor air quality and benefit occupants of the facility.
• Identified a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controls failure in the FSCR building and current overheating issues being experienced by the 50-ton rooftop unit serving the HCR building.
• Within the facilities audited, the greatest potential for energy savings was identified in the FSCR and HCR green houses. Lighting for many of the areas within these greenhouses is currently provided by 400, 600, and even 1000 watt lamps.

TEAM:

Owner:
USDA

Design Professionals:
N/A

Construction Professionals:
N/A

Sustainability Experts:
Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc.