Energy
The NIH is committed to using natural resources responsibly and that includes our use of energy. As the largest user of energy in Montgomery County, we play an important leadership role in energy conservation and the use of alternative and renewable energy sources. Our energy use is primarily in the forms of natural gas and electricity to operate and heat and cool our facilities. We also use fuel in our vehicle fleet and our employees use it to commute to work.
Since most energy is generated from burning fossil fuels, this leads to contaminants in the air that cause asthma and other respiratory diseases. Burning fossil fuel also releases carbon dioxide – the gas primarily responsible for global warming. By conserving energy in our laboratories and other buildings and by efficiently producing energy through an on-site cogeneration system, we are limiting our harm to the environment as well as lowering our energy bills. This allows us to commit more of our budget to our core mission.
NIH Energy Conservation Projects
Energy conservation is a major goal for NIH, and we are taking several steps to help employees work in a more energy efficient environment. For example:
Since 2001, NIH has performed 20 conservation projects saving 24 million, 500 thousand kilowatt hours with an estimated 5 million dollars in cost savings.
NIH conducted a pilot test of a central power management system for many of its networked computers. The system reduces energy consumption by remotely enabling Energy Star features and powering off computers at night. The pilot resulted in an extraordinary 39 percent reduction in computer energy consumption.
NIH is using cleaner fuels in its Bethesda power plant. NIH installed a new cogeneration or Combined Heat and Power plant. It burns natural gas, instead of more greenhouse gas-intensive fuels to create electricity and steam. Instead of letting the steam go to waste, we pump it through pipes to our different buildings and use it to help heat our offices. The cogeneration plant is big enough to give 23,000 houses electricity and to heat 2,000 homes with steam.
What can you do to help NIH reduce its energy consumption?
Here are several easy steps everyone can take:
- Turn off the lights at the end of the day or whenever the lights are not needed.
- Purchase and install compact fluorescent lights, which use less energy.
- Ask your facilities engineering personnel if light timers or automatic sensors can be placed in conference rooms or labs.
- Turn off your computers, printers, copiers, and other office equipment at night.
- Activate the sleep setting on all office machines. Most printers, copiers, fax machines, and scanners can automatically enter a low-powered sleep mode when inactive.
- Use “smart” power strips that ensure electronic products do not continue to use energy when they are powered off.
- Consider what laboratory equipment can be turned off or entered into a low-powered sleep mode overnight.
The NIH manages energy through several programs:
- The NIH Transportation Program which provide alternatives to single-use automobile commuting,
- Fleet Management which includes the use of alternative fuels in all NIH vehicles,
- Sustainable Buildings which includes the design and building of energy saving elements such as green roofs.
- The Energy Conservation Program which helps our employees contribute to energy savings by keeping them aware of energy issues and providing them training and tools to reduce their energy use.
- On-site Generation with a cogeneration system
- The purchase of energy from renewable sources
Related References and Links: