2018 Federal Green Challenge Awards

FGC National 2017 Results. Diverted 422K tons from landfill, saving $21.8M; Consumed 335M fewer gallons potable water, saving ~$1.3M; Fuel oil decreased 206,000 gallons, saving $557K; 283 tons electronics to certified recyclers. Savings of ~$22 million.

Recognition was a key element of the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program and the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). FGC awards were offered in two categories – data driven and narrative. Data driven awards, given in the six target areas of Waste, Electronics, Purchasing, Energy, Water and Transportation, were based on the greatest percentage of change over the previous year. Narrative awards were self-nominating and were given in the categories of Innovation, Education and Outreach, and Leadership. Additionally, for the first time in 2018, awards were given for the highest percentage of materials managed during one fiscal year.

The 2018 FGC awards recognized the achievements of participating facilities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. In FY17, 264 federal facilities took steps to improve efficiency, save resources and reduce costs as part of the Challenge. Participants saved nearly $22 million across natural gas, fuel oil, paper purchasing, water and municipal solid waste (MSW) categories.

Across the six main target areas, EPA recognized the following FGC participants for their significant efforts in improving the sustainability of their facilities and for their leadership in reducing the environmental footprint of federal government activities, which saves taxpayer dollars and conserves energy. This work also furthers the goals of the President’s Executive Order Regarding Efficient Federal Operations. Only sections 5,7, and 11 of Executive Order 13834 of May 17, 2018 (Efficient Federal Operations) are active.

2018 National and Regional Awardees

2018 National Award Winners

FY17 Highest Percentage of Materials Managed

The General Services Administration, Fort Worth Federal Center, Fort Worth, Texas, managed its materials for a 97 percent diversion rate in FY17.
The U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Ore., managed over 92 percent of the materials in its waste stream in FY17 (2,410 tons recycled, 28.8 tons composted, 202.7 tons landfilled).
Learn More!

Improvement by Target Area – Highest Increased Percentage Over Previous Year

Waste: The Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems, Cambridge, Mass., increased collection of compost from .2 tons to 4.4 tons from FY16 to FY17.
Electronics: The Veterans Administration, Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, Bonham, Texas, increased its purchasing of EPEAT registered electronics 542 percent, from 87 units of electronics to 559 units of electronics.
Purchasing: The Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso, Texas, reduced paper purchased by 53 percent from 4,500 lbs. down to 2,099 lbs.
Energy: The Department of Energy, East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Tenn., increased its renewable energy purchased or installed on site by 648 percent from 19,968 kWh to 149,361 kWh.
Water: The Drug Enforcement Administration, Southeast Laboratory, Miami, Fla., reduced potable water use to 69 percent from 950,710 gallons to 293,964 gallons.
Transportation: The Veterans Administration, Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, Bonham, Texas, increased its number of hybrid vehicles by 260 percent from five to 18, and increased the number of alternative fuel vehicles by 84 percent from 91 to 167.
Learn More!

2018 Regional Award Winners

New England (Region 1)

Innovation: Veterans Administration, Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, Northampton, Mass.
Leadership: U.S. Vermont Air National Guard, Jericho, Vt.
Learn More!

Northeast (Region 2)

Waste: Department of Veterans Affairs, Caribbean Healthcare System, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Waste: Department of Energy, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL), Princeton, N.J.
Waste: General Service Administration, Cellar Courthouse, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Waste: General Service Administration, Duberstein Court House, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Waste: General Service Administration, 201 Varick Street, New York, N.Y.
Waste: Fort Buchanan Army Reserve, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
Electronics: Department of Energy, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL), Princeton, N.J.
Energy: Department of Veterans Affairs, Syracuse Medical Center, Syracuse, N.Y.
Energy: General Services Administration, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, N.Y.
Energy: General Services Administration, Alexander Hamilton Custom House, New York, N.Y.
Energy: General Service Administration, 201 Varick Street, New York, N.Y.
Energy: General Service Administration, Theodore Roosevelt Courthouse, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Water: General Services Administration, Alexander Hamilton Custom House, New York, N.Y.
Water: General Services Administration, Cellar Courthouse, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, Alfonse D’Amato U.S. Courthouse, Central Islip, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, 2 Foley Courthouse, Albany, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, Hanley Federal Building, Syracuse, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, O’Brien Federal Building, Albany, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, Duberstein Court House, BKYN, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, 201 Varick Street, New York, N.Y.
Water: General Service Administration, Theodore Roosevelt Courthouse, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Learn More!

Mid-Atlantic (Region 3)

Overall Achievement and Water: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
Education and Outreach: Department of Justice, McDowell Federal Correctional Institution, Welch, W.Va.
Electronics and Green Purchasing: U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
Leadership: Department of Veterans Affairs, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, Penn.
Innovation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, Penn.
Waste: Joseph F. Weis, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Pittsburgh, Penn.
Transportation: Merit Systems Protection Board, Philadelphia, Penn.
Learn More!

Southeast (Region 4)

Education and Outreach: Department of Energy – East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Learn More!

Great Lakes (Region 5)

Waste: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Detroit Field Office, Detroit, Mich.
Education and Outreach, and Water: Department of Veterans Affairs, Minneapolis Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minn.
Purchasing: Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Continent Ecology Division Laboratory, Duluth, Minn.
Innovation, Energy and Transportation: Department of Energy, Argonne National Lab, Lemont, Ill.
Leadership: Minnesota National Guard, Little Falls, Minn.
Innovation: Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 3 Office, Minneapolis, Minn.
Learn More!

South Central (Region 6)

Electronics: Region 6 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso, Texas
Highest Materials Managed in Region 6: Region 6 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso, Texas
Innovation, Education and Outreach, and Leadership: Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, Bonham, Texas
Energy: General Services Administration, Fort Worth Federal Center, Fort Worth, Texas
Waste: General Services Administration, B Casey Courthouse, Houston, Texas
Education and Outreach: Region 6 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso, Texas
Water: General Services Administration New Mexico, The Pete V. Domenici Courthouse, Albuquerque, N.M.
Purchasing: Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, Bonham, Texas
Learn More!

Pacific Southwest (Region 9)

Innovation: Forest Service Region 5, Vallejo, Calif.
Leadership: Presidio Trust, San Francisco, Calif.
Energy: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, Calif.
Learn More!

Pacific Northwest & Alaska (Region 10)

Outreach and Education, and Waste: Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, Wash.
Purchasing and Innovation: U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Ore.
Energy: Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, Wash.
Water: U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Base Support Unit, Seattle, Wash.
Learn More!