2014 Federal Green Challenge Award Winners in the South Central Region
Federal Agencies were recognized through the Federal Green Challenge for outstanding efforts that go beyond regulatory compliance and strove for annual improvements of five percent or more in selected target areas.
Recognition was an important part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Awards were given at the regional level in the categories of Waste, Purchasing, Energy, Water and Innovation.
In the South Central region, the 2014 award winners were the 1 Justice Park Drive Federal Building, Health Resources and Services Administration, Houston Customs House, New Orleans Customs House, Capulin Volcano National Monument and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.
South Central Regional Award Winners
Waste
1 Justice Park Drive Federal Building, General Services Administration (GSA), Houston, TX
The 1 Justice Park Drive Federal Building increased the amount of municipal solid waste recycled from 6.16 tons in 2012 to 56.45 tons in 2013, resulting in an 816% improvement.
Innovation
Capulin Volcano National Monument, National Park Service, Department of the Interior (DOI), Des Moines, NM
Capulin Volcano National Monument worked with the City of Raton, NM to create a satellite recycling hub at their facility. Adjacent communities can now deliver items for recycling, and Capulin will transport the material to the Raton Recycling Facility. As this is the only local means to transfer these materials, becoming a satellite recycle hub enables the monument to increase the amount of materials diverted from landfill, and provides them with opportunities to educate their neighbors.
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation (DOT), Oklahoma City, OK
The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center was able to reduce their water usage 35% from 2012 to 2013 by replacing water fixture valves with higher efficiency, replaced single pass cooling equipment that blows down potable water during cooling cycle, replaced old cooling towers with high efficiency and variable speed drive fans and implemented a total irrigation water shut down of the entire 25 acre landscape area.
Energy
Houston Customs House, General Services Administration (GSA), Houston, TX
The Houston Customs House decreased their natural gas usage from 93,625 cubic feet in 2012 to 0 cubic feet in 2013, resulting in a 100% improvement.
Purchasing
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Dallas, TX
The Health Resources and Services Administration in Dallas reduced the amount of paper purchased from 360 lbs in 2012 to 342 lbs in 2013, resulting in a 5% improvement.
Water
New Orleans Customs House, General Services Administration (GSA), New Orleans, LA
The New Orleans Customs House was able to reduce their use of potable water from 2,699,100 gallons of water in 2012 to 1,376,000 gallons in 2013, resulting in a 49% improvement.
