OLYMPIA – The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded LEED NC Gold certification for the $50 million renovation of the historic John L. O'Brien Building, the primary office building for the state House of Representatives.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a "green" building certification program in which projects are awarded points for meeting specific environmental benchmarks, such as water conservation and energy efficiency. The number of points a project earns determines the level of LEED certification. Gold is the council's second highest level of certification.

The Department of Enterprise Services oversaw the renovation project that included:

• Replacing aging and failing infrastructure.
• Making major seismic upgrades.
• Dramatically improving energy efficiency.
• Preserving the historic character of the building.

The O'Brien Building was completed in 1940 and is one of the original six structures built on the Capitol Campus.

The renovation project began in May 2009 and tenants moved back in December 2011.

To achieve state sustainability goals, contractors recycled more than 97 percent of construction debris during the demolition work, saving $40,000 in landfill costs. Some of the energy conservation and efficiency improvements in the renovated building include:

• Replacing single-pane with double-pane insulated glass while preserving historic windows.
• Installing low volume, dual-flush urinals and toilets to reduce water consumption by up to 30 percent.
• Linking temperature controls to lighting occupancy sensors to save energy while spaces are unoccupied.
• Using carbon dioxide sensors to adjust the quantity of outside air ventilation based on the number of occupants using a space.

LEED NC Gold certification for the O'Brien project is just one recent example how Enterprise Services is helping state agencies reduce their impact on the environment.

Biodiesel fuels a more sustainable transportation system

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reports reaching a major sustainability milestone thanks in part to fuel contracts managed by Enterprise Services.

In 2013, WSDOT purchased more than one million gallons of biodiesel for the department's ferries, trucks and other equipment.

Using biodiesel, which is primarily derived from vegetable oils instead of petroleum, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and slows climate change, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

As part of an effort to cut emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil, state law requires Washington state agencies to use biodiesel to help fuel diesel-powered vessels, vehicles and construction equipment.

State agencies are also required to purchase bulk fuel — gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and biologically-derived fuels — through state contracts managed by Enterprise Services. The contracts are also used by cities, counties, public higher education institutions, school districts and transit systems.

Enterprise Services currently manages four state fuel contracts, two of which contain provisions requiring contractors to provide state agencies with biodiesel made from at least 51 percent in-state feedstock and/or biodiesel produced in-state. Read more about the state's use of biodiesel.

Grant money powers energy savings

The Washington Department of Commerce recently awarded more than $14 million in energy efficiency and solar grants to help public agencies lower their energy costs. The 2013 Legislature appropriated the money for the grants.

Many of the conservation projects will be managed by the Enterprise Services Energy Program.

Since its inception in 1984, the program has helped save public agencies about $90 million in utility costs. The program provides expertise in project management and sustainable practices. It also helps customers by creating a list of pre-qualified energy service companies with whom public agencies can work to identify possible conservation projects.

One of the upcoming projects funded by the Commerce grants will make energy-efficiency improvements at the Tacoma Rhodes Center, a state-owned complex in downtown Tacoma consisting of two older office buildings and a parking garage.

The project will upgrade the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, replace all existing water fixtures with low-flow fixtures and seal portions of the windows, doors and exterior to improve comfort and reduce energy losses. The $1.2 million project will produce more than $24,118 annually in energy, water and sewer savings, and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 375,569 pounds per year.

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