Environmentalists are calling for the greening of public facilities and civil operational procedures, policies and activities around the globe. Fire chiefs can develop an energy audit to begin addressing physical and operational changes that will lessen their facilities' environmental impact. Initial steps can be as simple as switching to energy efficient lighting or encompass a significant building retrofit.

"Most people want to start reducing their carbon footprint by fixing something," says Kent Schwendy, vice president of development services of Fuss & O'Neill Inc., a civil and environmental engineering firm. "An energy audit document provides a benchmark of where you are today so you can measure your progress. The important thing to keep in mind is that any movement toward reducing energy input helps. The highest degree of success is realized if you approach it as a continuous project and implement a plan to improve sustainability every year."

Reaching the point of zero carbon impact in an existing civil building may be a challenge; past design principles were not founded on today's environmental standards. Schwendy recommends incorporating the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers' Building Energy Label or the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star — or similar energy rating system — in the audit plan.

"A good starting place is review of the highest energy input items," Schwendy says. "Develop a list of those items for the initial review and update it every year to measure progress."

The U.S. Green Building Council provides a checklist that addresses site sustainability. The list includes water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, stormwater management, water-efficient landscaping, and refrigerant management.

"Accredited [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] professionals who have studied the system and been accredited are available in nearly every major city," Schwendy says. "They can assist with an energy audit, if you need that kind of expertise."

LEED-accredited architect David Mann, principal and founder of Greentek Consulting, says there is no one-size-fits-all solution to improving a facility's sustainability. Understanding individual client needs and identifying organizational goals provide necessary guidelines for developing an effective plan to reduce climatic impact.

"Energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and resource efficiency are the three areas that need to be explored to develop a thorough audit," Mann says. "For an existing building, the energy audit report should provide details about that facility's energy options. Ideally the report contains cost options so that decisions about addressing energy issues can be made in terms of the organization's budget and overall functions, as well as planetary impact."

Final details of a comprehensive green action plan can be developed with input from architects, engineers and contractors who can provide cost and procedure input. Mann says a holistic approach to an action plan will provide the greatest impact.

"Buildings are complicated systems," Mann says. "There are always small things that can be done, but the greatest impact and return on investment will come from a systematic approach."

Simple changes

Energy audits generally provide a more detailed understanding of the carbon footprint involved with resources such as electricity and natural gas. A number of tools and methodologies are available to the public to measure the full carbon footprint. That includes the carbon credit trading system provided by the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Both Mann and Schwendy say that the simplest measures leading to reducing carbon emissions are nearly cliché, as they've been addressed so often. Adding or replacing insulation, insulating windows and keeping doors closed all are among the most common steps necessary to improving energy use.

Simple changes in fire station living quarters can have an immediate impact with little to no cost. Displaced water in existing toilet tanks, toilet water conservation kits and dual-flush toilets have an immediate impact on energy use. Low-volume shower heads and waterless urinals also are water-saving options. Kitchen faucet aerators, solar or tankless water heaters, and energy-efficient appliances also help.

"Phantom power … can probably be remedied with a memo," Mann says. "Roughly 10% of power used can be reduced when electronic items are unplugged when they're not in use. In a fire station, there are electronic systems that have to be on 24 hours each day. However, there are also areas where phantom power could be eliminated."

Developing solar technology is leading to more energy-saving devices, including solar air conditioners, roof vents, lighting and solar-electricity options.

Because readiness is necessary to firefighting, facility policies may call for idling engines and open doors, which significantly contribute to carbon footprints.

"It's possible that those procedures could be reviewed and modified," Mann says. "Obviously, that has to be weighed against the necessity for quick response. If changes can be made, it would provide an immediate payback."

Schwendy notes that garage doors most often don't have any type of insulation and could be a source of significant energy loss.

"Even though it would require capital investment, an energy efficient heating and ventilation system could be a real benefit in a fire station," he says. "Thinking of the building as an envelope and securing every area where heat can escape in winter or enter the building in summer helps identify those areas that may need to be addressed."

Along with securing energy leaks, an action plan needs to address air quality so that the indoor environment is not harmful to occupants.

Mann points to steps taken in the United Kingdom to improve energy usage in fire stations. The city of London replaced older trucks and installed more fuel-efficient pumps at pumping stations as part of its energy audit.

"Pumping water is a huge area of energy usage for fire stations," Mann says. "London also put in place co-generation systems that provide distributed heat and power directly to their stations. These combined heat and power generators can be fuel cells or powered by natural gas. They're more efficient than a traditional central power grid and separate HVAC system."

Energy conservation

Managing a fire station's water use will differ from any other type of civil or commercial facility. Safety and preserving life have to be foremost concerns at a fire scene.

"Water is becoming one of our most precious resources,' Mann says. "Intensive water use is part of a fire station's procedure for good reason. In the past, some of the waterless firefighting products were not environmentally friendly. Products being developed today are less harmful to the environment and there's real potential in terms of greening firefighting practices."

In addition to reviewing the way water is used inside a fire station, an audit of irrigation practices may reveal major opportunities to modify current practices.

"Often, when landscaping practices are reviewed, you see vegetation that isn't suited to the climate that requires extensive watering," Schwendy says. "Replacing that type of vegetation and installing an inexpensive, high efficiency drip irrigation system would help alleviate the problem and avoid dumping water on the ground."

Efforts to improve energy use have led some firehouses to produce biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil and use it to operate diesel generators. If the generator isn't used for a significant amount of time, the biodiesel fuel has to be replaced. Otherwise the practice provides an immediate energy-saving payback.

While lighting efficiency is a well-recognized opportunity for reducing energy use, Mann believes most people don't understand the scope of savings that can be realized over the life of one fixture.

"Replacing one 75-watt bulb with an LED light will result in a $450 savings over the course of a lifetime," Mann says. "Lighting sensors that turn lights off when a space isn't being used can also lead to significant savings. The sensors themselves are inexpensive."

Energy action plans also should address energy practices employed by building occupants. Small changes in behavior can lead to meaningful changes in energy usage.

"Knowledge is the best way to change behavior," Mann says. "Monitoring water and energy usage and making people aware of how much is being used can lead to 10%, or more, savings."

The time invested in a thorough evaluation of a structure prior to implementing an action plan will provide the most satisfactory energy-reduction results. Mann points out that involving a diverse group of professionals in developing the action plan will prove to be beneficial in numerous ways.

"Sealing the duct system is an area that an HVAC professional would consider," Mann says. "Sealing the system properly means the heating and cooling equipment will operate more efficiently. It won't cycle on and off as often. The cool and warm air will be delivered where it's targeted to go. It's a simple thing that's easy to do. We recommend that ductwork be sealed with mastic, as it's more effective and durable than tape."

Mann and Schwendy both recommend that fire chiefs make every effort to prevent energy-saving plans from dwindling if capital resources aren't available for larger renovations.

"Sometimes there's no budget available to hire a consultant to help determine all the steps that need to be taken," Schwendy says. "If that's the case, a no-cost change policy allows for change on an incremental basis. Identify those changes that require capital investment and incorporate them into future budget plans."

Helping the public understand the benefits of energy-saving capital investments will ensure support of larger projects.

"There are so many existing buildings in the public sector and they aren't replaced very often," Schwendy says. "It's very important to make them as efficient as possible."

Read the sidebar, "Innovation for Lean Budgets," for more information on becoming sustainable without breaking the budget.

Review our Energy Audit Checklist.

Loretta Sorenson is a freelance writer.

Related Resources

• Fire Chief Green Tips

Innovation for Lean Budgets

The Colorado Springs (Colo.) Fire Department partnered with the Colorado College Home Energy Audits and Retrofits program, which allows students to perform building audits and assist with building modifications highlighted in the audit reports.

Bob Lund, the department's fire facilities coordinator and a member of the Colorado Springs Green Team, approached Dr. Sally Meyer and Dr. Mark Morgenstern at Colorado College about performing energy audits at some of the city's older fire stations. They established a project team to audit six of the city's 20 fire stations. The fire stations chosen for the audits range widely in age. Fire Station 5 was built in 1899 and Fire Station 16 was constructed in 1992.

Students will computer-model the fire stations using Energy-10 software, which was developed by scientists at the National Renewable Energy Lab to identify the most cost-effective, energy-saving measures for designing a low-energy building. The models will allow the students to develop a list of the most cost-effective alterations for each fire station.

The energy audits are just part of the fire department's green initiative. In addition, the Colorado Springs Fire Department is designing two fire stations to meet the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Level of the U.S. Green Building Council. If successful, these would be the only LEED Platinum fire stations in the United States.

The department is taking smaller steps, as well. It recently placed stickers on all light switches to remind people to turn lights off when not in use. It also is installing programmable thermostats and better lighting controls in fire stations that already are being retrofitted.

Energy Audit Checklist

Lighting	☐Replace Incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs ☐Replace older T-12 fluorescent lamps with more efficient T-8 fluorescents ☐Remove, disconnect or turn off unnecessary lights ☐Install occupancy sensors and daylight harvesters to regulate light levels ☐Retrofit exit signs to energy-saving LED signs
Heating and Cooling Systems	☐Adjust thermostat settings warmer in the cooling season and cooler in the heating season ☐Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperature during specific hours ☐Perform regular maintenance, including cleaning and replacing filters ☐When replacing equipment, install properly sized, high-efficiency products ☐Consider evaporative cooling, which saves money on energy bills and initial cost
Water Use and Water Heating	☐Install a water heater insulating blanket ☐Reduce water heater settings to minimum required temperature ☐Install faucet aerators and efficient shower heads ☐Fix hot-water leaks and drips ☐Consider a solar water-heating system
Building Envelope	☐Install weather stripping, caulking or seals on openings and cracks ☐Add or repair insulation ☐Install shading devices, window tinting or a reflective roof to reduce cooling load