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January 25, 2023
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The FEMP Digest provides a roundup of the latest Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) news, resources, and tools. |
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FEMP Unveils Historic Funding Milestone: $104 Million Investment Advances Net-Zero Initiatives Across Federal Facilities
 On Jan. 17, federal agencies convened at the Pentagon to mark a historic milestone in clean energy leadership. The announcement revealed the successful selection of 31 net-zero projects under the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) program.
The event featured distinguished speakers, including FEMP Director Mary Sotos, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory, and Under Secretary for the Office of Infrastructure David Crane. Read more about the selected projects and why federal leaders are celebrating this historic investment.
AFFECT Phase 2 to Open This Spring
FEMP will begin accepting applications for the second phase of AFFECT funding in spring 2024. All energy and sustainability stakeholders across federal agencies, as well as private sector organizations and utilities, are encouraged to engage in the program to drive clean, healthy, and resilient federal operations.
Prior to phase 2 opening, FEMP will provide various opportunities for federal agencies to share feedback. FEMP will be modifying the federal agency call (FAC) for applications based on this feedback.
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FEMP Focus
FEMP Launches New Utility Open Houses for Federal Customers Initiative
In the pursuit of a sustainable and energy-efficient future, federal agencies face ambitious targets outlined in directives, such as Executive Order 14057, and utilities play a vital role in helping their federal customers achieve these energy and water-related goals. One of FEMP’s key strategic priorities for FY24 focuses on elevating utility partnerships and increasing agency engagement across several key energy and water management activities. The newly launched Utility Open Houses for Federal Customers initiative serves as a platform to bring together utility companies and their federal customers to foster participation in existing programs and initiate new projects focused on sustainability, efficiency, and resilience.
Utility Open Houses are virtual events where federal agencies will learn about utility offerings and incentive programs focused on key pathways to achieving federal energy goals. Representatives from FEMP will provide key information on these programs and the support FEMP offers to agencies and utilities and utility representatives will provide information on existing programs and how to sign up to participate in them.
FEMP Smart Labs Team Visits NIST Boulder
The FEMP Smart Labs Team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) visited the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado on December 12th. The NIST team responsible for energy-efficient practices in campus-wide operations shared their current and future site-wide goals for sustainable and efficient operations. The collaboration and support from NREL’s engineers were requested to help implement high performance and decarbonization plans proposed by the NIST team. The NIST campus in Boulder encompasses multiple building types with many suitable for Smart Lab program implementation.
During the guided visit provided by the NIST staff, the Smart Labs team assessed lab space to gain an increased awareness on possible laboratory improvements. Each lab space exhibited unique functions and requirements that contributed to overall efforts of executing the NIST mission. The impressive mechanical and ventilation systems in the various buildings were also analyzed to better understand energy consumption. The NIST team highlighted current challenges and successes related to efficiency in the lab space, along with ongoing initiatives designed to lay the groundwork for potential Smart Lab framework. The exchange between both the NREL and NIST teams facilitated collaborative approaches to the future of advancing sustainable practices within research environments.
Learn more about how NREL’s Smart Labs program can form collaborations at your lab or contact Rachel Romero.
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Tools & Resources
New Case Study
Denver Federal Center Geothermal Heat Pump REopt Analysis
Interested in the potential cost-effectiveness of a Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) at your site? REopt and FEMP’s technical assistance can help! See the new case study for the Denver Federal Center for an example of this support and more information on the technoeconomic analysis and results.
Solar photovoltaics (PV) have a >20 year lifespan, but when components reach the end of their useful life, modernization can be required. FEMP’s recent technical assistance for National Parks Service’s Natural Bridges National Monument highlights the assessment of an off-grid solar system from the 1980s and recommended steps regarding use, repair, and replacement of key system components.
FEMP’s technical assistance can also include hands-on REopt support! Learn about how National Energy Technology Laboratory Albany used the tool to develop a solar PV and battery storage system at their facility.
New Video
Customer Damage Function Calculator Overview
Wondering how the Customer Damage Function (CDF) Calculator works? Watch the new overview video to learn more.
The CDF Calculator is a free, publicly available web tool that helps users estimate the financial impact of a grid outage. It’s the first step in determining the potential avoided costs associated with resilience investments and informing decision-making based on the cost of inaction. Learn more about the CDF Calculator.
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Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity (CFE) Opportunities for West Virginia
Thursday, January 25, 2024 |1:00–2:30 PM ET | .3 CEUs | Introductory
Are you looking for ways to make progress towards your CFE targets? Learn first-hand from utility representatives about CFE options available to customers in West Virginia. Tune in to hear representatives from Mon Power, a First Energy company, describe its green pricing program. This training is specifically geared towards energy and sustainability managers with federal facilities in West Virginia, but other interested agency personnel and the public are welcome to attend.
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FEMP Partner Updates
LED Lighting and Controls Guidance
 This GSA guidance is designed for federal agencies to select the most cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting systems available. Use the guide as a roadmap and reference to select the best lighting system for your facility.
LED Lighting and Controls Guidance Webinar
Thursday, February 8, 2024 |12:00 PM ET | Register
The guide helps designers and project managers select the most cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting systems available today and provides lessons learned from LED lighting and controls evaluations conducted by GSA’s Green Proving Ground (GPG) and other real-world federal deployments. During the webinar, researchers and GPG representatives will share operational guidance, discuss findings from project evaluations, and answer questions.
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