Release of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sustainability Checklist
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20240
January 7, 2011
In Reply Refer
9100 (WO-854) P
Instruction Memorandum No. 2011-047
Expires: 9/30/2012
To: All Washington Office and Field Office Officials
From: Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal Resources
Subject: Release of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sustainability Checklist
Program Areas: Planning, Engineering, Procurement, Property, Facility Compliance
Purpose: Improving efficiency and achieving cost savings throughout the BLM is increasingly critical to the successful accomplishment of its mission. Implementation of a High Performance and Sustainable Buildings strategy is essential in achieving cost savings through the planning, design, construction and operation of new facilities. The BLM Sustainability Checklist (Attachment 1) is designed to assess the current inventory for sustainability implementation and help in the planning and design of new facilities as required in the Sustainability Energy Scorecard from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Federal agencies will be graded by the OMB and the President’s Management Council on their ability to reduce energy consumption and demonstrate the procurement of mandatory energy efficient products and services as required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the goals of Executive Order 13123 and 13514. This Instruction Memorandum provides the BLM State Offices with a planning tool to ensure compliance to Federal requirements and for the incorporation of the latest Federal sustainability standards to BLM facilities.
Policy/Action: A systematic High Performance and Sustainable Building implementation system must be an integral part of
The attached BLM Sustainability Checklist will be used to help incorporate sustainability into every new project submission where appropriate. The Washington Office (WO) Branch of Engineering and Property Management (WO-854) and the National Operations Center’s (NOC) Engineering Branch will provide oversight and expertise in the incorporation of sustainable measures on the field level. The Division of Business Resources (WO-850), Division of Environmental Quality and Protection (WO-280), Division of Recreation and Visitor Services (WO-250), NOC, and the Engineering Advisory Team (EAT) representatives will be working together as the
States, Centers, and the Washington Office are to take the following actions:
High Performance and Sustainable Building Implementation: State Offices, National Centers, and the WO are to continue their High Performance and Sustainable Building incorporation using the BLM Sustainability Checklist. The State Offices and the NOC will ensure the incorporation of the checklist principles in all new future facility designs. The WO-854 will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of sustainability measures through records oversight and facility inspections.
High Performance and Sustainable Building Data Submission: State Offices, NOC and the WO will prepare written reports on their performance relative to each objective and target in accordance with the BLM Sustainable Building Implementation Plan (SBIP). Progress will be assessed on an annual basis. The coordinators will present a summary of the performance data on an annual basis after the completion of every fiscal year. The summary will include the steps taken to implement the elements of the Memorandum of Understanding Guiding Principles and the SBIP in all new building designs using the BLM Sustainability Checklist. The WO-854 will submit the sustainability accomplishments to the Department of the Interior and ensure the Federal Real Property Profile (FRPP) is updated to reflect the building performance in December of every year.
The BLM will incorporate all the new requirements of the Federal government with the help of the BLM Sustainability Checklist. The checklist is designed to incorporate every Guiding Principle goal and help in achieving a LEED accredited facility where appropriate. The Instructions and Metrics Definitions (Attachment 2) is provided to help quantify the requirements of each metric and help in developing an appropriate design for all facilities above 5,000 square feet in size. The Summary of Sustainable Design, Construction, and O&M Mandate (Attachment 3) is provided as a quick reference tool in the development of a whole building strategy.
While it is not a Federal requirement to certify every new facility using the United States Green Building Council LEED certification process, it is encouraged to go the extra distance to achieve certification. The successful incorporation of the checklist items into a design will provide over 75 percent of the required LEED points necessary for a certified LEED facility. The additional effort to achieve a certification could have a positive impact on the energy and environmental performance of the facility. Every effort should be made to achieve a minimum LEED certified building if it is determined to be life cycle cost effective.
Timeframes: All new building projects in excess of 5,000 square feet must incorporate the checklist measures in all new designs.
Background: The purpose of a High Performance and Sustainable Buildings strategy is the implementation of common strategies for planning, acquiring, site selection, designing, building, operating, and maintaining High Performance and Sustainable Buildings. The BLM Sustainability Checklist is attached to help in developing a strategy for the inclusion of sustainable actions into the design and execution of every new project.
Sustainable construction is defined as “the creation and responsible management of a healthy built environment based on resource efficient and ecological principles.” Sustainably designed buildings aim to lessen their impact on our own environment through energy and resource efficiency. It includes the following principles:
- Minimizing non-renewable resource consumption
- Enhancing the natural environment
- Eliminating or minimizing the use of toxins
“Common sense” and “low tech” are frequently the most sustainable solutions. The designing of a building with well placed windows that light offices and other workspaces makes “daylighting” an alternative to electric lights for daytime use.
Buildings that are healthy for the environment are healthy for people as well. In some climates, buildings designed for daylighting and natural ventilation may reduce energy use while exposing people to beneficial natural light and fresh air.
The President’s Management Council, comprised of Deputy Secretaries of Federal Departments, has made a series of recommendations to improve the high performance and sustainability of new facilities across the Federal Government. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and the goals of Executive Order 13123 and 13514 have established the Guiding Principle goals that each Federal Agency is required to achieve.
Budget Impact: The planning and implementation will not have a budget impact. The design and construction will have an increase in cost over normal construction materials and systems. The operational costs will decrease over a like facility that does not incorporate the high performance technology as in a sustainable building. The overall out year budgets will require less operational funding to operate the same number of facilities allowing the excess funds to be distributed to more facilities that otherwise would not have received enough funding for operational needs.
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: The Engineering Manual 9100 will need to revised to include a Handbook on High Performance and Sustainable Buildings.
Coordination: This policy has been coordinated among the following directorates: Renewable Resource and Planning (WO-200); NOC and Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal Resources (WO-800). There was also coordination with the EAT.
Contacts: David Campbell, Branch of Engineering and Asset Management (WO-854) at (202)-912-7043.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Janine Velasco Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Business and Fiscal Resources
3 Attachments