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Home > Commerce Department Installs Solar Panels on Headquarters for First Time

Commerce Department Installs Solar Panels on Headquarters for First Time

Dec182013

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About the U.S. Department of CommerceSolar panels

Posted at 10:45 AM

Officials atop the HCHB with solar panels
Pictured: Mick Rusten (OSBM), Jim Fay (OSBM), and Bob Scinta (OSEEP)

The Department of Commerce this week installed three solar panels on the roof of its headquarters, the Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB) in downtown Washington, D.C. The first of its kind for the building, the installation is part of Commerce’s efforts to increase its use of renewable energy and commitment to environmental stewardship.

The installation also supports President Obama’s December 5 memo challenging federal agencies to obtain 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Two Commerce agencies–the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)–have already installed solar panels on some of their facilities in recent years. The Department is challenging all Commerce bureaus to pursue renewable energy, implement energy conservation campaigns, and lead by example as good stewards of the environment.

The installation is a collaboration between the Office of Facilities and Environmental Quality’s Office of Space and Building Management and Office of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Programs (OSEEP).

The solar panels are an important but small step toward utilizing renewable energy. The Department has launched several additional initiatives to promote new energy-related initiatives. For example, Commerce established a Green Grants program in October 2012 to provide 50 percent cost matching funds for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects Department-wide. The program is managed by OSEEP through a panel of bureau representatives to ensure equity in the project selection process. OSEEP is also heading up a team effort involving the Census Bureau, NIST, and NOAA to use an alternatively financed contract to implement several renewable energy and energy efficiency projects at multiple facilities.

For more information on renewable energy or the Green Grants program, visit OSEEP at:http://www.osec.doc.gov/ofeq/OSEEP/.

Comments

It's a good first step

Submitted by dagracey.com (not verified) on

There are other solar panel options as well, such as solar shingles, roll-out - similar looking to bubble wrap or even stained glass window solar panels being used in schools, churches and businesses for aesthetic pleasing and vertical non-roof options.
Source URL: https://2014-2017.commerce.gov/news/blog/2013/12/commerce-department-installs-solar-panels-headquarters-first-time

Links:
[1] https://2014-2017.commerce.gov/news/blog/2013/12/commerce-department-installs-solar-panels-headquarters-first-time
[2] https://2014-2017.commerce.gov/node/187#comments
[3] https://2014-2017.commerce.gov/categories/about-us-department-commerce
[4] https://2014-2017.commerce.gov/tags/solar-panels
[5] https://2014-2017.commerce.gov/file/110
[6] http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/05/presidential-memorandum-federal-leadership-energy-management
[7] http://www.osec.doc.gov/ofeq/OSEEP/