U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains several laboratories at its Muirkirk Road Complex in Laurel, Maryland. The campus includes laboratories used by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the Center for Veterinary Medicine to conduct research programs related to food and animal drug safety. Laboratories at the site are also used as part of the Laboratory and Food Emergency Response Networks.
FDA turned to Labs21 to assist the agency in preparing an independent government estimate for the energy conservation measures (ECMs) that were to be implemented at the Muirkirk Road Complex. These measures were proposed by Washington Gas in the facility's Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) Water and Energy Investment Grade Audit. Just a few of the 25 ECMs FDA incorporated into its facilities as a result of the audit included:
- Autoclave steam condensate tampering
- Air handling unit condensate and reverse osmosis reject water reuse
- Bathroom fixture retrofits
- Chiller replacement
- Vent steam heat recovery
- Direct digital control system upgrades
- Variable frequency drive pump installation
- Steam pipe and valve insulation
- Damper replacement
- Steam trap retrofit
- Occupancy sensor installation
After the ECMs were implemented, FDA began to immediately see savings, which equated to more than $1 million in the first year alone. The simple payback on the project is anticipated to be 11.3 years.
FDA and the Labs21 Technical Team representative, Otto Van Geet, received a 2007 Department of Health and Human Services Energy and Water Management group award for the UESC as a result of the outstanding implementation and success of the ECMs at the Muirkirk Road Complex. These awards honor champions in the Department of Health and Human Services who have made significant contributions to the energy conservation and environmental goals of the agency.
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FDA is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services and consists of eight centers or offices. FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.
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