Unlike buildings owned and maintained by private citizens, government buildings are powered using taxpayer dollars. Every American has a vested interest in the cost associated with the operations and maintenance of government building systems, from plumbing and lighting to air conditioning and ventilation.

The Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) works with federal agencies to assure the productivity of energy and water are maximized to meet the agencies’ missions, illustrating good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory plays a role in FEMP’s mission by providing the expertise and resources needed to help the federal sector become more energy and water efficient and resilient.

PNNL supports FEMP on multiple fronts, including building optimization; energy and water resilience and security; training; and strategic support. PNNL researchers provide technical expertise in building operation and maintenance, facility evaluations, water management, resilience planning, cybersecurity, and next generation of on-site energy, among others. We prioritize affordable, reliable, and secure energy technologies, including fossil fuels, advanced nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower to support energy abundance. 

Laboratory-developed tools and resources 

PNNL researchers developed the Facility Cybersecurity Framework, which are cybersecurity toolsets used to help agencies plan for cybersecurity threats to facility-related control systems. They are also developing technical resources to assist federal agencies in conducting comprehensive energy and water evaluations. This assistance includes conducting FEMP trainings on energy and water resilience topics and how to develop resilience plans. The Technical Resilience Navigator assists organizations in managing the risk to critical missions from disruptions in energy and water services. 

In support of infrastructure development, tools developed by PNNL—such as the Facility Energy Decision System, or FEDS—help federal agencies model energy and cost performance of heating, cooling, and other building systems, as well as calculate energy consumption and electrical demand for buildings or an entire campus or installation. PNNL’s water management and training tools, like the Alternative Water Mapping Tool, help federal agencies plan for alternative and cost-effective water resources, such as harvested rainwater and condensate captured from air handling units to offset use of fresh surface water and groundwater. 

PNNL helps our federal counterparts achieve their mission while maximizing the benefits of resources used to accomplish those missions. We are committed to assuring that American energy and water technologies lead the world in affordability, reliability, and security to support modern life and bolster American competitiveness through energy innovation.