DOINews: Reclamation: Interior Honors Brackish Groundwater Research Facility Employee for Energy Savings

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. - The Department of the Interior announced Steve Holland of the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility is one of the recipients of the 2013 Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Awards. From 2011 to 2012, Holland implemented changes throughout the facility to reduce energy use by 53.6 percent and continues to achieve additional savings over the last year.

"Reducing energy use at Reclamation facilities is an important undertaking for Reclamation," said Commissioner Michael L. Connor. "Steve achieved a tremendous amount of energy savings. I congratulate him and the other employees of the facility for this incredible accomplishment."

The 2013 Department of the Interior Environmental Awards recognize departmental employees and partners for who have achieved exceptional savings under Executive Order 13514 "Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance" and for cleaning up contaminated land.

The energy savings measures at BGNDRF were also recognized by the Department of Energy when it was selected for the 2012 Better Buildings Federal Award. That competition challenged federal agencies to achieve the greatest reduction in annual energy intensity, or energy consumed per gross square foot.

"We are really proud of the work Steve has done and the leadership he has shown at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Facility," said Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Regional Director Larry Walkoviak. "He has certainly given our other facilities throughout the region something to strive for as we look to conserve energy."

Steve Holland is an electronics technician at the BGNDRF. Facility manager Randy Shaw said he made energy savings a component of Holland's performance requirements when he was hired. He challenged Holland to reduce energy use by 10 percent. But Holland took that challenge and far exceeded his expectations by reaching 53 percent savings.

Located on 40 acres of land in Alamogordo, BGNDRF opened in 2007 and provides clients with six indoor test bays, a laboratory, office space, a 30-seat conference room and outdoor areas for testing and developing a variety of advanced water technologies. Clients consist of government agencies, universities and private sector companies.

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