ENERGY CONSERVATION AT HEADQUARTERS AND OTHER CIA/FEDERAL BUILDINGS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP85-00988R000500090025-2
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 26, 2003
Sequence Number: 
25
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 7, 1980
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP85-00988R000500090025-2.pdf149.7 KB
Body: 
Approver Release 2003/08/13: CIA-RDP85-W8R000500090025-2 7 March 1980 MEMORANDUM FOR: Suggestion & Achievment Awards Committee SUBJECT Energy Conservation at Headquarters _ind Other CIA/Federal Buildings Attached is a suggestion for significantly reducing the energy consumed in heating and cooling the head- quarters building. This suggestion is probably also applicable with sni,Ill modifications to other Agency bui.ldin~g;s and to other 'oderal government buildings in ccenora I . The cc:,t :,' wou] ri not be high; for headUUar is they prc~babl1. ou ? i be less than what is presently being spent to rcc:c.cor?1t the cafeteria complex. Til.~; you for Coll 5i I'er o this suggestion. I am available for conC:ultjiti n on thl.: :latter" :i well as upon ene`_r con.-'cr""I ti on :.t' .?n Approved For Release 2003/08/13 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000500090025-2 Approver Release 2003/08/13: CIA-RDP85-.8R000500090025-2 SUGGESTION I. The Problem Energy conservation is a key national priority, yet the CIA headquarters building is a heat sieve designed and built in the era of cheap and inexhaustible energy. On the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th floors there are nearly 3,500 windows, each one of which loses about 2.75 million btu's per heating season, requiring the burning of 25-28 gallons; of heating oil per window per heating season. About 80 percent of this heat loss is pure waste. At today's oil prices of roughly $1-/gallon this amounts to a cost of $20/window/year or $70,000. Since heating oil prices promise to double in the next 2-3 years, savings would amount to about $150,000 per year in the mid 1980s. Summer air conditioning savings would also be sizeable, perhaps $50,000 to $75,000. II. The Solution Because of the large number of identical windows, it will be possible to mass produce styrofoam insulated shutters to fit on the inside of each of these windows. These shutters would not interfere with the operation of the windows or illumination during working hours, nor would they intrude on available space within agency offices. Closing of these shutters could be made a portion of the normal daily security check, thus assuring a 90 percent reduction in heat losses during the 75 percent of the week that most offices are normally unoccupied. Since heat losses are much higher at night than during the day, in part because of radiation losses, overall savings would average 80 percent or so. III. The Shutters These proposed shutters would hinge on each side of the windows on the inside and open against the concrete columns alongside each window, much like french or double doors. Shutter construction would probably call for a styrofoam core bonded to fibreglass or plastic sheets (much like high quality ice chests are manufactured) with weather stripped closures. Design should aim at an "R" value of 8 to 10 per shutter, implying a core Approved For Release 2003/08/13 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000500090025-2 Approver Release 2003/08/13: CIA-RDP85-0#8R0, .6150 00090025-2 thickness of about 1 1/2". Based on a competitive bid order of some 3,500 units, costs should run less than $50- per unit. Installation costs should not exceed an additional $50 per unit. A particularly cheap, but less esthetically pleasing solution could be obtained by using lift out styrofoam panels with magnetic catches that would .seal on the window frames. This could probably be done for as little as $10-$20 per window, with a payback period of less than one heating season. These lift-out panels would also be useable on the 2nd and 7th floors. IV. The Payoff With annual savings on heat alone of $20-/window (probably $30-$40/window taking into account air conditioning savings and the probable rise in fuel costs during the interim) payback could he obtained in 3 years or less. Total annual savings would total at least $100,000 next year in heating costs and more than $150,000-/year during the 1980s. Other conservation investments could be made on the 2nd and the 7th floor where heat losses through the windows are greater even than on the other floors. Again, insulated shutters of some kind probably offer the best solution. Double glazing would be more expensive and would save only about 50 percent at best, compared to the 80 percent or so available from shutters. As for the cafeteria, which is an energy disgrace, no solution suggests itself. For, your information, it probably takes more energy to heat this area than it does for the entire rest of the headquarters complex. Approved For Release 2003/08/13 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000500090025-2 aApprove 9r Release 2003/08/13: CIA-RDP85-09 8RO 00090025-2 Appendix A Heat Loss Calculations Each window on 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th floors Heat Loss by Conduction Dimensions 2.7' x 7'5' Glass Area 20.6 ft2/window Heating Degree Days - Washington DC = 4,200 Langley, Va = 4,500 = 4,500 x 24 hrs x 20.6 x 1.13 = 2,514,024 btu's/window/heating season Heat Loss Through Infiltration Along window edge length (crack) at assumed average winter wind velocity of 5 mph 15' crack/window/ infiltration 8 ft3/hour/linear foot Total infiltration equals 120 ft3/hour, or 518,000 ft3/heating season Heat Loss = 518,000 x 25?F (average AT) x 0.018 btu/ft3/?F = 233,100 btu's/window/heating season Total heat loss per window = 2,750,000 btu's Approved For Release 2003/08/13 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000500090025-2