President Orders Federal Agencies to Save Energy

President Obama set federal agencies on a path to sustainability by signing an executive order on October 5, 2009. The order breaks new ground in federal climate action by requiring agencies to set 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by the end of 2009 and meet a number of other environmental goals. It also requires agencies to measure their progress toward these goals and report to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which reports to the President.

In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, federal agencies must:

• • reduce gasoline use in automobile fleets by 30% by 2020;

• • improve water efficiency by 26% by 2020;

• • achieve a 50% recycling and waste diversion rate by 2015; and

• • achieve net-zero-energy buildings by 2030.

Other requirements cover the environment impacts of purchases and civilian contracts as well as support for community sustainability efforts.

With 500,000 buildings, 600,000 vehicles, 1.8 million civilian employees, and $500 billion in purchases annually, the federal government has a large reach. “As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally responsible products and technologies,” said President Obama.

– Allyson Wendt