LEADING BY EXAMPLE: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2004-2006

Today, Earth Day 2008, the Federal Environmental Executive (FEE) released the 2004-06 Biennial Report to the President on the Federal government’s environmental and energy efficiency accomplishments.

President George W. Bush called on the Federal government to lead by example in environmental stewardship, while meeting their missions in an efficient and reliable manner.

In January, the President signed Executive Order 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, requiring Federal Agencies to lead by example in advancing the Nation's energy security and environmental performance through effective environmental, energy, and transportation management.

This order directs the Federal Environmental Executive (FEE) to prepare a biennial report highlighting Federal agency accomplishments.

Highlights of the report include:

Strengthening Environmental Management Systems (EMS): The President's Executive Order requires Federal agencies to implement environmental management systems (EMS) at all appropriate facilities and organizational levels. An EMS is a strategic approach to ensure that an organization’s environmental priorities are integrated into operational, planning, and management decisions.

• In 2001, 180 facilities had either implemented or initiated implementation of an EMS. The Executive Order will result in approximately 2,500 EMSs by 2010, and by the end of 2006, the total was more than 2,378 facilities from 18 Federal agencies.

Advancing The Nation’s Energy Security Needs: The President’s Executive Order calls for an increased use of alternate fuels, including more alternate fuel vehicles, such as hybrids; a reduction of federal petroleum consumption in fleet vehicles by 2% per year through 2015 and an increased use of non-petroleum based fuels; and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy intensity by 3% each year, or 30% by 2015.

• By FY 2005, Federal agencies had improved energy efficiency by almost 30 percent over the prior 20 years. The new Executive Order calls for an additional 30 percent in the next 10 years.
• During the same time, energy usage of renewable energy was equivalent to 6.9 percent of the Federal government’s electricity use, well above the prior 2.5 percent goal.
• In 2001, agencies purchased 632 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy. By the end of 2005, agencies reported purchasing almost 2.9 billion kilowatt hours of green power, enough renewable electricity to service more than 280,000 average households annually.
• By FY 2005, Federal agencies had reduced their use of fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas/propane 70 percent compared to the FY 1985 baseline.
• During FY 2005, Federal agencies achieved a greenhouse gas emission reduction of 22.1 percent, going from 14.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE) in FY 1990 to 11.6 million MTCE in FY 2005.
• Federal agencies consumed 4.4, 6.26, and 5.75 million gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of alternative fuels in FY 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. In FY 2006 alone, the 5.75 million GGE of alternative fuels included 1.6 million GGE of biodiesel and 3 million GGE of E85 ethanol.

Furthering Environmental Performance: The Executive Order requires increases in the purchase of environmentally sound products, including biobased materials, more energy efficient electronic products, and the development of high performance buildings that are healthier and consume less energy.

• By the end of FY 2006, most executive agencies had greatly expanded and integrated green purchasing programs relative to 2001. This represents increases in purchases of recycled content, energy efficient, biobased, and environmentally preferable products.
• Federal agencies are seeking from vendor’s computer products that reduce standby power, as required by E.O. 13321, which is estimated to save taxpayers more than $400 million in annual energy costs over the next six years. That is the equivalent of the power needed for approximately 630,000 homes for one year.
• Federal agencies are using or testing nearly three dozen types of biobased products, including lubricants, cleaning products, construction products, fleet maintenance products, solvents, and landscaping products.
• In FY 2006, 12 Federal agencies, up from only 2 in 2001, recycled more than 35 percent of the solid waste they generated, meeting or exceeding EPA’s national 35 percent recycling goal. Agencies recycle construction and demolition debris, metals, household hazardous waste, used cooking grease, tires and other difficult-to-handle wastes, in addition to traditional municipal recyclables.
• During FY 2004 through 2006, GSA successfully transferred 41,973 computers and 6,230 printers to schools and educational non-profit organizations, keeping these electronic products in productive use rather than going to a landfill.
• By the end of 2006, more than 156 buildings registered for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Standard certification, up from 50 in 2001, with 16 having obtained the certification. The new Executive Order will cover the all new building construction and a large percentage of existing buildings.

Previous Reports

• 2002-2003
• 2000-2001