NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today launched the Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative, a Department-wide effort aimed at reducing energy intensity across the nationwide DOE complex by 30 percent.  The TEAM Initiative aims to meet or exceed the aggressive goals for increasing energy efficiency throughout the federal government already laid out by President Bush.  Reducing energy intensity by 30 percent across the DOE complex will save approximately $90 million in taxpayer dollars per year, after projects are paid for.

“As the federal government’s lead agency on energy management, DOE will have raised the bar with TEAM Initiative,” Secretary Bodman said.  “Over the next few years, DOE will leverage every possible public and private resource to improve our energy performance and reduce our energy intensity.  By fundamentally transforming the way the Department manages energy use in its facilities, not only will we be able to achieve the President’s ambitious goals for increasing efficiency, but it will also allow for a cleaner, leaner and more efficient federal government.”

This Initiative meets or exceeds energy efficiency goals mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) as well as President Bush’s Executive Order (EO #13423), announced in January 2007, which directed federal agencies to: reduce energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions; substantially increase use and efficiency of renewable energy technologies; adopt sustainable design practices; and reduce petroleum use in federal fleets.  This Initiative adopts an even more ambitious timeline and targets changes that will have an impact on DOE’s energy use as early as next year.

Specifically, TEAM Initiative requires that:

• By 2008, DOE have in place executable plans for all facilities to reduce energy intensity by 30 percent;
• The Department maximize installation of secure, on-site renewable energy projects at all DOE sites and/or optimize affordable purchases of renewable electricity;
• DOE’s entire Alternative Fuel Vehicles fleet operate exclusively on clean, alternative fuels;
• DOE benchmark and monitor water use and implement a plan - and begin saving water - by Fiscal Year 2008 to reduce consumption by at least 16 percent.
• New DOE construction, major renovations, and 15 percent of existing federal capital asset building inventory incorporate the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, ultimately aspiring to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, or comparable certification;
• The Department use Environmental Management Systems to ensure implementation of, and provide the supporting framework for, these activities.

By setting aggressive goals and timelines, and streamlining contract approval for change, and increasing use of private financing to make improvements, TEAM Initiative will end DOE’s incremental approach to saving energy.  These goals cannot be achieved without the expanded use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs), Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), and Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) provided by utility companies.  ESPCs and UESCs are unique contracting vehicles, allowing agencies to complete needed energy savings projects for their facilities.  ESCOs and utilities provide the private financing required for equipment purchases and process enhancements and are subsequently repaid from the revenues generated from energy cost savings resulting from improved energy efficiency.

Many of the measures implemented will require up-front investments, such as advanced lighting, heating, and air conditioning.  The Department anticipates it will use some appropriated funds for these energy-saving projects, however it will maximize use of alternative financing tools, such as ESPCs and UESCs to fund major portions of TEAM Initiative.

The federal government is largest single user of energy in the United States, and DOE is the second largest energy consumer of all civilian federal agencies.  The Department’s facilities comprise of approximately 110 million square feet, and include more than 14,000 vehicles in its fleet.  DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program provides support for federal agencies to save energy, as well as improve facilities through ESPCs and UESCs.  Since 2001, ESPCs and UESCs enabled through DOE programs have financed over $851 million in energy improvements at federal facilities.

Secretary Bodman made today’s announcement while delivering closing remarks at the 10th GovEnergy 2007 conference, which brings together federal facility managers to discuss and implement energy management strategies.  This year’s conference attracted record attendance, topping 2,000 people.

Media contact(s):
Julie Lynn Ruggiero, (202) 586-4940