WASHINGTON – The United States Mint is the recipient of a 2002 Federal Energy and Water Management Award from the United States Department of Energy.

It is the third time the honor, which recognizes the achievements in energy reduction, has been awarded to the United States Mint in the past decade.

The award was given in recognition of the implementation of an aggressive energy savings program at the United States Mint’s San Francisco facility, which saved 4.6 billion BTUs in energy consumption, reduced water consumption by nearly 1.7 million gallons, reduced carbon emissions by 116 metric tons and saved the facility more than $100,000 in avoided costs during FY2001, which is comparable to energy savings of 11 percent. The goals set forth in Executive Order 13123 include reducing energy consumption by 20 percent by 2005.

“The United States Mint is very pleased with the success of this energy savings initiative,” said United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore. “Energy savings programs such as this one are not only good for the environment, but also good for business. They help organizations – whether in the private sector or the public sector – improve productivity and function more efficiently for the public benefit.”

The energy savings program was first implemented in 1996, but was enhanced in October 2000. It relied on employee awareness, numerous equipment modifications, a variety of innovative personnel scheduling techniques to reduce energy consumption, and the replacement of old, single-paned windows with more energy-efficient double-paned windows – an especially challenging feat, given the building’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The U.S. Department of Energy has recognized outstanding contributions in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation within the federal sector by presenting Federal Energy and Water Management Awards each year since 1981.

Created by Congress in 1792, the United States Mint is a manufacturing and international marketing enterprise with about 2,400 employees. For more information, please visit www.usmint.gov.