WASHINGTON – The White House today honored energy management teams from four federal entities: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Marine Corps; U.S. General Services Administration; and, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, for their support, leadership, and efforts in promoting and improving energy use in their facilities and operations. These teams, which included 44 Federal employees and contractors, are responsible for estimated annual savings in excess of $72 million and more than three trillion British Thermal Units (Btu), equivalent to the annual energy use of approximately 32,000 typical households. The awards were presented by the Federal Environmental Executive Joe Cascio and U.S. Department of Energy Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy John Mizroch today at the White House.

“Energy efficiency is a priority to this administration, and the federal government is leading by example,” said Joe Cascio, the Federal Environmental Executive. “Our Government is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through reduction in energy use and energy efficient products. For example, in 2005 Federal agencies purchased almost 2,866 gigawatt hours of green power, enough renewable electricity to service more than 280,000 average households annually. In addition, redesign of certain computer products to meet E.O. 13221 stand-by power requirements will save consumers more than $500 million in annual energy costs over the next six years, which is enough energy to power approximately 630,000 homes for one year.”

The Presidential Awards for Leadership in Federal Energy Management support President Bush’s aggressive goals for energy efficiency and use of renewable energy in the Federal government. In Executive Order 13423 the President called on the Federal government to reduce its energy intensity by three percent per year leading to a 30 percent reduction in 2015 compared to energy use in 2003. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires the Federal government to generate or purchase renewable electric energy equivalent to at least 7.5 percent of its electricity use by 2013, and the President’s Executive Order requires that at least half of this renewable energy come from new renewable sources that have been developed since 1999.

Awardees were selected from nominations submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy and then nominations were provided to the White House, who along with a panel of judges reviewed the nominations and recommended the award recipients to the President.

Awards recognize outstanding achievements in the following areas:

• Conservation and efficient use of energy and water;
• New and emerging energy technologies;
• Innovative strategies, best practices, and applications;
• Renewable energy sources;
• Alternative financing; and,
• Energy-efficient mobility by the federal government.

The four winning teams of the 2008 Presidential Awards for Leadership in Federal Energy Management received recognition for the following achievements:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Public and Indian Housing: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) developed a comprehensive program to invest in conservation and energy management to increase the asset value of public housing agencies. A major component of the program increased the use of energy performance contracting as a key financing tool. From FY 2006 to FY 2007, the guaranteed savings of all awarded contracts increased by 80 percent, from $37.6 million to $68 million, with energy conservation investments increasing by 35 percent to $121 million and more than 201,800 public housing units receiving renovations to date.
• U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar has the lowest energy intensity of all Marine Corps installations at 49,000 Btu-per-square-foot. In FY 2007 Miramar achieved a 9.5 percent reduction in energy intensity from the previous year and a 13 percent reduction from the baseline, saving 34 billion Btu and almost $1.4 million. The base employs a full-time Resource Efficiency Manager to focus on no- and low-cost opportunities, while using energy savings performance contracts and direct appropriated funding for lighting and HVAC upgrades. Miramar also implemented a multi-phase water reduction effort in FY 2007 that conserved 97 million gallons of potable water by using reclaimed water.
• U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Agency-wide Energy Management Initiative: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) developed an agency-wide energy management plan that formalized policy, procedures, and responsibilities for NARA energy management. In their largest building, NARA used an energy savings performance contract to upgrade lighting and the mechanical and energy management control systems. In the last two fiscal years, NARA invested more than $7.5 million in energy efficiency projects. As a result, the agency reduced energy intensity by more than 6 percent from FY 2006 and almost 19 percent from the 2003 baseline, representing combined savings of 114 billion Btu and more than $2 million in energy costs.
• U.S. General Services Administration, Pacific Rim Region: In FY 2007 GSA’s Pacific Energy and Sustainability Team completed projects in nine facilities encompassing 24 buildings. Projects included a power purchase contract to install a modular alternative generation plant; installation of a 274-kilowatt photovoltaic system; a 10-year contract award for on-site photovoltaic power producing 740 megawatt-hours per year; and a widespread lighting retrofit project. The Team’s efforts have resulted in a decrease in energy intensity of more than 2 percent from the region’s 2003 baseline despite increased operational requirements, increased security, and extended operating hours.

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