Federal agencies are required to meet a number of energy and water management goals mandated through Executive Orders, legislation and other requirements addressing energy conservation. Agencies can get assistance to meet their energy reduction needs with an Energy and Water Conservation Program from GSA's Southeast Sunbelt Region. To learn more about how GSA can work with your agency, use the contact information on the upper right.

Federal facilities managers can count on GSA to provide first class workplaces while ensuring environmental stewardship through energy conservation and environmentally responsible building design. The Energy Conservation Program offers strategic energy management programs that reduce utility costs and energy consumption by promoting optimal energy use without impacting tenant comfort.

Helping Client Agencies Meet Their Energy Needs

Federal customers look to GSA's energy program to procure green and non-green power that is cost effective and environmentally responsible. GSA partners with investor owned utility companies, national associations, and nonprofit environmental organizations to disseminate information on energy related issues. To comply with energy executive orders the energy program:

• Provides guidance on the use of GSA's area wide contracts with utility companies
• Aggregates the electric and gas requirements of its customers to procure utility services for them
• Studies energy usage and energy data for its customers
• Sponsors energy workshops with utility companies, national associates, and non profits organizations. These workshops educate energy professionals about energy efficiency utility deregulation, energy security, and alternative financing mechanisms
• Provides advocacy at the regional level with other federal agencies

Examples of GSA's achievements in energy efficiency in the Southeast Sunbelt Region include:

• At the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building in Jacksonville, Florida, GSA's integrated energy efficient design reduced energy consumption by more than 60 percent: nearly 24 billion British Thermal Units (BTUs), which could power 208 homes for one year. The project received a U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy and Water Management Award in 2006.
• The John Duncan Federal Office Building in Knoxville, Tennessee underwent a comprehensive building re-commissioning. Improvements included the installation of a new building control system, lighting upgrades and motion sensors, reducing energy by more than 33 percent: approximately 1.7 billion BTUs in FY2005. GSA also implemented water management measures, including retrofitting restrooms with water-saving equipment, saving 400,000 gallons of water annually, and installing secondary water meters to reduce charges for water sewage and runoff. The building successfully attained an Energy Star rating of 94 out of 100 and qualified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. It also received a U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy and Water Management Award in 2006.
• Received Energy Star Label designations for eleven buildings.

Federal employees can help lower energy consumption by turning off computers and other equipment at the conclusion of the workday, configuring computer equipment to enter power save mode after 10 minutes of inactivity, using task and office lighting purposefully, and reducing plug load (eliminating space heaters, personal refrigerators, and other such equipment).

The Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) offers an energy saving checklist for the office, and a facility energy checklist to reduce fuel costs.