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Federal Energy Requirements
In This Section
In addition to being part of the Agency's mission, EPA's efforts to reduce energy consumption at its many facilities help it meet a variety of federal energy reduction requirements.* These requirements include a law signed by former President Bush in December 2007 and a comprehensive environmental executive order signed by former President Bush in January 2007. The energy reduction guidelines below require that agencies report and reduce energy use at the facilities where they pay utility bills. Since the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) provides most of EPA's office space and pays those utility bills, EPA's energy use reduction program focuses mainly on its laboratories.
*Note: Because energy reductions are measured in terms of energy intensity (energy use per square foot of space), energy reduction requirements are relative. As a result, new facilities and additions of square footage of laboratory space do not theoretically affect EPA's progress in meeting energy reduction goals.
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA)
Signed on December 19, 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) aims to increase U.S. energy security, develop renewable fuel production, and improve vehicle fuel economy. EISA reinforces the energy reduction goals for federal agencies put forth in Executive Order 13423, as well as introduces more aggressive requirements.
- Energy Efficiency: EISA requires federal agencies to reduce energy intensity by 3 percent per year, or 30 percent by FY 2015 (compared to an FY 2003 baseline):
- 9 percent by FY 2008**
- 12 percent by FY 2009
- 15 percent by FY 2010
- 18 percent by FY 2011
- 21 percent by FY 2012
- 24 percent by FY 2013
- 27 percent by FY 2014
- 30 percent by FY 2015
**Note: EISA took into account the requirements that existed during the two previous years (FY 2006-07) and started by requiring a 9 percent reduction from the FY 2003 baseline in FY 2008 and 3 percent annual reductions thereafter.
EISA Section 432—Management of Energy and Water Efficiency in Federal Buildings—establishes a framework for facility project management and benchmarking. Under this requirement, agencies must identify all “covered facilities” that constitute at least 75 percent of the agency’s facility energy use, and an energy manager must be designated at each of these covered facilities.
Each facility energy manager is responsible for completing comprehensive energy and water evaluations of 25 percent of covered facilities each year; implementing identified energy and water efficiency measures within two years of these evaluations, and following up on these measures.
- Sustainable Buildings: New or renovated agency buildings must be designed to reduce fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by 55 percent by FY 2010 and 100 percent by FY 2030 (compared to an FY 2003 baseline).
New commercial buildings must reach a long-term “zero net energy” goal by FY 2025; existing commercial buildings must also reach “zero net energy” by FY 2050. By 2010, federal agencies will be required to lease space that has earned the ENERGY STAR® label in the most recent year.
- Renewable Energy: At least 30 percent of hot water demand in new or renovated federal buildings must come from solar hot water heating, if life-cycle cost-effective. Existing buildings with minor renovations must incorporate the most energy-efficient designs, equipment, and controls.
Read the full text of the legislation. [PDF]
Executive Order 13423
Signed on January 24, 2007, Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management,” mandates new sustainability goals for the federal government that match or exceed previous statutory and E.O. requirements. The new order consolidates and strengthens the sustainable practices of five existing E.O.s, including E.O. 13123, which are all now revoked.
- Energy Efficiency: E.O. 13423 mandates an annual 3 percent reduction and cumulative 30 percent reduction in energy intensity by 2015 (compared to an FY 2003 baseline):
- 3 percent by FY 2006
- 6 percent by FY 2007
- 9 percent by FY 2008
- 12 percent by FY 2009
- 15 percent by FY 2010
- 18 percent by FY 2011
- 21 percent by FY 2012
- 24 percent by FY 2013
- 27 percent by FY 2014
- 30 percent by FY 2015
This requirement seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve in 10 years the same level of energy efficiency improvement that federal agencies achieved in the last 20 years. E.O. 13423 is 50 percent more stringent than the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).
- Renewable Energy: At least 50 percent of current renewable energy purchases must come from new renewable sources (defined as those that began operation after January 1, 1999). While EPAct 2005 set a renewable energy goal, E.O. 13423 is the first legislation to require a percentage of renewable energy to come from new sources.
EPAct 2005
Signed into law on August 8, 2005, EPAct 2005 requires federal agencies to reduce energy intensity every year in their facilities by 2 percent per year beginning in FY 2006, up to a cumulative 20 percent reduction by the end of FY 2015 (compared to an FY 2003 baseline):
- 2 percent by FY 2006
- 4 percent by FY 2007
- 6 percent by FY 2008
- 8 percent by FY 2009
- 10 percent by FY 2010
- 12 percent by FY 2011
- 14 percent by FY 2012
- 16 percent by FY 2013
- 18 percent by FY 2014
- 20 percent by FY 2015
Learn more about previous federal requirements for energy conservation including E.O. 13123 and EPAct 1992.