WASHINGTON - The Department of Energy (DOE) today honored 22 employees each with a Federal Energy Water Management award for energy efficiency improvement efforts and innovative strategies in Federal Government, which saved taxpayers more than $28 million in fiscal year (FY) 2007. The awards, sponsored by DOE, demonstrate a commitment to sound government stewardship by recognizing efforts to save energy, reduce federal energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bring more cutting-edge technologies to use, strengthen national security, and create a stronger economy.

“President Bush has set aggressive goals for reducing the Federal government’s use of energy, and we intend to meet those goals with robust measures,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy John Mizroch said. “Those recognized today demonstrate that Federal employees are rising to the challenge. As public servants, it is our responsibility to lead and set an example of efficiency and prudent use of our resources.”

The 2008 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards winners were selected from nominations submitted by 16 Federal agencies:

• Military: United States Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy;
• U.S. Departments: DOE, Interior, Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and,
• The Tennessee Valley Authority.

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) 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 2003. Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced the Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative, in August 2007, a DOE-wide effort aimed at reducing energy intensity across the nationwide DOE complex by 30 percent across the DOE complex to save taxpayers in energy costs.

Substantive results have already been achieved by implementing changes across the entire Federal Government. For example, FY 2007 data shows that the Federal government has decreased energy consumption per gross square foot by approximately 11 percent, compared with FY 2003 data. The Federal government also reported purchasing or producing 2,774 gigawatt-hours of renewable electric energy, equivalent to 4.9 percent of their electricity use.

Accomplishments of the winners include:

• Making facility-wide systemic changes by improving operations and maintenance practices and upgrading building management and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment, including recommissioning energy systems and installing high efficiency lighting and direct digital controls;
• Improving water efficiency by upgrading water-saving equipment, installing metering equipment to locate and repair water leaks, and using reclaimed water to conserve water;
• Implementing energy savings performance contracts and utility energy services contracts to obtain private sector funds to cut federal energy costs;
• Reducing petroleum fuel use through increased use of alternative fuels in Federal fleet vehicles;
• Installing renewable energy systems including solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, roof-top and building integrated photovoltaics, and geothermal heat pumps; and,
• Procuring green power for federal facilities.

Today DOE also presented 10 awards honoring programs, teams, and individuals at the 2008 Department of Energy Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Award ceremony. DOE has recognized extraordinary staff, who promoted the goals of Secretary Bodman’s TEAM Initiative, and show superior leadership in effective, efficient energy management. Today’s awardees have developed projects which, when fully implemented, will reduce DOE’s energy intensity by 20 percent from 2003.

View the complete list of this year’s winners and learn more about the Secretary’s TEAM Initiative.

Media contact(s):
Jennifer Scoggins, (202) 586-4940