Energy Conservation Services
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. Great Lakes Region GSA is committed to achieving these goals in order to reduce environmental impact and save taxpayer dollars through lower utility costs.
Federal property managers and tenants are encouraged to seek guidance from the GSA Great Lakes Energy and Sustainability Branch on strategies to reduce utility costs and consumption without impacting tenant comfort. To learn more, contact the experts listed on the right side of this page.
Customer Agency Energy Assistance Federal and non-federal customers look to GSA's energy program to procure cost-effective, environmentally-responsible power - both renewable and non-renewable. GSA partners with utility companies, national associations, and nonprofit environmental groups to explore innovative energy conservation programs.
To comply with legislation and executive orders, Great Lakes Region GSA
- provides guidance on the use of GSA's area-wide utility contracts
- aggregates electric and gas requirements to buy utility services for customers
- studies customer energy usage data
- sponsors energy workshops with utility companies, national associations, and nonprofit organizations to educate energy professionals about efficiency, utility deregulation, energy security, and alternative financing mechanisms
- provides advocacy at the regional level with other federal agencies.
Energy and Sustainability Certification in the Great Lakes Region Great Lakes Region GSA has earned many energy and environmental certifications, including:
- ENERGY STAR® designations for 35 owned buildings (10 for multiple years)
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification for New Construction:
- Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse, Cleveland, Ohio
- Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, Youngstown, Ohio
- Customs Cargo Inspection Facility, Detroit, Michigan
- LEED® Certification for Commercial Interiors:
- Federal Building, 536 S. Clark, Chicago, Illinois
- Warren E. Burger U.S. Courthouse, St. Paul, Minnesota
- LEED® Certification for Core and Shell:
- GSA Brokers Building, Detroit, Michigan
- LEED® Certification registration under various other ratings systems for 17 additional owned buildings and projects
- Green Globes certification:
- U.S. Courthouse, Hammond, Indiana
- Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert A. Grant Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, South Bend, Indiana
- Seven High Performance Green Buildings
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design Technology in the Great Lakes Region
- Green roof technology:
- U.S. Border Station, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
- Federal Building, 10 W. Jackson, Chicago, Illinois
- Photovoltaic Electricity Generation:
- Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, Chicago, Illinois
- Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center, Indianapolis, Indiana (Recovery Act Project)
- Robert W. Kastenmeier U.S. Courthouse, Madison, Wisconsin (Recovery Act Project)
- Senator Paul Simon Federal Building, Carbondale, Illinois (Recovery Act Project)
- Geothermal Heating and Cooling System:
- Land Port of Entry, Warroad, Minnesota
- Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota (Recovery Act Project)
- Photovoltaic array, solar hot-water heating, wind-power generation, rain-water harvesting:
- Harold Washington Social Security Center, Chicago, Illinois
Federal Employee Energy Reduction Tips
- Turn off lights, computers, monitors, and printer/copiers nightly or when not in use.
- Set computers to enter power-saving mode after 10 minutes of inactivity.
- Turn off or remove non-essential lights.
- Report drafts, leaks, and other signs of building heat loss to property management.
The Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) offers two helpful checklists, the Energy Saving Checklist for the Office and the Facility Energy Checklist to Reduce Fuel Costs.
