by Shane Henson — November 13, 2013—Twenty-five federal agencies demonstrating excellence in implementing efficiency measures to improve energy, water, and vehicle fleet management were applauded last week by officials within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and announced as winners of the 2013 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards.
The DOE says that through their innovative efforts, winners, including staff serving the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Homeland Security, Interior, and Veterans Affairs; and the General Services Administration saved a total of 1.9 trillion Btu of energy, nearly 400 million gallons of water, and more than $43 million during the 2012 fiscal year. These initiatives also helped offset more than 86 billion Btu of fossil-based energy through a combination of renewable energy generation and purchases, setting an example for other agencies to follow.
The energy savings alone are equivalent to taking 27,000 cars off the road and eliminating the average annual energy use of more than 20,000 households annually, says the DOE. The combined accomplishments of this year’s winners include:
- Implementing fleet optimization and training that saved 286 billion Btu in aviation fuel consumption;
- Implementing facility-wide changes to operations and maintenance practices, and saving more than 1.6 trillion Btu by upgrading building systems, lighting, and materials. This includes saving 86 billion Btu through the installation of renewable energy systems, including solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, a wind turbine, a landfill gas generating plant, and ground-source heat pumps;
- Installing significant water efficiency improvements, saving nearly 400 million gallons of water by upgrading plumbing fixtures, detecting and repairing leaks, and using more efficient irrigation practices; and
- Implementing energy savings performance contracts, utility energy service contracts, and power purchase agreements to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and greenhouse gas management projects.
