by Jbs100809 i3 — October 14, 2009—President Barack Obama signed an executive order (.pdf file) on October 5, 2009, that sets sustainability goals for federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy, and economic performance.
The new order makes reducing greenhouse gas emissions a priority for the federal government, which reportedly occupies nearly 500,000 buildings, operates more than 600,000 vehicles, employs more than 1.8 million civilians, and purchases more than $500 billion per year in goods and services.
Federal agencies must set 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals within 90 days and devise a string of plans to soften their environmental impacts, President Barack Obama ordered this week.
It also requires federal agencies to increase their energy efficiency, reduce the petroleum consumption of their fleets, conserve water, reduce waste, support sustainable communities, and leverage their federal purchasing power to promote environmentally responsible products and technologies.
Another key component of the Executive Order—a green procurement policy to cover 95 percent of new contracts and acquisitions—will also carry a lot of weight due to the government’s mammoth buying power, which exceeds more than a half trillion dollars spent on goods and services annually.
Other environmental targets in the order include a 30 percent reduction in fleet gasoline use and 26 percent boost in water efficiency, both by 2020, and a 50 percent waste recycling and diversion rate by 2015. The 2030 net-zero-energy building requirement must also be implemented under the order.
The Executive Order also charges the General Services Administration with exploring the feasibility of tracking vendor greenhouse gas emissions.
Recommendations could include requiring vendors to register with a voluntary greenhouse gas emissions registry and disclose their efforts to reduce emissions. Preference or other incentives could be given for “products manufactured using processes that minimize greenhouse gas emissions.”
Each agency must appoint a senior sustainability officer from among senior management to be accountable for complying with the order. The Chair of the Council on Environment will report agency goals and results directly to the President.
The Executive Order is intended to jumpstart a transition to a clean energy economy as climate change legislation moves through Congress, saving taxpayers substantial money in the process.
Within 180 days of the order, the federal government will also develop guidance for locating federal buildings in a manner consistent with sustainable development. The executive order follows the president’s proclamation of October as National Energy Awareness Month. The president called on the people of the United States to mark the month by making clean energy choices that can both rebuild our economy and make it more sustainable. Noting that the federal government is the largest consumer of energy in the U.S., the proclamation noted that the Obama Administration is committed to leading by example in the use of clean energy and energy efficiency.
