by Shane Henson — June 24, 2013—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), General Services Administration (GSA) and every other federal agency recently released their third annual performance scorecards showing the progress they have made toward reaching their energy and sustainability goals.
Their respective reports were released per Executive Order 13514, which requires federal agencies to measure, report, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution from agency operations to reduce waste, increase efficiency, and cut costs. According to The White House, these performance scorecards benchmark agencies’ progress and help them to target the best opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and reduce costs and waste in their operations moving forward.
Although making progress, only six out of 24 agencies are on track to make 15 percent of their buildings “green” by 2015. To meet green guidelines, newly constructed buildings must use 30 percent less energy than a typical building of the same size and renovated buildings must use 20 percent less energy. Only 0.03 percent of Defense Department buildings meet the guidelines; to meet the challenge, DoD issued stricter criteria for facility planning in 2012 to help military facilities meet the goals.
But 20 of 24 agencies are on track to meet goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The White House goal is for the government overall to reduce direct emissions — such as those generated by federal cars and buildings — by 28 percent below 2008 levels. Another benchmark, set by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, requires agencies to reduce energy use in their facilities by 30 percent from a 2003 baseline by 2015.
Two agencies, the General Services Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, are on track to meet all seven sustainability goals measured by the scorecard. GSA has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 36.5 percent below the 2008 baseline and reduced the energy use in its buildings by nearly 25 percent from the 2003 baseline.
Acting GSA administrator Dan Tangherlini said the General Services Administration is positioned to help other agencies meet their goals by providing technology and services that promote efficiency.
