by Brianna Crandall — December 23, 2013—In 2009, President Obama directed the federal government to become a leader in clean energy and energy efficiency when he signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. The federal government has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15% from fiscal year (FY) 2008 levels, reduced energy use per square foot in federal buildings by more than 9% since FY 2008, and consumed more than 7% of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind in FY 2013, according to the White House.
Presidential Memorandum—Federal Leadership on Energy Management implements the goal the president outlined in his June 2013 Climate Action Plan that challenged federal agencies to more than double their renewable electricity consumption by 2020.
The memorandum encourages continuous improvement in building performance and energy management in a transparent way “where cost-effective and appropriate.” Agencies are directed to install building energy meters and sub-meters and install water meters, then to enter monthly performance data from the meters into the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager for managing and benchmarking.
Agencies are also to publicly disclose annual benchmark energy performance data through the Department of Energy Web-based tracking system, consider participating in demand response programs, and where feasible to use Green Button, a tool developed by industry in response to a White House call-to-action that provides utility customers with easy and secure access to their energy usage information in a consumer-friendly format.
By fiscal year 2020, “to the extent economically feasible and technically practicable,” agencies are directed to be using 20% renewable energy annually, whether by installing agency-funded renewable energy on-site or off-site or purchasing electricity and renewable energy certificates. Agencies are also to consider opportunities to install or contract for renewable energy projects installed on current or formerly contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites, to return those lands to productive use.
For more information, see the White House fact sheet on the memorandum.
