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Better Building Federal Award Underway

Summary: 
The nomination period for the 2013 Better Building Federal Award (BBFA) is now open. This contest builds on the Federal Government’s goal to reduce energy intensity – or energy consumed per square foot – by 30 percent by 2015 through encouraging, recognizing, and rewarding Federal agencies that achieve the greatest annual savings in energy intensity.

The nomination period for the 2013 Better Building Federal Award (BBFA) is now open. This contest builds on the Federal Government’s goal to reduce energy intensity – or energy consumed per square foot – by 30 percent by 2015 through encouraging, recognizing, and rewarding Federal agencies that achieve the greatest annual savings in energy intensity.

On December 2, 2011, the President announced the investment of nearly $4 billion in combined Federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings. In this announcement, the President challenged the private and public sectors to make rapid investments in creating a more sustainable, energy-efficient workplace. As part of the Better Buildings Initiative, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Energy challenged Federal agencies to nominate Federal facilities for the BBFA in a letter to Federal Building Managers.

The Federal Government continues to lead by example in reducing energy and water usage. There are no better examples of Federal leadership than the eight Federal buildings taking part in the current 2012 competition. The eight finalist buildings represent five agencies and seven states: Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, and West Virginia. Actions at these Federal buildings are just some of the steps the Federal government is taking to promote more sustainable, energy-efficient facilities. Their actions will save us energy dollars. And that’s not just good for us – that’s good for the American taxpayer. 

You too can participate in this challenge. Visit the Federal Energy Management Program’s BBFA webpage and track the success of the 2012 competitors. Root for your favorites, follow their progress, and learn about cost-cutting measures that you may also be able to use at your facility.


The following facilities are currently competing in the 2012 BBFA:

Department of Defense:

  • Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Fort Hood, Texas
  • Army Boatwright Maintenance Park Building, Fort Knox, Kentucky

Department of Energy:

  • Sandia National Laboratory Building 753, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Department of Interior:

  • Bureau of Reclamation Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Department of Treasury:

  • Bureau of Public Debt Avery Street Building, Parkersburg, West Virginia

General Services Administration:

  • Frank Carlson Federal Building and Courthouse, Topeka, Kansas
  • Neal Smith Federal Building, Des Moines, Iowa
  • Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Nick Sinai is Senior Advisor to the US Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Tim Unruh is the Program Manager of the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) at the US Department of Energy.