Leading By Example With Renewable Energy and Energy Management

President Obama has challenged the Federal Government to lead by example to reduce energy use, pollution and waste in their operations, and save taxpayer dollars as a result. Here at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, we work with the Federal family to help them achieve these goals, and we have seen Federal agencies demonstrate enormous leadership and measurable success as they take this challenge head on. 

Following the President’s direction, Federal agencies have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent since 2008, and are on track to reach existing renewable energy goals. To build on these efforts, President Obama today issued a Presidential Memorandum on Federal Leadership on Energy Management that directs agencies to go even further.    The Memorandum establishes a new target for Federal agencies to consume 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2020 – that’s more than double the current goal of 7.5 percent. The President first outlined this new goal in his June Climate Action Plan to curb carbon pollution and protect communities from extreme weather and other climate impacts. Meeting this renewable energy target will reduce pollution in our communities, promote American energy independence, and support homegrown energy produced by American workers. It also supports the President’s goal to double renewable energy in this nation by 2020.

To improve agencies’ ability to manage energy consumption and reduce costs, the Memorandum directs them 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. Agencies have already reduced energy use per square foot in Federal buildings by more than 9 percent since FY 2008. Green Button will help them identify areas where they can further update their building-performance and energy-management practices to save taxpayer dollars. Agencies will also use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager to ensure Federal facilities are measuring their energy and water metering data and better managing energy use.

I look forward to working with agencies as they continue to lead by example in their operations. Meeting the President’s goals will help us responsibly manage taxpayer resources, save energy, and promote healthy American communities.

Jon Powers is the Federal Environmental Executive at the Council on Environmental Quality.