New Executive Order Mandates Energy Efficiency Goals for Federal Fleets

September 13, 2018

Executive Order (EO) 13834: Efficient Federal Operations was signed by President Trump on 17 May 2018. This EO affirms “that agencies shall meet such statutory requirements in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment.” Section 8 of the new EO revokes EO 13693 of 19 March 2015 (Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.)

This EO affirms that it is the policy of the United States that agencies meet energy and environmental performance statutory requirements in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment. In implementing this policy, agencies are tasked to prioritize actions that reduce waste, cut costs, enhance the resilience of Federal infrastructure and operations, and enable more effective accomplishment of its mission.

More specifically, the head of each agency is required to meet the following goals, which are based on statutory requirements, in a cost-effective manner:

  • Achieve and maintain annual reductions in building energy use and implement energy efficiency measures that reduce costs;
  • Meet statutory requirements relating to the consumption of renewable energy and electricity;
  • Reduce potable and non-potable water consumption, and comply with stormwater management requirements;
  • Utilize performance contracting to achieve energy, water, building modernization, and infrastructure goals ;
  • Ensure that new construction and major renovations conform to applicable building energy efficiency requirements and sustainable design principles; consider building efficiency when renewing or entering into leases; implement space utilization and optimization practices; and annually assess and report on building conformance to sustainability metrics;
  • Implement waste prevention and recycling measures and comply with all Federal requirements with regard to solid, hazardous, and toxic waste management and disposal;
  • Acquire, use, and dispose of products and services, including electronics, in accordance with statutory mandates for purchasing preference, Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements, and other applicable Federal procurement policies; and
  • Track and, as required by section 7(b) of this order, report on energy management activities, performance improvements, cost reductions, greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water savings, and other appropriate performance measures.

 

source: FedCenter.gov