Today marks a tremendous step forward in the Alliance to Save Energy’s quest to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030 with the issuance of a presidential Executive Order calling for massive reductions in energy and water use in federal buildings and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from federal fleets. As the single largest energy consumer in the U.S., this move by the Federal Government will have significant positive effects on the country’s economy — saving taxpayers an estimate $18 billion in avoided energy costs — and our environment — reducing GHG emissions by 40% — over the next ten years. 

“The new Executive Order builds on significant progress that the Obama administration already has achieved — a 17%  reduction in GHG emissions and a reduction in energy use of 12% in only six years — with a sizeable benefit to Americans in the form of a $1.8 billion reduction in the country’s energy bill,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy. Callahan added “The President is continuing in his role of ‘Energy Efficiency Champion in Chief’ and has charted an aggressive course of leadership for the federal government that will steer our country toward a sustainable energy future and a more globally competitive economy.”

The Executive Order directs Federal agencies to:

• Ensure 25% of their total energy (electric and thermal) consumption is from clean energy sources by 2025;
• Reduce energy use in Federal buildings by 2.5% per year (from a 2015 baseline) through 2025;
• Reduce per-mile GHG emissions from Federal fleets by 30% (from a 2014 baseline) by 2025; and,
• Reduce water intensity in Federal buildings by 2% per year (from a 2015 baseline) through 2025.

In addition to the new directive, the President is using the power of the Federal purse to encourage commitments from its suppliers to cut their own GHG emissions. A new Federal Supplier Greenhouse Gas Management Scorecard was released this morning to track and discloses the self-reported emissions of all major Federal suppliers. “I am proud to see Alliance Board member companies UTC and Lockheed Martin are receiving high scores for their hard work to drive greater energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Working in partnership, the Federal government and the private sector can and will increase the energy productivity of our economy, create new jobs and make the U.S. more competitive globally — all while reducing GHG emissions dramatically,” said Kateri Callahan.