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Federal Environmental Executive Reports to President Bush: Federal Energy and Environmental Management Making Strong Progress

Juan Lopez, 202/564-1297, juan.lopez@ofee.gov

Today, Federal Environmental Executive John Howard sent to President George W. Bush a new report, "Leading by Example: A Report to the President on Federal Energy and Environmental Management (2000-2001)."

President Bush has called on the Federal government to lead by example, to be a good neighbor, and to be a good steward. The Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy, and the Federal Environmental Executive led an interagency work group that prepared a new report highlighting the activities and accomplishments of the Federal community in meeting this charge. The group also made recommendations for how the Federal government could improve its environmental stewardship.

John Howard, the Federal Environmental Executive stated, "The Federal government is making strong progress in being good environmental stewards. We're more energy efficient, and more systematic about our environmental management. We're emitting fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and spending more on environmentally responsible operations, buildings, and products. The report also includes eighteen recommendations for how we can build on this progress and make even further improvements. President Bush and his Administration will continue to work diligently to achieve each agency's mission by practicing sustainable environmental stewardship."

The report highlights several achievements, including:

  • More than 180 Federal facilities have developed and are implementing environmental management systems - strategic frameworks for ensuring compliance with environmental requirements, integrating environmental accountability into day-to-day decision making and planning, and urging continual improvement.
  • The Federal government's energy intensity (BTUs per square foot) has decreased 23 percent since 1985, saving taxpayers $1.4 billion.
  • From FY 1990 to FY 2001, total carbon emissions from energy used in Federal facilities declined by 2.8 million metric tons of carbon equivalent. This is equal to removing almost 2.1 million cars from the road in a year.
  • By using alternative financing mechanisms, agencies in FY 2001 implemented 125 energy projects through which the private sector invested approximately $477 million, at no cost to taxpayers, for a life-cycle cost savings of $1.2 billion.
  • More than 250 Federal buildings have qualified as Energy Star buildings for their high energy efficiency (top 25%).
  • From FY 2000 to FY 2001, Federal agencies tripled their purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources, to 632 gigawatt hours, enough to serve 60,000 households for a year.
  • From FY 2000 to FY 2001, Federal agencies consumed 6 times more alternative fuels (such as ethanol, biodiesel, and compressed natural gas), from 1.3 to 8.6 million gasoline gallon equivalents. In FY 2000, Federal agencies purchased nearly 8,000 new alternative fuel vehicles, bringing the total Federal fleet of such vehicles to 55,000 (don't have 2001 numbers yet).
  • An average of more than 650,000, or approximately 22%, of all Federal employees commute to work other than by single-occupancy vehicles, reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.
  • In FY 2001, Federal agencies purchased nearly $500 million in products containing recycled content. Over the last decade, the Federal government has purchased more than $3.6 billion of such products. Federal agencies and government contractors now buy more than 50 types of recycled content products designated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The report also makes 18 recommendations for the Federal government to improve its environmental stewardship through its operations and practices, in the following categories:

  • Building partnerships and enhancing education
  • Improving accountability
  • Budgeting for sustainability
  • Building sustainable infrastructure and
  • Continuing leadership

The report was developed pursuant to Executive Order 13101, issued by President Clinton, and is to be prepared every two years. This is the second such report, and the first during President Bush's Administration.

The full report can be viewed at www.ofee.gov and will be available in hard copy by January 2003.