March 10, 2006—In response to President Bush’s September 26, 2005 memorandum mandating reductions of energy use in federal agencies, the agencies have reported on their conservation actions. Their reports show a wide variety of energy-saving measures, from increasing awareness programs and optimizing heating, cooling, and air conditioning systems, to facilitating telecommuting. The facility energy reductions and some fuel reductions are highlighted below.
- GSA eliminated 24/7 operations at three sites.
- The Bureau of Engraving and Printing shuts down the thermal oxidizer process during non-production periods.
- NASA has reduced its on-site power generation requirement for distant spacecraft communication operations.
- EPA laboratories have improved management of fume hood operations.
- The National Archives and Records Administration turns off selected air handlers at night in office spaces.
- The Department of Commerce HVAC units are cycled off for an additional hour at night and on weekends.
- HHS turns off the HVAC on weekends, reduces HVAC to 12 hours per day during the week, and shuts down non-essential space heating and cooling one hour before the normal close of each workday where possible.
- The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center installed and upgraded direct digital controls in several existing buildings.
- DOD incorporated occupancy controllers in dorms and barracks to decrease heating oil consumption.
- EPA installed meters to track overall campus energy consumption and identify usage patterns, and sub-meters to track energy use within specific buildings.
- DOD performed night surveys to minimize off-hour electricity consumption.
- EPA’s Region 4 Office facilitated a tax-free weekend for the purchase of Energy Star-labeled products.
- The Federal Trade Commission has turned off one elevator at each end of its headquarters building and one elevator in its annex.
- DOE unplugged the compressors on 84 water fountains.
- The Smithsonian has shut down selected decorative fountains.
- The Department of Commerce reduced lighting levels in common areas such as building corridors, and installed occupancy sensors for lighting in public corridors, restrooms, and conference rooms.
- DOD turned off decorative lighting in all Defense commissaries.
- The Department of Commerce installed automatic closers on loading dock roll-up doors.
- The Department of Labor has installed new permanent weather stripping, caulking, and insulation in its owned buildings.
- DOE improved the insulation on building roofs.
- Department of Transportation boilers are being shut down one hour early every day at the FAA’s Mike Monroney Center. Low-fire operation on boilers has also been extended.
- NASA decommissioned central boiler plants and replaced them with high efficiency local boilers.
- DHS is increasing the operating efficiencies of its boiler plants.
- At the DHS Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Charleston campus, increasing boiler operating pressures have decreased burner cycling. Also, boiler combustion chamber and heat transfer surface cleanings were increased and a boiler with a gas analyzing monitoring system was installed.
- EPA headquarters acquired a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
- HHS will expand the use of electric carts on large campuses and reduce truck use.
- The Department of Commerce has converted three-quarter-ton vehicles to more fuel-efficient utility carts.
- Various agencies are encouraging employees to use the smallest and most fuel-efficient vehicle possible to perform their mission. Agencies are also facilitating increased employee use of carpools, mass transit, telecommuting, and compressed work schedules.
For more information visit the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).
