December 19, 2008—The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of State recently signed an agreement (.pdf file) to conduct energy assessments and improve environmental and energy management at US embassies and consulates around the world.
Under the agreement, DOE will conduct evaluations of overseas facilities and identify opportunities to increase energy and water efficiency, utilize renewable energy, and implement environmental sustainability measures by utilizing Super Energy Service Performance Contracts.
The partnership will provide the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO) with the tools and resources needed to respond to the energy and water audit requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act and the energy, water, environment, and transportation requirements of Presidential Executive Order 13423.
Additionally, DOE will share the protocols that it developed under its Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative, which has carried out energy evaluations at DOE facilities that are expected to result in over $400 million in energy improvements.
The State Department operates and maintains more than 18,000 facilities in more than 280 locations around the world, and has completed 62 new embassy compounds since 2001, with another 34 under construction.
