Federal Employees Awarded for Reducing Energy Costs

The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards were announced today by the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE). Secretary Samuel Bodman named the 25 winners and commended them for making it possible for the Federal government to save over $18 million dollars over the last year. Those recognized by the Federal Energy and Water Management Awards included individuals and small groups of individuals as well as entire organizations.

Those receiving the 2007 Awards were chosen from nominations from seventeen agencies within the Fderal government. A short list of the actions and/or policies that resulted in the award recognition include the use of renewable energy such as wind and solar power, leak detection systems to reduce water consumption, and upgrading and replacing equipment to ensure maximum efficiency.

The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards have been handed out since 1981 by the Department of Energy. The program is meant to reduce energy costs through conservation, and promote environmental awareness and stewardship. The program is also credited with helping the Federal government achieve goals that President Bush set recently with Executive Order 13423, which calls for the US Federal government to reduce energy use by 2 percent each year through 2015 and incrementally substitute fossil fuel-derived power with power coming from renewable sources.

Secretary Bodman alluded to Bush's leadership and the Federal government's commitment to the President's goals, adding in the DOE press release, "Those recognized today demonstrate that Federal employees are rising to the challenge. As public servants, it is our responsibility to lead and set an example of efficiency and prudent use of our resources."

Federal agencies and their employees that received the 2007 Awards include the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, the Interior, Veteran Affairs, as well as the Department of Energy itself. Every branch of the US Military also received an Award for their policies and energy cost-cutting. Appropriately enough, the Environmental Protection Agency was an Award winner, as was the US Postal Service and the General Services Administration. Other agencies had buildings and facilities recognized for their efficiency.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is another impetus for those agencies cutting energy usage. The Energy Policy Act requires that the Federal government cut usage by three percent per year through 2015. The Act also demands that the federal government acquire 7.5 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2013.

The results are already speaking for themselves. Last year, the Federal government's energy consumption fell more than six percent. The percentage of energy coming from renewable sources is almost at its 2013 target, coming in last year at just under 7 percent.

Source: US Department of Energy