Federal agencies are required to meet a number of energy and water management goals mandated through Executive Orders, legislation and other requirements addressing energy conservation. Agencies can get assistance to meet their energy reduction needs with an Energy and Water Conservation Program from GSA’s Northeast and Caribbean Region.
The Energy and Water Conservation Program offers strategic energy management programs that reduce utility costs and energy consumption by promoting optimal energy use without impacting tenant comfort. Resources are offered to all federal agencies and nonprofit organizations within the region.
Helping Client Agencies Meet Their Energy Needs
Federal and non federal customers look to GSA’s energy program to procure green and non-green power that is cost effective and environmentally responsible. GSA partners with investor owned utility companies, national associations, and nonprofit environmental organizations to disseminate information on energy related issues. To comply with energy executive orders the energy program:
- Provides guidance on the use of GSA’s area wide contracts with utility companies,
- Aggregates the electric and gas requirements of its customers to procure utility services for them,
- Studies energy usage and energy data for its customers,
- Sponsors energy workshops with utility companies, national associates, and non profits organizations. These workshops educate energy professionals about energy efficiency utility deregulation, energy security, and alternative financing mechanisms,
- Provides advocacy at the regional level with other federal agencies and,
- Works closely with a number of nonprofit consumer organizations and the New York State Public Service Commission to ensure that utility rate increases, proposed by investor owned utility companies, are fair and reasonable.
Examples of how GSA’s Energy and Water Conservation Program works in the Northeast and Caribbean Region:
- 33% of GSA’s energy needs are generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and biomass.
- Five federal facilities, located in Binghamton and Utica, and Manhattan, NY meet 100% of their energy needs through a combination of wind power and biomass.
- 10% of Ellis Island’s and the Statue of Liberty’s kWh requirements will be generated from renewable energy sources beginning in June 2014.
- Over fifteen facilities have received Energy Star Label designations from both the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Federal employees can help lower energy consumption by turning off computers and other equipment at the conclusion of the workday, configuring computer equipment to enter power save mode after 10 minutes of inactivity, using task and office lighting purposefully, and reducing plug load (eliminating space heaters, personal refrigerators, and other such equipment).
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers an office energy checklist.
U.S. General Services Administration
