DOE Aims for 30 Percent Boost in its Energy Savings
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) initiative, a department-wide effort aimed at reducing energy intensity across the nationwide DOE complex by 30 percent.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the
Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) initiative, a department-wide effort aimed at reducing energy intensity across the nationwide DOE complex by 30 percent. The TEAM initiative aims to meet or exceed the goals for increasing energy efficiency throughout the federal government already laid out by President Bush. Reducing energy intensity by 30 percent across the DOE complex will save approximately $90 million in taxpayer dollars per year, after projects are paid for.
This Initiative meets or exceeds energy efficiency goals mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), as well as Executive Order (EO #13423), announced in January 2007, which directed federal agencies to: reduce energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions; substantially increase use and efficiency of renewable energy technologies; adopt sustainable design practices; and reduce petroleum use in federal fleets. This initiative adopts an even more ambitious timeline and targets changes that will affect DOE’s energy use as early as next year.
Specifically, the TEAM initiative requires that:
• by 2008, DOE have in place executable plans for all facilities to reduce energy intensity by 30 percent
• the department maximize installation of secure, on-site renewable energy projects at all DOE sites and optimize affordable purchases of renewable electricity
• DOE’s entire Alternative Fuel Vehicles fleet operate exclusively on clean, alternative fuels
* DOE benchmark and monitor water use and implement a plan - and begin saving water - by fiscal year 2008 to reduce use by at least 16 percent
• new DOE construction, major renovations, and 15 percent of existing federal capital asset building inventory incorporate the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, ultimately aspiring to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, or comparable certification;
• the department use environmental management systems to ensure implementation of, and provide the supporting framework for, these activities.
Many of the measures implemented will require up-front investments, such as advanced lighting, heating, and air conditioning. The department anticipates it will use some appropriated funds for these energy-saving projects, but says it will maximize use of alternative financing tools to fund major portions of initiative.
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