As efforts nationwide continue to minimize the impact of institutional and commercial facilities on emissions and climate change, the federal government is putting its money where its buildings are.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced plans to use $975 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding to upgrade federal buildings across the country with emerging and sustainable technologies. These plans will include electrifying the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center through up to $13.5 million that will use clean energy technologies to lower energy costs and reduce harmful carbon pollution.
By leveraging Inflation Reduction Act funds, GSA expects to more than double the $975 million investment in sustainable technologies, deploying a total of $1.9 billion in private and public funding to support sustainable technologies. This investment will avoid 2.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the equipment’s lifetime and will save enough energy to power over 300,000 American homes. At the same time, it will boost the American economy by supporting 5,000 jobs per year, adding $2.4 billion to U.S. GDP and avoiding $467 million in energy costs for American taxpayers over the next two decades.
The Inflation Reduction Act funds will impact about 40 million square feet, or about 20 percent, of GSA’s federal buildings portfolio and expand the agency’s sustainable building portfolio to 134 million square feet. Through these projects, 28 buildings will achieve net zero emissions and 100 more buildings will become all-electric, in addition to the approximately 200 that are already all-electric).
GSA plans to: leverage private sector funds through performance contracts such as Energy Savings Performance Contracts and Utility Energy Savings Contracts; make direct investments in building retrofits to maximize greenhouse gas reductions as well as energy and water savings; and expand building technology innovation programs such as the Green Proving Ground and Applied Innovation Learning Lab programs as well as electric vehicle infrastructure.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor of the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
