The Obama administration issued an executive order for the $4.5 billion stimulus to be spent by next September to pay for environmentally friendly, high performance green buildings and renovation projects within the U.S. government.
The federal government is the largest energy consumer in the U.S., the renovations are an attempt to trim the $25 billion annual power and fuel costs. The target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2020.
More than 60% of energy use is for transportation. Jet fuel being the largest consumer. The Department of Defense will be changing to greener fuels and take measures to reduce oil dependence. $300 million will also be used to buy more alternative fuel vehicles.
Congress has been setting goals to cut costs and reduce foreign oil dependence since the 1970’s energy crisis. Energy per square foot has been reduced nearly 30% since 1985 for the 500,000 buildings the government leases or owns.
The General Services Administration is responsible for thousands of federally owned facilities at 60 different agencies. The recovery act directs the GSA to invest:
- $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings to high-performance green
buildings. - $750 million to renovate and construct federal buildings and courthouses.
- $300 million to renovate and construct land ports of entry.
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