Energy efficiency placing burden on government agencies

September 27, 2013 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Among federal agency purchasing decision makers, 74 percent believe energy efficiency is among the most powerful means of meeting increasing energy needs, achieving cost savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a survey conducted by Zogby International and sponsored by the Alliance to Save Energy and Schneider Electric.

A view of D.C. from the Washington Monument. Credit: Nilington/Wikimedia Commons

The independent survey of 204 government leaders asked participants a variety of questions relating to energy efficiency within their agencies, including the importance of energy efficiency and progress towards goals, main drivers for improving energy efficiency, and challenges and obstacles.

The vast majority of respondents (87 percent) say energy is important to fulfilling their agency's core mission while only 56 percent say their current culture encourages energy efficiency. The numbers drop more as priorities are questioned with just 29 percent who consider energy efficiency among the agency's top five priorities and 36 percent listing it as a second-tier priority. Further, 46 percent believe "changing human behaviors" is the most important solution for helping federal agencies achieve energy-efficiency goals. Just over seven in ten (71 percent) say their agency or facility is vulnerable to power disruptions that would impact mission effectiveness due to their dependency on the commercial electrical grid.

The majority of respondents grade their progress on meeting energy-efficiency mandates at a B (38 percent) or C (31 percent), with only 6 percent grading their agency's efforts an A.

Even though a vast majority of respondents tout the importance of energy efficiency to their agency's mission, 70 percent of those surveyed believe the current economic environment and potential tightening of their agency's budget affects their ability to pursue energy-efficiency projects. Respondents cite lack of funding (37 percent); organizational barriers such as procedures (20 percent); and lack of enthusiasm to execute (18 percent) as specific obstacles.

"As the nation's largest energy user, I'm encouraged to learn that the majority of federal agency decision-makers value energy efficiency as the fastest, cheapest, and cleanest way to meet their energy needs," said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy. "However, despite being viewed favorably, support and tools to implement energy efficiency measures are sorely lacking. The federal government needs to invest in energy efficiency so that agencies can cut waste, become more productive, and save taxpayers money."

For more:
- see the report