By: John K. Norris, Contributing Writer to MyEnergySolution.com
As I wrote about earlier, the market for solar power and energy efficiency within the federal government is huge and largely untapped. Pursuant to Presidential Executive Order 13423, federal agencies are required to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the agency, through a substantial reduction in energy usage (up to 30%). Following up on this initial directive, President Obama signed Presidential Executive Order 13514 which stated beginning in 2020 and thereafter, all new federal buildings that enter the planning process will be designed to achieve zero net energy by 2030 and urges federal agencies to manage existing building systems to reduce the consumption of energy, water, and materials, and identify alternatives to renovation that lower a buildings operational cost. Finally, this order requires that all federal agencies establish and implement energy efficient practices for at least 15% of each agency’s building inventory by fiscal year 2015.
In addition to these executive moves, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the federal agency responsible for the management and procurement of most federal office buildings, has pushed itself to the forefront of the green building revolution. GSA has a fiscal year 2011 capital investment program of $1.4 billion to support green building, including $676 million for new construction and $703 million for renovation and alteration.
Click here to read more about Energy Efficiency and Federal Real Estate.
John Keller Norris is the founder of Del Sol Capital Partners, LLC and is located in La Jolla, CA. Mr. Norris has been actively involved in the bidding, procurement, development and management of office space for the U.S. Government in the western U.S. Included in that process is the research, design and implementation of cost effective energy management systems in U.S. government leasehold facilities. Mr. Norris graduated from the Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in Finance and Accounting and received an MBA from San Diego State University. You may contact Mr. Norris at john@delsolcp.com.