Energy and Water Conservation at Bureau of Land Management Facilities
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
August 5, 2010
In Reply Refer To:
1703/9100 (280/854) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 08/10/2010
Instruction Memorandum No. 2010-175
Expires: 09/30/2011
To: All Field Officials
From: Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal Resources
Subject: Energy and Water Conservation at Bureau of Land Management Facilities
Program Area: Engineering, Property, Procurement and Resource Protection
Purpose: This policy provides energy and water conservation guidance for all of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) facilities. This policy addresses the efficient use of energy and potable water for the BLM’s facilities as mandated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005); Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007); Executive Order 13423; and Executive Order 13514.
Policy/Action: Field officials shall conserve energy and water by incorporating conservation principles, practices, and technologies to the maximum extent practical.
Field officials are requested to:
- Minimize energy and water use within facilities in accordance with sustainable principles and practices.
- Maintain existing energy and water efficiency measures which have been implemented at their respective field offices.
- Work with the State Engineers and facilities personnel to incorporate new opportunities for energy and water efficient technologies within their respective field offices.
Timeframe: Effective upon issuance.
Background: The BLM tracks the use of energy and water through a centralized utility billing process. The energy and water usage is reported to the Department of the Interior (DOI) on an annual basis and is monitored by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) via Agency energy management scorecards.
EISA 2007 and EO 13423 require building energy intensity to be reduced 3% annually through FY2015 or a 30% total reduction by 2015 (baseline 2003). In addition, EO 13514 calls for reduced energy intensity in buildings to achieve GHG reductions.
The BLM continues to make significant progress in terms of reducing energy intensity within new and existing facilities. Recent Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC) work, as well as other sustainable practices, has led to the BLM being one of the leading agencies within the DOI in terms of reductions in Energy Intensity (energy use per square foot).
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the BLM spent $9.15 million for energy in over 4.5 million gross square feet of buildings. Energy consumption in the BLM’s buildings in FY 2009 decreased approximately 22% from the 2003 base year. The BLM is doing well by exceeding the established reduction goal of 18% for FY 2009, but there is room for improvement.
Executive Orders EO 13423 and EO 13514 both require 2% annual reduction in potable water consumption (through FY 2015 & FY 2020 respectively) relative to a 2007 baseline. In addition, Executive Order 13514 requires agencies identify, promote, and implement water re-use strategies that reduce potable water consumption within their facilities. To date, the BLM’s water consumption efforts have primarily focused on establishing the 2007 baseline for comparison. Ongoing reduction strategies include the use of low flow fixtures and controls (through maintenance renewal as well as a part of new construction).
Budget Impact: Budget impacts are variable, depending upon the extent of energy and water efficient technologies to be installed. Using payback calculation principles, costs associated with energy and water conservation should be recovered by the energy and water savings in a reasonable time period.
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.
Coordination: This IM has been coordinated with BLM WO-280, WO-800, and the DOI’s Office of Acquisition and Property Management.
Contact: David Campbell at (202) 912-7043, David_Campbell@blm.gov or Chuck Svoboda at (303) 236-6661, Charles_Svoboda@blm.gov.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Ann DeBlasi Robert M. Williams
Acting, Assistant Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Business and Fiscal Resources