Energy Goals and Standards for Federal Buildings

Incentive Type: Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Eligible Efficiency Technologies: Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Custom/Others pending approval
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Water Heat
Applicable Sectors: Fed. Government
Goal: Total energy reduction goal of 30% by FY 2015, using FY 2003 as baseline
Requirement: Energy efficiency specs required in procurement bids and evaluations. Requires premium efficient products for electric motors, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment procurements. New federal buildings designed 30% below ASHRAE standards or IECC, and obtain 30% of their hot water demand from solar water heating, if life-cycle cost-effective.
Authority 1: Energy Policy Act 2005 §§ 102, 104, 109
Date Enacted: 8/8/2005
Authority 2: Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 §§ 431, 523
Date Enacted: 12/19/2007
Date Effective: 12/19/2007

 
Summary:
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) and the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) reaffirmed and expanded several previous goals and standards to reduce energy use in existing and new federal buildings. The 2007 energy bill extended the federal energy reduction goal to 30% by fiscal year 2015; directed federal agencies to purchase Energy Star and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products; and requires new federal buildings to be built 30% below ASHRAE* standards or the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).  
 
Section 431 of EISA 2007 increased the federal energy reduction goal from 2% per year (as established by EPAct 2005) to 3% per year, resulting in 30% greater efficiency by 2015. The reporting baseline for energy savings is 2003, so that energy consumption per gross square foot (of federal buildings) is reduced, compared to energy consumption in 2003. The specified percentage reductions for each fiscal year are:

  • FY 2006 …….2%  
  • FY 2007 …….4%  
  • FY 2008 …….9%  
  • FY 2009 …….12%  
  • FY 2010 …….15%  
  • FY 2011 …….18%  
  • FY 2012 …….21%  
  • FY 2013 …….24%  
  • FY 2014 …….27%  
  • FY 2015 …….30%

Under EPAct 2005, federal agencies are permitted to retain savings achieved through energy and water reductions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is charged with recommending new requirements for federal energy performance for FY 2016 – FY 2025 by December 13, 2014.  
 
Section 104 of EPAct 2005 directed federal agencies to purchase Energy Star and FEMP-designated products when procuring energy-consuming items covered by the Energy Star program, except when purchasing such items is not cost-effective or does not meet functional requirements of the agency. Agencies must also incorporate energy-efficient specifications in procurement bids and evaluations, and must only purchase premium efficient electric motors, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. EPAct 2005 also instructed the General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Defense to clearly identify and display Energy Star and FEMP-designated products in any inventory, catalog or product listing.  
 
Section 109 of EPAct 2005 required new federal buildings to be designed 30% below ASHRAE standards or IECC, to the extent that technologies employed are life-cycle cost-effective. In addition, sustainable design principles must be applied to new and replacement buildings. All agencies must identify new building projects in their budget requests and identify those that meet or exceed the standard.  
 
Section 523 of the EISA 2007 requires that at least 30% of the hot water demand for each new federal building or existing federal buildings undergoing a major renovation be met through the use of solar hot water heating, if it is determined to be life-cycle cost-effective.  
 
In December 2007, DOE adopted a final rule to implement certain efficiency provisions of EPAct 2005. This final rule applies to efficiency standards for federally-funded commercial and multi-family high-rise residential buildings and low-rise residential buildings.  
 
 
* ASHRAE is the acronym for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.  

 

 
Contact:

  Public Information – FEMP
U.S. Department of Energy
Federal Energy Management Program
EE-2L
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585-0121
Phone: (202) 586-5772
Fax: (202) 586-3000
Web Site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp

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