HHS FY2014 Sustainability Scorecard Narrative under Executive Order 13514, President Obama directed Federal agencies to lead by example in clean energy; and to meet a range of energy, water, pollution, and waste reduction targets.
The FY2014 HHS Sustainability Scorecard on sustainability and energy performance is part of our commitment to open, transparent government. Using this scorecard as a benchmark, HHS will continue to identify and track the best opportunities to reduce pollution, improve efficiency, and cut costs. In addition, we will use the scorecard accomplishments and planned actions to update our 2015 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP).
HHS is proud to report that the agency has excelled in almost all of the categories established by the Office of Management and Budget: i.e. Green House Gas Emission Reduction Targets, Increased use of Renewable Energy, Reduction in Energy Intensity, Reduction in Potable Water Use, and Reduction in Fleet Petroleum use. We will continue to work internally to improve our score in Sustainable Green Buildings by making our facility operations more efficient and prioritizing facilities investments that will result in long term conservation of energy, water and other resources.
At HHS, where we are tasked with protecting the health of all Americans, sustainability goes hand-in-hand with our mission. HHS is committed to taking a leadership role in researching, educating and communicating the relationship between the health of our citizens and the health of our environment. Under Executive Order 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, signed by President Obama on March 19, 2015 Federal agencies were asked to once again lead by example in clean energy; and to meet a range of energy, water, pollution, and waste reduction targets. It therefore continues to be the policy of the United States and HHS to increase our efficiency and improve their environmental performance. Improved environmental performance will help us protect our planet for future generations and save taxpayer dollars through avoided energy costs and increased efficiency, while also making Federal facilities more resilient. To improve the HHS environmental performance and overall sustainability progress HHS will make it a priority to first reduce energy use and costs and then on finding renewable or alternative energy solutions.