Federal Network for Sustainability

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Federal Network forSustainability

• Western Clean Cities Coalition Webcast
• November 29, 2006
• Cheryl OBrien, INL

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Statement of UnitySigned Earth Day, April 2000

• Signed by the West Coast offices of these
  Agencies
• EPA, 3 Regions
• NPS, 3 Regions
• GSA, 2 Regions
• US Navy
• US Air Force
• US Army
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• US Dept. of Energy
• BPA
• NASA
• US Postal Service
• Department of Defense
• Office of Federal Environmental Executive

Many other agencies have signed on since April
2000.
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Why Sustainability?

• Creates a Long Term Approach to environmental
  protection and process improvements
• Prevents Pollution from the start
• Calls for Systems Thinking, (e.g. the inter-
  connectedness of the economy, environment, social
  and national security concerns).
• Helps identify a Strategy or Framework
• Leverages Scarce Resource

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Legislation Encourages Sustainability

• RCRA Section 6002
• Pollution Prevention Act of 1990
• Energy Policy Act of 2005
• Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
• Executive Orders on Greening the Government
• Individual Agency/Departmental policies

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FNS Provides Value Through

• Leadership!
• Develop and Coordinate a Network
• Create and Manage an information-sharing website
• Develop and Deliver training for network members
• Use the power of the Government as consumer and
  advocate

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FNS Value continued

• Communicate Ideas through conferences and
  meetings
• Seek Linkages and Partnerships
• Showcase Sustainable Programs and Projects
• Act as a Catalyst for Change

• FNS Members Tim Scanlon (BPA), Steve Butterworth
  (NPS), Curtis Framel (DOE) at the NPS Lake Mead
  Entrance Station

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Four Original Initiatives of FNS.

• Greener Copier Paper

• Electronics Stewardship

• Use of EMS Plans

• Green Energy

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and two Initiatives added in 2003 and 2004

• Sustainable Buildings
• Biodiesel

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Greener Copier Paper Initiative

• In 1997 the Federal Govt purchased 18.1 billion
  sheets of paper

• Raise awareness of environmental issues
  concerning copier paper
• Create the capability to reduce copier paper use
• Make greener paper more available and less costly
• Make green purchasing easy to implement
• Generate meaningful and measurable results that
  others can replicate, e.g. six agencies
  converting to greener paper
• Encourage use of gt30 recycled content
• Take the Paper Survey! (www.federalsustainability
  .org)

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Electronics Stewardship Initiative

• Only about 5 of electronics are currently
  recycled.
• Contain toxic materials, are hard to recycle, and
  are
• the fastest growing waste stream

• Support for White House Task Force on
  Recycling/OFEE Federal Electronics Challenge!

• Product Stewardship
• Manufacturer responsibility
• Greener Design from the start
• Environmental costs incorporated into purchase
  price
• Green Purchasing
• Include end of life costs in the purchase
• Dont purchase if you dont need it
• Up-gradability, reparability

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Green Power Initiative

• Purchasing electricity and fuels generated from
  renewable resources, including solar, wind,
  geothermal, biomass, and landfill gas.
• Supports the Energy Policy Act of 2005

• FNS has a three-pronged approach to green power
• On-site development of renewable energy
  technologies
• Procurement of green power
• Procurement of green tags or renewable energy
  credits

• Photo courtesy of Mike Nelson, WSU Energy Policy
  Office

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Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Initiative

• To fully support Executive Order 13148
• Provide Education and Training on EMS principles
• Share information among federal agencies on
  experiences learned
• Promote implementation of EMS at member agencies

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Sustainable Buildings Initiative

• Encourage best design practices
• Reach for LEED rating in new construction
• Add FNS agency buildings to the High Performance
  Building Database
• Share information on resources

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Biodiesel Initiative

• Supports EO 13149 and other national policies
• Developed in partnership with the West Coast
  Biodiesel Collaborative
• Created the Biodiesel Wizard and reference guide
  for the Website

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FNS Member Project ShowcaseNASA Integrated
Vegetation Management Program

• NASA Ames Research Center developed an
  Integrated Vegetative ManagementProgram
  comprised of
• utilizing native vegetation
• utilizing goats to control stubborn vegetation
• adjusting the timing and height of turf and
  fieldmowing
• utilizing the least toxic herbicides which are
  biodegradable
• The IVM program has reduced pesticide and
  herbicide use at the facility by 97

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Benefits of Participation in FNS Activities.

• Learn through other Agencies actions
• Leadership and Peer Recognition
• Sharing and Networking
• Progress Towards Implementation of Executive
  Orders
• Reduced Bureaucracy by leveraging resource
• Access to Existing Expertise
• Shared Training and Coordination with Federal
  Agencies
• Increased Employee Enthusiasm and Support

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High Level Visibility, Coordination, and Support

• FNS has partnered with the Office of the Federal
  Environmental Executive to promote sustainability
  in the federal government.
• In the Dec. 2, 2002 report to the President
  titled Report on Federal Energy and
  Environmental Management, FNS was cited as an
  innovative partnering effort
• FNS received a Closing the Circle award for
  innovation in 2004
• FNS is going National, with sponsorship of the
  OFEE

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If you are interested.

• Ask your leadership to sign the FNS Statement of
  Unity
• Designate 1-2 representatives to participate in
  semi-annual meetings
• Participate in furthering the initiatives within
  your agency
• Attend sponsored training events
• Visit the FNS website at www.federalsustainabilit
  y.org

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Agencies should explore the feasibility of
adopting the model of the Federal Network for
Sustainability (FNS) in other geographic regions.
FNS is an alliance of Federal agencies who share
staff, authorities and experience to collectively
reduce waste, pollution, energy consumption, and
implement other green practices. Recommendati
on to President Bush, Report on Federal Energy
and Environmental Management for 2000-2001
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive