Executive Order 13514: Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance

Executive Order (EO) 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” was signed on October 5, 2009. EO 13514 introduces new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management requirements, requiring each Federal Agency to submit a 2020 GHG pollution reduction target from its estimated 2008 baseline by January 4, 2010. It also expands water reduction requirements for federal agencies, and addresses waste diversion, local planning, sustainable buildings, environmental management, and electronics stewardship.

According to a press release from Whitehouse.gov, “Actions taken under this Executive Order will spur clean energy investments that create new private-sector jobs, drive long-term savings, build local market capacity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy industries.”

EO 13514 enhances EO 13423, which requires agencies to reduce energy and water intensity and achieve other sustainability goals. All the provisions of EO 13423 remain in effect. EO 13514 requires federal agencies to achieve the following goals:

Establish reduction targets for Agency wide Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 GHG emissions to be achieved by fiscal year (FY) 2020, relative to an FY 2008 baseline. Develop and report annual comprehensive inventories of Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 GHG emissions.

Ensure that all new construction and major renovations meet the Guiding Principles for High-Performance Sustainable Buildings, and that 15 percent of existing buildings meet them by FY 2015. Starting in FY 2020, design federal buildings to achieve “zero net energy” by FY 2030.

• Reduce potable water consumption intensity 26 percent by FY 2020, compared to an FY 2007 baseline. (This extends the water consumption intensity reduction requirement of EO 13423 by five years.) Reduce industrial, landscaping, and agricultural water use 20 percent by FY 2020, compared to an FY 2010 baseline.
• Develop a “Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan” that commits the Agency to identify specific goals for achieving this executive order and to evaluate Agency climate change risks and vulnerabilities in order to manage the effects of climate change on the Agency’s operations and mission.
• EPA is required to issue guidance on the implementation of Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which it issued on December 4, 2009.
• Participate in regional transportation planning, increase selection of local energy use, and plan new facility locations near existing town centers.
• Reduce fleet consumption of petroleum fuels by 2 percent annually through FY 2020 from an FY 2005 baseline.
• Achieve a 50 percent solid waste diversion rate by FY 2015. Reduce paper use, increase composting, and decrease chemical use.
• Ensure 95 percent of new contract actions (task and delivery orders) are energy- and water-efficient, biobased, environmentally preferable, generally non-toxic, and contain recycled content.
• Procure products that are Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered, ENERGY STAR® labeled, or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated equipment.
• Continue to employ environmental management systems at all organizational levels.