| President Obama's new executive order focuses | | | | While there is some doubt as to when or whether |
| on federal agency emissions to address climate | | | | such legislation may pass, or whether indeed it |
| change issues as the President wants to focus | | | | might be watered down or not, Obama |
| change in the government departments. | | | | recognized that he could implement change by |
| The order, routinely tagged as EO13514, specifies | | | | himself in areas over which he has direct control. |
| that each agency must produce a plan and submit | | | | In order for agency emissions levels to be |
| to the executive branch in short order. The plan | | | | completely understood, each agency and |
| calls for the declaration of a percentage reduction | | | | department within must conduct a full life cycle |
| in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 | | | | analysis and get to grips with the true cost of |
| years. | | | | each asset within its control. Consequently, it will |
| Obama has left it up to each head to analyze its | | | | no longer be a traditional mindset as it used to be |
| own agency emissions and to decide what | | | | that any asset that is not operating at its peak |
| percentage reduction is most appropriate. This will | | | | efficiency is not truly sustainable. |
| call for a considerable effort by the agency | | | | Executive Order 13514 is On of Obama's |
| management, as it is widely believed that the | | | | Breakthrough in Addressing Carbon Emissions |
| government does not have a clear idea of the | | | | Reduction |
| size of its carbon footprint to start off with. | | | | Agency management must look to the |
| President Obama seeks to sweep federal | | | | introduction of specifically tailored software |
| agencies. Obama as he seeks to change the | | | | solutions and systems to help them comply with |
| focus of attention within government | | | | the terminology of this latest executive order. |
| departments. The former President Bush was not | | | | In a relatively short space of time, agency chiefs |
| very known to focus attention on climate related | | | | must gather the information necessary to enable |
| issues while President Obama's administration now | | | | them to compile a greenhouse gas inventory, |
| seeks to put into order issues on federal agency | | | | judge the size of their carbon footprint and work |
| emissions. | | | | out how they are going to reduce agency |
| The US government is still one of the largest | | | | emissions over the next decade. |
| users of energy which can directly correlate to its | | | | In so far as protecting the environment is |
| large contribution to agency emissions. This is | | | | concerned, EO 13514 is probably one of the most |
| already a big problem that needs to be urgently | | | | significant in President Obama's administrative |
| addressed which leads to the Congress to debate | | | | tenure. It remains to be seen how successful |
| on introducing a legislation which encompasses the | | | | each agency is in its quest to become a good |
| industries and commercial sector to comply with | | | | citizen and to do its bit for environmental |
| the same. | | | | protection and climate change. |
| A full life cycle analysis will help any organization | | | | Such executive order shall focus attention to the |
| get the grips of the cost of its assets and | | | | overall federal agency emissions problem. |
| achieve sustainability at the same time. | | | | |