Energy Department Launches 2013 Better Buildings Federal Award Competition
July 20, 2012
In support of the Obama Administration's comprehensive strategy to save energy, protect our air and water, and reduce costs for taxpayers, the Energy Department today began accepting nominations for its 2013 Better Buildings Federal Award (BBFA), which recognizes the federal government's highest-performing buildings. The year-long competition challenges agencies to achieve the greatest reduction in annual energy intensity—or energy consumed per square foot—and will honor the federal building that achieves the greatest energy savings at the end the 12 month competition period. The nomination process will be open through September 7, 2012, and the winner announced late next year. The winner of the 2012 competition is scheduled to be announced later this year.
The Department will select finalists for the competition based on energy efficiency measures deployed in the facility, best practices in energy management undertaken by facility personnel, and institutional change programs used to encourage sustainability efforts within the facility. Once selected, the finalists will compete in a head-to-head competition to achieve the greatest reduction in energy intensity over 2013. The finalists will represent a range of building types, sizes, and agency functions.
The BBFA is part of the Obama Administration's Better Buildings Initiative challenging the private and public sector to make rapid investments to improve energy efficiency in America's buildings by 20% over the next decade. In early December, President Obama announced the investment of nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings. As part of that announcement, the Administration issued a Presidential Memorandum committing the federal government and its agencies to enter into a minimum of $2 billion in performance-based contracts to improve federal building energy efficiency over the next two years.
For more information on the Better Building Federal Award visit the FEMP BBFA Web page.
The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and facilitates deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality. Learn more about how the Energy Department provides the services, tools, and expertise to federal agencies to help them achieve their federal energy management goals at the FEMP website.
