VARs Supply Energy-Conserving Solutions To Government Agencies

In August 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), which, among other things, set higher efficiency standards for federal buildings. A year later, federal agencies have executed contracts for energy efficiency savings worth an estimated $86 million, according to a status report released today by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Among other things, EPAct reauthorized the Energy Savings Performance Contract program for enlisting private contractors to help federal agencies improve the energy efficiency of facilities. In addition, the bill requires all federal buyers to purchase products that are Energy Start-qualified by the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or that are designated by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to be in the upper 25 percent of energy efficiency in their class. Among the products expected to stand up to such scrutiny are computers and peripherals, fax machines, copiers and scanners, multifunction devices, mailing machines and external power adaptors.

"If the government is going to ask Americans to be more conscientious about saving energy, I think it must lead by example," said Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Energy, during an online interactive forum. Not surprisingly, DOE stands as one of the top agencies in terms of implementing energy conservation measures.

That said, there is still a way to go, with ample opportunity for the channel to tap into program funds. In January, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) conducted an assessment of FEMP, which was established in 1973 to help agencies find innovative solutions to energy challenges and address their full range of energy management responsibilities, from new construction to equipment procurements and operations and maintenance. OMB rated the program "moderately effective," assigning scores of 86 percent for program management and 50 percent for program results and accountability. In addition to falling short of set targets, the program reported a surplus, indicating efforts could stand to ramp up. Specifically, in 2004, the program's uncosted balances -- funding obligated but not yet spent -- totaled $14.8 million, or 69 percent of appropriated funds for the year.

While initiatives like FEMP and the Energy Savings Performance Contract program are not IT-specific, they certainly are not IT-independent either. Furthermore, actions taken by the federal government indicate technology is a major consideration in efforts to conserve energy. Last month, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would order the EPA to conduct a study analyzing the growth and energy consumption of federal and private computer data centers; similarly, only days later, the Senate introduced a bill calling for a report to be carried out by the EPA's Energy Star program on the amount of electricity data centers consume and what savings could be obtained by moving to more energy-efficient servers.