Energy efficient government procurement: Federal perspectives

Conference · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:54766

Harris, J P; Shugars, J; Casey-McCabe, N; Payne, C

The purchasing power of the Federal government, along with State and local agencies, represents a largely untapped resource to help increase the energy efficiency of consumer products and commercial equipment. For most products, the U.S. government is the biggest customer in the world, spending over $70 B/year to purchase supplies and equipment. Of this, energy-related products account for roughly $10-20 B. There are three broad goals for incorporating energy-efficiency into government procurement. First, government can be an enlightened buyer, acting in its own long-term interest by considering life-cycle costs, not just first costs. Second, coordinated interagency and intergovernmental purchasing using comparable energy-efficient criteria can help shift the mix of products manufactured and sold to all consumers, public and private--while also bringing down costs through manufacturing volume and competition. Third, public sector purchasing can help create a {open_quotes}marketpull{close_quotes} for new technologies not yet commercially available, by issuing credible offers to purchase advanced products once they meet performance and cost specifications. The 1992 Energy Policy Act, recent OMB Policy Letters, and Executive Orders on Federal Energy Management and Environmentally Orders on Federal Energy Management and Environmentally Preferred Products all address criteria for energy-efficient purchases, as well as water conservation, use of solar/renewable energy, pollution prevention, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental and resource-conserving objectives. Coordination of Federal purchasing with other levels of government, and with utility DSM programs, can further strengthen the market demand for energy-efficient new technologies and products.

• OSTI ID: 54766
• Report Number(s): CONF-941218--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
CONTRACTS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GOODS AND SERVICES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MARKET
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
PROCUREMENT
USA