Pena to Feds: Reduce Energy

Pena to Feds: Reduce Energy

In recognition of Earth Day, the Department of Energy yesterday launched a campaign to heighten awareness of energy efficiency and conservation. The "heart" of the "You Have the Power" campaign is encouraging federal facility managers to work toward reducing federal energy consumption by 30 percent by 2005.

Huge banners will be hung at a number of federal buildings, and an official logo will be available for use by public and private partners. The agency will also distribute posters and other materials and create a World Wide Web site with links to additional resources.

The federal agencies that have already joined the program are the departments of Commerce, Energy, Labor and Treasury, the General Services Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army, Navy and Air Force, NASA and the US Postal Service.

Energy Secretary Federico Pena also marked Earth Day by announcing the department would begin using only recycled-content paper at its facilities nationwide, just as the Defense Department did a few days ago. Pena also signed a "Climate Challenge" pact with several utility companies that will voluntarily reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases (Wash. Times, 4/22).

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