Federal Energy Management Program

Federal Energy Management Program
Agency name	Federal Energy Management Program
Jurisdiction	United States federal government
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent agency	United States Department of Energy
Formed	1973

Federal Energy Management Program The Federal Energy Management Program is a United States energy policy program administered by the United States Department of Energy that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy use within the federal government of the United States. It supports Executive Order 14057 (2021) and earlier directives such as Energy Policy Act of 1992, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and Executive Order 13693 (2015), coordinating with agencies including the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense. The program provides technical assistance, tools, and guidance to federal agencies to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and operating costs at federal facilities across the United States.

History

The program traces origins to the 1973 Oil crisis and the formation of the Federal Energy Administration, with later consolidation under the Department of Energy in 1977. Legislative milestones such as the National Energy Conservation Policy Act and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 expanded mandates for federal agencies to manage energy, intersecting with presidential directives including Executive Order 11912 and Executive Order 13423. During the 1990s and 2000s the program worked alongside initiatives like ENERGY STAR and collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to pilot building retrofits and renewable installations. Post-2010, the program aligned with climate commitments such as the Paris Agreement through federal sustainability strategies and engaged with standards from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Mission and Objectives

The program’s mission aligns with mandates from Energy Policy Act of 2005 and executive actions to improve federal facility performance, reduce energy intensity, and increase adoption of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics, geothermal energy, and wind power. Objectives include complying with Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements, achieving goals under Executive Order 14008 and Executive Order 14057 (2021), meeting targets set by the Council on Environmental Quality, and advancing metrics consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidance. It supports agencies in lifecycle cost analyses referencing standards from the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office.

Programs and Initiatives

Key initiatives encompass energy efficiency projects, renewable energy procurement, building retrofit programs, and metering and benchmarking tools, coordinated with partners like the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior. The program administers technical resources such as the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act-aligned curricula and supports competency frameworks from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Demonstration projects have included collaborations with the National Labs network, pilot microgrid deployments with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and performance contracting under Energy Savings Performance Contract mechanisms. It also promotes certifications from the United States Green Building Council and standards like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for federal facilities.

Policy and Legal Framework

The program operates under statutes including the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and directives such as Executive Order 14057 (2021), alongside oversight by the Office of Management and Budget and reporting requirements to Congress of the United States. It interfaces with procurement rules in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and compliance obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Air Act. Court decisions from the United States Court of Appeals and audits from the Government Accountability Office have shaped implementation, while guidance is coordinated with the Council on Environmental Quality and standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Funding and Budget

Funding derives from annual appropriations approved by United States Congress and is allocated within the Department of Energy budget, supplemented by mechanisms including Energy Savings Performance Contracts, grants, and interagency agreements with agencies like the Department of Defense and the General Services Administration. Major budget items have been evaluated in hearings before the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The program also leverages financing tools influenced by the Investment Tax Credit and infrastructure provisions in acts such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Organizational Structure and Partnerships

Administratively located within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the program collaborates with national laboratories including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory. It partners with federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration for facility projects. External partnerships include non‑federal entities like the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, U.S. Green Building Council, utilities regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and academic centers such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University.

Impact and Performance Metrics

Performance is tracked through metrics including site energy intensity, greenhouse gas inventories aligned with Greenhouse Gas Protocol, renewable energy procurement measured against Federal Renewable Energy Certificate goals, and cost savings realized via Energy Savings Performance Contract reporting to Congress of the United States. Program evaluations have been conducted by the Government Accountability Office and independent researchers at institutions like Brookings Institution and Resources for the Future. Outcomes include reduced energy intensity at federal facilities, increased deployment of on-site renewables, and contributions to broader United States climate policy targets.

Category:United States Department of Energy Category:Energy conservation in the United States Category:Federal government programs