Energy consumption by federal agencies is at its lowest level since that was first tracked in 1975, according to an Energy Department analysis. A measure called total delivered-to-site energy fell to 0.96 quadrillion British thermal units in fiscal 2013, broken into use at facilities; vehicles and equipment; and jet fuels.
DoD and USPS account for 94 percent of vehicle and equipment energy usage, which fell 19 percent from fiscal 2011-2013. Energy consumed in federal facilities also has been generally declining, due to reductions in both the total square footage occupied by the federal government, which peaked in 1987, and the energy consumed per square foot inside federal buildings. However, the largest drop in the last several years was attributed to lower consumption of jet fuel, largely by the Air Force.
By source of energy, the largest is petroleum, followed by electricity, natural gas, coal and other.
The 2007 Energy Independence Act set requirements for agencies to reduce their petroleum fuel consumption, reduce energy consumption in agencies and reduce consumption from fossil fuels; a 2009 executive order further required facilities to meet certain guidelines on energy and water efficiency and environmental impacts.
