GSA officials said achieving net-zero building emissions by 2045 would require resources beyond what has historically been available. Image: Jarama/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffFunding and other challenges could cause the government to fall short of Biden administration goals for federal building sustainability, GAO has said.
A report noted that sustainability has been an ongoing initiative for two decades, and said that GSA has made progress, with the share of eligible owned buildings that GSA had designated as sustainable rising from 24 to 31 percent over 2018-2021. “GSA’s aggregated buildings portfolio data show it exceeded prior goals for energy efficiency, water efficiency, emissions reduction, and renewable electricity share in fiscal year 2021,” it said.
It added that a 2021 executive order spurred the GSA to update its standards to promote replacing existing fossil fuel systems to maximize energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
“GSA officials cited lack of access to capital as a challenge it faces in meeting future federal sustainability goals. GSA officials said the scale and scope of the projects needed to achieve net-zero building emissions by 2045 will require resources beyond what has historically been available. Officials from nearly all of GSA’s 11 regions expressed little confidence in their ability to meet this goal,” it said.
It said that officials of only two of 11 regions were very or moderately confident while eight were slightly or not at all confident and the other was unable to say.
Those same results were produced when GAO asked about another goal, achieving a completely carbon-free electricity supply by 2030. Officials cited “limited market options” for supply.
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