The Obama administration set its target for reducing the energy used by the federal government by “28 percent by 2020.”  The U.S. government is the largest energy consumer in the United States and this reductions will not only help to reduce the countries contribution to climate change, but will also result in “$8 to $11 billion in avoided energy costs through 2020.”

President Obama said, “as the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient.”  “Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy.”

The various agencies will be requires to measure their current energy and fuel use to become more energy efficient as well as switch to alternative energy sources such as wind and solar.  All of the information for the agencies and the changes they make will be available online as part of a new open government initiative by the Obama Administration.  You can read the full White House press release here.