“During this difficult economic time, many of us are often asked to do more with less, particularly at work and at home. But one area where we can do less and actually save more is by being better stewards of the environment,” Gov. Ritter said. “Using less actually saves money, and it doesn’t decrease the quality of services provided to the citizens of Colorado.
“In 2007, I gave state agencies ambitious ‘greening government’ goals, and after three years, we have made significant progress. The state has reduced its petroleum use 11.6 percent, keeping us well on target to meet our goal of a 25 percent reduction by 2012. We’ve saved over 158 million gallons of water, installed eight solar energy projects and achieved $1.6 million in annual savings by making our buildings more energy efficient. We are saving money, reducing pollutants and doing better by using less.”
Today, Gov. Ritter signed the “Greening of State Government: Earth Day 2010” Executive Order. The order sets new goals in recycling, paper use, purchasing, renewable energy, petroleum and water usage, and greenhouse gas reductions. It also recommends avoiding the purchase of bottled water except in situations where water supply is unavailable, when bottled water is needed to protect safety and health, and for use in emergencies.
“In honor of Earth Day, let’s be mindful of the easy steps we can take every day to make a difference. I’m asking all employees to take a few simple steps that will continue to move Colorado forward,” Gov. Ritter said.
Energy Saving Tips – Let’s make every day count for Earth Day:
Energy
· Turn off power to appliances, lights, computers, printers and copiers when not in use.
· Use ENERGY STAR equipment and appliances.
Purchasing
· Follow the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing policy (www.colorado.gov/dpa/dfp/spo/index.htm).
· Minimize purchases of bottled water if water supply and reusable containers are readily available.
· Follow guidelines for responsible recycling of electronic equipment.
Petroleum Reduction
· Use alternative fuels such as E-85 or biodiesel whenever possible.
· Increase the state fleet’s hybrids, flex-fuel and alternatively fueled, and low-consumption vehicles.
· Follow eco-driving procedures: slow starts and stops; lighten loads, check tire inflation, remove luggage and ski racks, consolidate trips.
Energy Efficiency
· Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs.
· Consider relaxation of dress code during hot summer days to minimize air conditioning loads.
Paper
· Set defaults for printers and copiers for duplex printing.
· Encourage fewer print jobs: use on-line forms, remind staff to consider printing needs.
· Use scanning rather than printing for document management.
Water
· Take actions to conserve where possible: dish and clothes washing, landscape irrigation.
· State agency buildings should have low-flow toilets, faucet aerators, smart landscaping.
Full text of the Earth Day 2010 Executive Order, D 2010-006:
Greening of State Government: Earth Day 2010
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Office of the Governor of the State of Colorado, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order, on Earth Day 2010, to reduce the negative environmental impact of state government.
I. Background and Purpose
The daily activities of state government have a significant impact on the quality of Colorado’s public health, environment and use of its natural resources. The 2009 Greening Government Annual Report Card, prepared by the Greening Government Council (the “Council”), indicated that the existing greening government programs are saving taxpayer dollars by reducing energy bills and hedging against future price spikes in fuel and electricity. Since I signed Executive Order D 0011 07, the State’s Greening Government programs have saved taxpayers money in a variety of ways, including the following:
* Seventy-three percent of state agencies are engaged in some stage of Energy Performance Contracting (EPC). Four of these fiscal year 2009 projects will result in $1.6 million of energy bill savings per year.
* Water use reduction projects were started by four agencies that manage large buildings and facilities, resulting in conservation of over 158 million gallons of water. Many agencies across the state are positioned to take similar action.
* State agencies and higher education institutions installed eight solar energy projects, including one for the state Capitol. The projects ranged from 5kW to 99kW in size.
* The state introduced the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing policy (EPP) in 2009 to help all agencies reduce their environmental imprint, including use of paper with recycled content.
* The state fleet reduced petroleum consumption by 11.6%, nearing the halfway mark to a 25% reduction goal. Much of this progress was due to the replacement of fleet vehicles with hybrid vehicles and use of alternative fuels.
To achieve our greening government goals and to measure that progress, further reductions in state agency consumption of water, energy, petroleum, and paper are necessary, and systematic collection of reduction data must be implemented. To implement these improvements and to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, this Order directs state agencies to take additional specific greening government actions.
II. Directives
The following are applicable to all state departments, agencies and offices headed by appointees of the Governor. I hereby order state agencies to achieve these actions:
A. Recycling
Each agency must develop and implement a plan for recycling applicable to their agency by June 30, 2011. The plan must include: clear goals; implementation procedures; methods to measure and assess progress; and define a process for periodic review of results by senior management so that proper system adjustments will be made.
B. Paper
Each agency must develop and implement a plan for paper consumption reduction by December 31, 2010. At a minimum, the plan shall include the following components: double-sided document printing as default settings on printers and copiers; document scanning capabilities; encouragement of fewer print jobs by using on-line forms; and staff reminders to consider printing needs. Each plan shall establish methodologies to reliably measure and report paper consumption reduction achievements.
C. Purchasing
An Environmentally Preferable Purchasing policy was developed and implemented pursuant to Executive Order D 0011 07. This policy is hereby amended as follows to specifically address state purchases of bottled water: “State agencies should avoid purchases of bottled water except in these situations: where water supply is unavailable; bottled water is needed to protect safety and health; and for use in emergencies.”
D. Climate Action Plan
1. To match the goals of the 2007 Climate Action Plan, State agencies shall:
a. Achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of twenty percent below 2005 levels by 2020. By 2050, state agencies must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by eighty percent below 2005 levels.
b. Achieve waste diversion from landfills of seventy-five percent by 2020.
2. Agencies must provide information needed for annual greenhouse gas emissions reporting to the Greening Government Council on an annual basis. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Governor’s Energy Office will commence reporting of state agency greenhouse gas emissions to The Climate Registry in 2010 for calendar year 2009.
E. Renewable Energy
Agencies undertaking new construction and substantial renovations shall include in their capital construction request a review of renewable energy systems and related opportunities to optimize savings, including use of third-party power purchase agreements. These third party power purchase agreements can be used by state agencies to access the financial options available.
F. Petroleum Reduction
1. Each agency must strictly adhere to annual vehicle replacement plans proposed by State Fleet Management that call for purchase of low fuel consumption (high miles-per-gallon ratings), hybrid, flex- and alternatively-fueled, all-electric, and emerging technology vehicles.
2. Each agency shall develop a plan to improve the commuting options for its employees by December 31, 2010. The plans shall evaluate opportunities for: encouraging low fuel consumption or electric vehicles; making available electrical sources to recharge electric vehicles; encouraging use of mass transit or car pooling; and implementing or refining flexible work schedule or telecommuting policies.
G. Smart Use of Energy and Water
1. State agencies shall update the Energy Management Plans prepared under Executive Order D 0011 07 by March 31, 2011. These management plans must address water conservation opportunities in addition to energy.
2. All executive state agencies that own facilities are required to use EnergyCAP software to track utility bill information pertaining to the owned facilities. EnergyCAP software licenses have been purchased and are available to all executive agencies. EnergyCAP shall become the state agency standard utility tracking tool for energy and water consumption reduction tracking and to report progress towards reaching the greening government and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
3. Each executive agency that owns facilities must have, at a minimum, utility vendor bill data input into EnergyCAP for calendar year 2009 by June 15, 2010. Data covering the period from the greening government baseline date (fiscal year 2005-2006) forward must be entered into the EnergyCAP database by December 31, 2010. Systems established for entry of future ongoing vendor bills into EnergyCAP must be functional by December 31, 2010.
4. To conserve energy use at workstations, state agencies and employees shall use energy conserving software provided by the Governor’s Energy Office.
H. Greening Government Council
1. Agencies shall coordinate and collaborate with the Council on all greening government and sustainability issues. Agencies shall notify the Council as early as practicable about any proposed policies impacting greening government and sustainability issues.
2. At least on an annual basis, each Executive Director shall review its agency’s greening government results with its Council appointee to make adjustments needed to achieve the greening government goals.
The Department of Higher Education and Departments headed by statewide elected officials are strongly encouraged to adhere to this order for consistency and to take advantage of the environmental and cost avoidance benefits that result.
This Executive Order modifies, but does not replace, Executive Orders D 0011 07, D 0012 07, or D 005 05. The elements of these Executive Orders remain in place and are to be read in conjunction with this Executive Order.
III. Duration
This Executive Order shall remain in force until further modification or rescission by the Governor.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this twenty-second day of April, 2010.
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
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