Bush to Green Government

Last year the President had his "addicted to oil" epiphany during the state of the union address, which while more hype than substance, began his Administration's push towards fuel efficiency.

On Wednesday President Bush issued an executive order directing federal agencies to become sustainable, a shocking turn around from prior behaviors.

It is the policy of the United States that Federal agencies conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner.

Each federal agency will hire its own environmental officer to implement all of the policies included in his order. Each agency department head is ordered to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent through 2015.

The President did not request expanded use of renewable energy, but instead ordered that half of the current commitments are filled by "new" renewable sources, and that agencies establish their own power generation facilities on-site where feasible.

This makes sense financially (less price fluctuations from electric power), and as a matter of national security as agencies that produce their own electricity won't be shut down if the grid it attacked.

The executive order also requires a 2 percent reduction in water consumption, the use 30 percent recycled paper and the purchase of products from companies that use sustainable practices.

The order also requests the purchase of plug-in hybrid vehicles when they are cost comparable, and requests that all new construction and major renovations meet federal guidelines for sustainable building practices.

This President is supposed to lead by example, and this executive order will highlight the financial and environmental benefits of sustainable business practices. If companies in the private sector want to sell to the largest energy-consuming agency in the country, they will have to provide sustainable goods and services. This order will have a ripple effect across the nation, and may likely be the most sustainable action of the year.