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President Barack Obama wants the government to lead by example. He asks agencies to triple their use of renewable electricity sources by 2020 and get at least one-fifth of their energy from renewables. Willie Taylor, director of the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance at the Interior Department, explained to Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp how his agency plans to meet the goal.
Navy says the Defense Production Act and a new partnership with USDA will help it generate several hundred million gallons per year of U.S.-based biofuel. The solicitations it plans to issue over the next year are a key stepping stone to the Navy's goal of getting half its energy from alternative sources by 2020.
The Defense Department names nine winners for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. They choose the winners from 33 nominations. The winners represent nine different categories and six subject areas. Maureen Sullivan, director of environment, safety and occupational health at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, discusses a few of the highlights of the winners with In Depth with Francis Rose.
From selfies to hashtags, agencies have asked Americans to actively participate in Earth Day by using social media.
The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has covered hundreds of thousands miles of ocean, and the plane still hasn't turned up. But the search has highlighted a growing problem in the oceans: giant blobs of garbage. The Marine Debris Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracks the problem. The program's mission is to protect and conserve the marine environment and natural resources. Spokesperson Dianna Parker says trash often gets caught in gyres.
Military bases are earning the "green" title for doing their part to preserve and protect the environment. The Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards recognize bases that balance Army mission with sustainable practices.
Many electronic devices contain hazardous materials that can cause environmental damage when sent to landfills. The Postal Service's BlueEarth Recycling Program makes it convenient and safe for agencies to dispose of electronic waste.
The agencies issued draft guidelines on how best to assess non-governmental environmental standards and ecolabels already in the marketplace for use in government. Comments are due in February.
Dr. Richard Carlin, director of the Navy's Sea Warfare and Weapons Department in the Office of Naval Research, outlines his organization's energy goals and the Navy's increasing investments in its Energy Excelerator program.
Joseph Frankovic looked around his office at the Federal Register and saw that it was being overrun by binder clips. At a time when agencies are struggling to save budget dollars wherever they can, Frankovic saw an opportunity to make a difference - and he took it.
The Department of Defense is looking to utilize alternative fuel sources in order to respond to changing operational energy needs on the battlefield.
USPS Chief Sustainability Officer Thomas Day said the service is on target to reach many of its sustainability goals for 2015. USPS said the decline in mail volume led to the consolidation of mail distribution centers.
After reaching one of its energy efficiency goals three years early, the Air Force has adopted a more ambitious plan. On this week's edition of On DoD, Dr. Kevin Geiss offers an update on where the Air Force is at now.
The Green Building Advisory Committee recommends GSA establish the LEED certification as the governmentwide standard for all federal buildings. GSA will work with Energy and DoD to come up with the final decision.