Department of Commerce: Improving Our Planet Every Day

Today, the Department of Commerce is joining the international celebration of Earth Day at its Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB) in Washington, DC.

Office of Facilities and Environmental Quality will host several “green” organizations to share information about their products and efforts to make a more sustainable planet.  Informational exhibits will be available for Department of Commerce employees to learn more about the newest sustainable products, services, and technologies in the environmental, energy, and sustainability arenas.  There will also be educational activities for the children of the Commerce Child Development Center to learn about the role of plants in a healthy planet and the importance of stewardship to the environment.

In the afternoon, the Department of Commerce will host its 8^th annual energy and environmental stewardships award ceremony to recognize the outstanding contributions of nine teams representing multiple Commerce Bureaus. Ellen Herbst, the Department’s Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Frederick E. Stephens, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and Senior Sustainability Officer, will recognize award recipients for demonstrating innovative and creative efforts in integrating energy conservation and environmental excellence into their primary mission.

But Earth Day is more than just one day for the Department of Commerce. As a key pillar of its Open for Business Agenda Strategic Plan, the Department is embarking on an environment agenda focused on providing businesses and communities the information, products and services to help them prepare for and prosper in a changing environment.  In addition, in the years to come, the Department plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy intensity across their facilities while increasing the quantity of consumed electricity derived from renewable sources through the application of performance-based energy savings contracts.  In conjunction with the other strategic plan initiatives, Trade and Investment, Innovation, Data, and Operational Excellence, the environmental drivers pave the way for businesses to succeed in the 21^st century economy.

The Department of Commerce has also implemented sustainable practices that reduce our carbon footprint, make us more resilient to change and improve our ability to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity.

One example is the Herbert C. Hoover Building Green Store, which was established on Earth Day 2013. The concept is very simple:  employees turn in excess office supplies and in turn, we make these supplies available for free to all employees. The Green Store has become so popular that a line typically forms outside the door before it opens. In two years, Green Store transactions have resulted in over $270,000 in cost avoidance and savings. Most importantly, it has diverted tons of materials from landfills.  Additionally, the Department of Commerce has seen a paradigm shift in the way people think about storing office supplies through the use of the Green Store as a way to share these supplies with each other.

The Department will continue to be a leader on sustainability and efficiency within the Federal community.  We ask that you join us today in your own way as we all celebrate Earth Day.