US federal buildings set for 30% increase in energy efficiency

All new developments built by the US federal government are set to achieve 30 per cent greater energy efficiency under new guidelines announced yesterday (December 27th).

The new targets, announced by the country's department of energy, will apply to all new commercial and high rise residential buildings, as well as low rise residential projects that have begun construction since the start of this year.

In a statement, department of energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Andy Karsner, claimed that the standards represented a wholesale change in the administration's energy usage.

"Dramatically elevating building efficiency standards to these unprecedented levels substantially transforms the way the federal government manages and uses energy," he said.

"These standards contribute to sound and stable efficiency policy that will yield real, substantive energy savings and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

The Boston Herald recently reported that prospective Democrat presidential candidate Hilary Clinton has called for all new US federal buildings and renovations to be carbon neutral by 2030. ADNFCR-1231-ID-18407745-ADNFCR