GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan announces $88 million to boost energy efficiency and sustainability and cut emissions at 18 federal buildings in Denver as part of Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda

August 24, 2023

U.S. General Services Administration Announces $88 Million Investment in Sustainable Federal Buildings in Denver

Today, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Robin Carnahan joined other leaders at the Denver Federal Center to announce an $88 million investment, partially funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, to make 18 federal buildings in the Denver area more sustainable as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), GSA plans to upgrade building infrastructure and install new technologies that will reduce energy consumption and costs, while also cutting dangerous climate pollution and creating hundreds of local jobs annually. The project is slated to include the installation of high-efficiency ground source heat pumps, solar panels, and heating and cooling system upgrades and the buildings will meet the White House’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings.

Leading by Example to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

The Biden-Harris Administration is leading by example to tackle the climate crisis through President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan. These efforts are a part of the Administration’s Climate Smart Buildings Initiative and will help GSA on its ambitious path to achieve net-zero emissions from federal buildings by 2045.

Triple-Win Investment

“These investments are a prime example of how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is a triple-win: we’re creating good jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through energy efficiency, and ensuring a healthier, brighter future for our communities and our kids,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “We look forward to working with industry and other stakeholders as we maximize the impact of these investments.”

Ameresco Selected as Energy Service Company

Ameresco was selected as the energy service company to identify the potential investments, which are estimated to save over $2 million per year at today’s energy prices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 29,000 metric tons of CO2e per year. The improvements are projected to reduce natural gas usage by 90 percent, cut grid-purchased energy by 75 percent, lessen water use by 29 percent, and include infrastructure to provide year-round electric heating and cooling and replace fossil fuel fired equipment.

Inflation Reduction Act: Largest Investment in Climate Action

This project is one of many supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history. The law provided $3.4 billion to GSA for emerging and sustainable technologies, low-embodied carbon construction materials, and other measures to improve the sustainability of the federal footprint.

Positive Economic Impact

GSA estimates that the $3.4 billion in investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will create over 9,500 annual jobs nationwide for the duration of these projects, support $2.8 billion in labor income, and generate nearly $1 billion in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments. In total, these investments from GSA are expected to avoid more than 2.3 million metric tons of emissions and create $474 million in utility cost avoidance over the next two decades.

Federal Government Leading by Example

President Biden has charged the federal government to lead by example by cutting dangerous climate pollution and sustainably managing its footprint of over 300,000 buildings, over 600,000 vehicles, and $630 billion spent annually on goods and services. On Dec. 8, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14057 and issued his Federal Sustainability Plan, which directs the federal government to achieve net zero emissions operations by 2050 by transitioning federal infrastructure to zero-emission vehicles and energy efficient buildings, powered by carbon pollution-free electricity.

Read more about the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on delivering clean energy in Colorado.

About GSA

GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing about $87 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
   • Indicator: Reduction in energy consumption and costs through building infrastructure upgrades and installation of new technologies

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes
   • Indicator: Installation of high-efficiency ground source heat pumps, solar panels, and heating and cooling system upgrades in federal buildings

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
   • Indicator: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by more than 29,000 metric tons of CO2e per year through building upgrades

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Indicator: Implementation of President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan and Climate Smart Buildings Initiative

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
   • Indicator: Collaboration between GSA, industry, and other stakeholders to maximize the impact of investments

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: gsa.gov

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