USPS Celebrates Energy & Water Reduction Efforts for Energy Conservation Month
You probably know the US Postal Service™ for our ubiquitous blue and white delivery trucks and our fantastic assortment of Forever ® stamps with earth friendly topics such as Sharks or Protect Pollinators.
But do you also know the Postal Service™ focuses on energy conservation? Each year we celebrate our energy saving successes during October’s National Energy Action Month and share new ways to conserve energy with our employees and customers.
USPS sustainability accomplishments
Three noteworthy recent achievements are:
Energy intensity reduction. In 2016, the Postal Service reduced our energy usage per square foot by 4.1%. We are on target to reduce energy intensity 25% by 2025. We will be reporting on our 2017 performance in the next Annual Sustainability Report.
Water intensity reduction. In 2016, we reduced our water consumption per square foot by 50.8% since 2007. This is well above our goal of reducing our water intensity 36% by 2025.
Renewable energy. We completed one of our most ambitious renewable energy projects with the installation of a solar energy generation system at the Los Angeles Processing and Distribution Center. The system has approximately 35,000 solar panels covering 23 acres. It generates enough energy to power more than 2,000 American households.
In the coming months we will be evaluating our progress in Fiscal Year 2017 and reporting on our energy and water reduction goals. We are also planning more energy saving projects. Future projects will build on our past accomplishments with renewable energy, efficient lighting, and heating/cooling optimization. We will be sharing information on these topics and more at usps.com/green.
We hope that learning about the Postal Service’s energy achievements has inspired you to save energy too. Here are some tips to save energy at home and work.
Top energy saving tips
Program your thermostat to 65 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer. Also, be sure to set the thermostat properly if you are away for the day.
Maintain your heating and cooling units. Maintenance ensures your equipment is functioning optimally and it can save you money on your utility bills.
Use clothes rack to air dry your clothes.
Turn off lights when you leave the room.
Wishing you an energy saving National Energy Conservation Month!