Postal Service Succeeds in Reducing Energy Use

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Postal Service marked National Energy Awareness Month as postal officials highlighted energy savings and cost avoidance — credited in large part to postal employees' actions — and with Go Green Forever stamp messages that encourage Americans to participate in low- and no-cost ways to go green. "The 2011 Energy Awareness Month theme is 'Turn Words into Action, Turn Action into Results,'" said Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman. "Actions taken by the Postal Service to reduce energy use demonstrate we can save money and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions at the same time." In June 2011, USPS reported it had reduced facility energy use by nearly 30 percent since fiscal year 2003, equal to the average annual energy use of approximately 100,000 U.S. households. USPS also reported an 8-percent decrease in its greenhouse gas emissions since fiscal year 2008, equal to the average annual energy use of approximately 130,000 U.S. households. The decrease in facility energy use accounted for nearly 50 percent of the Postal Service's greenhouse gas emissions reduction. "Leaner, greener, faster and smarter is the Postal Service's sustainability call to action," said Tom Day, chief sustainability officer. "More than 400 employee Lean Green teams work every day to implement low- and no-cost ways to conserve facility energy and other natural resources and reduce costs. In fiscal year 2010, Lean Green teams helped the Postal Service save more than $5 million." Day reminded postal employees that Energy Awareness Month is a national effort and each time we turn off a light, take the stairs or use a revolving door the energy savings add up. The Postal Service works to achieve aggressive sustainability performance goals, including:

• Reduce facility energy use 30 percent by 2015.
• Reduce vehicle petroleum use 20 percent by 2015.
• Increase vehicle alternative fuel use 10 percent annually by 2015.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020.

  Details of USPS energy reduction and other sustainability performance results can be found in the FY 2010 Annual Sustainability Report. For additional information about USPS sustainability initiatives and the Go Green Forever stamps, visit about.usps.com/green and the Green Newsroom. USPS has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo awards, Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year and Climate Registry Gold Status Recognition. USPS participates in the International Post Corporation's Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System, (an international postal industry program) to reduce participating posts' carbon footprint 20 percent by 2020 based on a fiscal year 2008 baseline. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Melvin Wylie