USPS first agency to release data on greenhouse gas emissions

Two days after the President signed an Executive Order setting sustainability goals for Federal agencies, Postmaster General John Potter challenged postal employees to "figure out your carbon footprint and learn ways to lower it."

Following its own advice, the agency is now leading the way by becoming the first, and so far the only, one to "measure and publicly report its greenhouse gas emissions."

In advance of the release of the report, Sam Pulcrano, Vice President of Sustainability at the USPS, told FederalNewsRadio the agency's greenhouse gas emmissions "total 5.3 million tons, and that's only 1/20th of one percent of the total greenhouse gas emmissions in America."

Next for the postal service, says Pulcrano, is to meet some "very aggressive" goals, including reducing electrical use by 30% and fuel use by 20% by 2015. In addition, Pulcrano announced "we're now setting a new goal for our organization: we want to reduce our greenhouse gases 20% by 2020."

Pulcrano said energy audits are underway at the largest 500 processing plants. In addition, said Pulcrano, "our facilities people are doing a wonderful job. They're making decisions on the return on investment and they're either changing the lighting, going to more high-effeciency lighting, changing the HVAC system, putting on a new roof, putting in new windows, et cetera, as necessary."

For the report, the Postal Service measured emissions from its buildings, vehicles, and contracted air, rail and ship transportation.

In addition to being the first, and only, federal agency reporting greenhouse gas emmisions, Pulcrano said the USPS is "only federal agency that includes electric and fuel reduction goals in determining our pay for performance goals for our managers."

The announcement of the final report is expected to be released Thursday on usps.com/communications/newsroom

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On the Web:

White House - President Obama signs an Executive Order Focused on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance (press release)

FederalNewsRadio - USPS paying for environmental performance

The Journal of Commerce - U.S. Postal Service Gives Energy Conservation 'High-Five' (press release)

FederalNewsRadio - Agency of the Month with guest Sam Pulcrano

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