Implementing Sustainability in Federal Agencies: An Early Assessment of President Obama’s Executive Order 13514

“As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally responsible products and technologies,” said President Obama. This EO is an attempt to make operational the concept of sustainability. By pushing the integration of environmental, energy, and transportation indicators, the EO combines into one strategy the core elements of sustainability.