The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the country's largest energy user, pledged in August to cut its energy intensity by 30%. The agency encompasses 110 million square feet of facilities and more than 14,000 vehicles. DOE estimates that reducing its energy per square foot usage by this percentage will save approximately $90 million in taxpayer dollars per year after projects are paid for. Secretary Samuel Bodman says DOE's new policy will "fundamentally transform" the way the agency manages energy, ending what the agency refers to as its "incremental approach to saving energy." DOE's commitments include maximizing renewable energy usage and aspiring to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification for new construction.
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