President Barack Obama said today the US government would reduce greenhouse gas emissions 28 per cent by 2020 as the result of an executive order he issued to set the example on fighting climate change.
The government target was based on the combination of individual goals set by 35 federal agencies set against an estimated 2008 baseline, the White House said.
Mr Obama, who is pressing for legislation that would see the country as a whole reduce its greenhouse gas emissions some 17 per cent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels, said the federal government had to lead the nation in its switch to less-polluting fuels.
"As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient," Mr Obama said in a statement.
"Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy."
The federal government spent $24.5 billion (€17.5 billion) on electricity and fuel in 2008, the White House said. Achieving the target would be equivalent to saving 205 million barrels of oil or up to $11 billion (€7.9 billion) in "avoided energy costs" by 2020.
Reuters