USPS has reported a near-26% reduction in total facility energy consumption since 2003 saving8.6 trillion BTUs and thus millions of dollars in energy costs.
The US postal operator stressed that its efficient energy measurement system, green roofs andenvironmental initiatives such as Go Green Forever Stamps, Adjust the Thermostat and Turn offLights Not in Use contributed to the reduction which equals the annual energy consumption of 90,000households.
“Postal employees are enthusiastic about reducing energy use at Post Offices, mail processingfacilities and in all our buildings,” Tom Samra, vice president, Facilities, said. “Energy-savingprojects in 2011 reduced costs by $22 million annually or about 1 trillion BTUs.”
“It takes a lot of energy to run America’s largest retail network,” Chief Sustainability OfficerThomas G. Day, added. “The Postal Service’s audit systems enable us to monitor and manage ourenergy use and improve our ability to optimise future cost-saving opportunities.”
USPS established its first green roof on the Morgan Mail Processing and Distribution Facility in2009 which is the largest in New York City. This contributed, together with other facilityenergy-saving enhancements, to $1 million in energy cost reductions and a 40% reduction in energyuse in the first year.
The company’s second green roof, also in New York, is being built atop Syracuse’s Colvin-ElmwoodPost Office at no cost to the Postal Service through an innovative sustainability partnership Savethe Rain with Onondaga County. The 1,050 sqm green roof will feature a new membrane, layers ofdrainage sheet, indigenous vegetation and a wind blanket.
These two green roofs, with an expected lifespan of up to 50 years each, are estimated to reducethe amount of contaminants in storm water runoff flowing into municipal water systems, and are partof the USPS’ commitment to establish more sustainable spaces and facilities.
All the company’s energy-conservation actions are part of a comprehensive strategy to reducefacility energy use by 30% by 2015 and greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020.
