USPS has saved more than $400 million in energy costs since 2007, with initiatives such as its ‘Go Green – Adjust the Thermostat’ and ‘Turn off Lights Not in Use’ stamps contributing to an energy
reduction of nearly 30% since the financial year 2003. That saving is equivalent to the averageannual energy use of approximately 100,000 US households, the US postal operator said.The announcement coincided with the second anniversary of the completion of one of the country’slargest ‘green roofs’, on top of the Morgan mail processing facility in midtown Manhattan. Covering17,000 sqm and part of the company’s ‘greener facilities’ strategy, it is the largest green roof inNew York City, and one of USPS’s largest environmental projects to date. Combined with otherenergy-saving enhancements, the Morgan green roof helped the facility save more than $1 million inenergy costs and 40% in energy use in its first year. During construction, approximately 90% of theoriginal roof was recycled and reused on the new roof. It is expected to last 50 years – twice aslong as the roof it replaced.
Tom Samra, vice president for facilities, at USPS, commented: “Postal employees are committedto working every day to reduce energy use at post offices, mail processing facilities and all ourbuildings. Energy audits since FY 2007 have helped us identify potential reductions of nearly 3trillion Btus, with potential cost savings of more than $150 million per year.”
Thomas Day, chief sustainability officer at USPS, added: “Our energy savings are identified,measured and managed using the Postal Service’s Utility Management System, Enterprise EnergyManagement System and Corporate Energy Interface. These are three robust systems that establish oursustainability leadership in leveraging technology to encourage responsible, energy-consciousbehavior. They improve our ability to take advantage of future cost-saving opportunities.”
In June 2011, USPS reported an overall 8% decrease in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions froma 2008 baseline. The reduction of 1 million metric tonnes of CO2 is an amount equal to the averageannual electricity use of approximately 130,000 US households. Lower energy use at USPS facilitiesrepresented nearly 50% of the GHG reduction.
Energy-conservation actions at USPS are part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce facilityenergy use by 30% by 2015 and GHG emissions by 20% by 2020.
