Kurt Buehler, Regional Coordinator for the FLC Far West Region, is working with Alan Hurt, Chairman of the Federal Network for Sustainability (FNS) to explore the possibilities of collaboration to leverage resources that will enhance efforts by the federal laboratories and agencies in the field of environmental sustainability.
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| Alan Hurt, FNS Chairman, gives a presentation to participating agencies. |
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The Federal Network for Sustainability (FNS) is a voluntary, collaborative network of federal agencies in the Far West Region that have joined together to promote sustainability through the suite of Executive Orders known collectively as "Greening the Government." Participating agencies include: the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, Environmental Protection Agency (Regions 8, 9, and 10); Department of Energy; Air Force; Army; Army Corps of Engineers; Navy; Office of the Secretary of Defense; Bonneville Power Administration; NASA; and the National Park Service. FNS Federal agency participants reside in the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
"The FNS is a highly motivated organization that mirrors the goals of the FLC Far West Region in the technology area of environmental sustainability," Kurt Buehler stated. Buehler goes on to say, "Most of our Far West Regional labs have an important environmental component that could be strengthened by our new relationship with FNS. The FLC Far West is contacting our regional laboratories' Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA's), to help put them in contact their lab's FNS counterpart to assist them in transferring technology supporting environmental sustainability." FNS participants have a desire to collaborate with industry, universities and non-profits to assist in accomplishing their goals.
FNS members educate the Federal and private sector on the benefits of purchasing environmentally preferable products and services. FNS members are currently promoting active federal agency participation in six initiatives:
• Biodiesel Fuels Education and Outreach
• Greener Copier Paper
• Electronics Products Stewardship
• Green Power Procurement
• Implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
• Sustainable Buildings Design and Construction
FNS has an ambitious program to provide education and communication to other federal agencies and the private sector on FNS activities. Recent successes and outreach associated with the initiatives include:
• Supporting the West Coast Diesel Emissions Reduction Collaborative by encouraging federal use of biodiesel fuels
• Assisting member agencies with procuring 100% post-consumer recycled paper
• Achieving gold level recognition in the Federal Electronics Challenge by two FNS member agencies
• Encouraging member agencies to purchase green power and green tags equaling 100% of their electricity usage
• Co-sponsoring five Phase II EMS workshops
• Co-sponsoring classes on Low Energy, Sustainable, and Secure Facilities
• Agency assistance and education on principles of sustainable "best practices"
• Encouraging agency personnel to be trained in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Many of the FNS member agencies have also benefited through the initiatives they support by adopting new practices through the exchange of lessons learned. The FNS web site (
) is the primary outreach tool for sharing successes and sustainability tools with others. New ideas and information, such as updates on each of the initiatives and their successes, are constantly being added to help others.
Because of their efforts in education and outreach, the FNS was honored to receive the White House's "Closing the Circle" Award in 2003. In addition, FNS has been recognized nationally two years in a row as a model for others by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive's Report to the President on Federal Energy and Environmental Management, "Leading by Example."
Upcoming events that FNS will be co-sponsoring or participating in include:
World Environment Day - June 1- 5, 2005, San Francisco, CA
Phase III EMS Workshops - February 23 - 24, 2005, in Las Vegas, NV, and March 16 - 17, 2005, in San Diego, CA
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