Legislative branch operations generate greenhouse gas emissions from the  combustion of fossil fuels in the Capitol Power Plant; business travel in  government-owned and -leased vehicles; the use of heavy machinery; the  release of VOCs in furniture and print shops; fugitive emissions, such as  leaks in refrigeration equipment and fuel tanks; the combustion of fossil  fuels in emergency generators; and the consumption of purchased  electricity, natural gas, steam, and chilled water. Legislative Branch Operations Generated 316,000 Metric Tons of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2006, a 4 Percent Increase from Base Year Levels

Legislative branch operations generated about 316,000 metric tons of  greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents) in  fiscal year 2006. The second-largest source of  emissions was the combustion of fossil fuels—primarily coal and natural  gas—in the Capitol Power Plant to produce steam for the majority of the  legislative branch buildings. Overall, greenhouse gas emissions generated by legislative branch  operations in fiscal year 2006 increased 4 percent from the annual average  quantity emitted in fiscal years 1998 through 2001 (see fig. A Strategy for Reducing Emissions Generated by Legislative Branch Operations Includes Conducting Energy Audits and Evaluating Other Projects

A strategy for reducing emissions includes conducting energy audits to  identify and evaluate energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects, as  well as evaluating other emissions reduction projects that may fall outside  the scope of energy audits. The strategy would also involve developing an  implementation plan that considers cost-effectiveness, the extent to which  the projects reduce emissions, and funding options. Energy Audits Are Key to Addressing Largest Sources of Emissions

Conducting energy audits would assist the legislative branch in addressing  the largest sources of emissions—the consumption of purchased  electricity and fossil fuel combustion in the Capitol Power Plant—because  these audits identify cost-effective systemwide energy-efficiency and  renewable-energy projects. AOC, GAO, and GPO commissioned six preliminary,  four targeted, and one comprehensive energy audit of some of their  facilities from fiscal years 1998 through 2006. However, most of these projects have not been  implemented. Evaluating Other Projects Could Identify Additional Ways to Reduce Emissions

In addition to projects identified through energy audits, a strategy would  include evaluating other projects to reduce emissions that may fall outside  the scope of energy audits, such as (1) projects to reduce electricity  emissions by curtailing energy use, purchasing high-efficiency appliances,  using renewable electricity, and considering the energy efficiency of  facilities when constructing new facilities and before entering into leases;  (2) projects to reduce emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels in the  Capitol Power Plant by adjusting the fuel mix; (3) projects to reduce  vehicle emissions by acquiring fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicles that run  on renewable fuel; and (4) projects to reduce overall emissions by  purchasing offsets. The cost-effectiveness, emissions reductions, and  funding options for each of these projects would have to be evaluated on a  case-by-case basis. While all  legislative branch agencies recognize the benefits of energy audits to  reduce emissions, the agencies have varied in the extent to which they  have used such audits. Consequently, each agency would benefit from a  schedule to conduct audits regularly and a plan for implementing and  financing the most cost-effective projects identified through the audits. We selected the average annual amount emitted in  fiscal years 1998 through 2001 for the base year because this is the time  period set by the Chicago Climate Exchange, a voluntary greenhouse gas  reduction program. The Architect of the Capitol leases space within the Government Printing Office’s building.
Why GAO Did This Study

Because of concerns about changes in Earth's climate due to greenhouse gas emissions and the potential economic and environmental consequences of these changes, GAO (1) inventoried greenhouse gas emissions generated by legislative branch operations in fiscal year 2006, as well as identified trends in emissions starting from a base year of the average annual amount emitted in fiscal years 1998 through 2001, and (2) identified a strategy for reducing emissions. To perform this work, GAO followed the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and additional guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency, using data provided by officials responsible for legislative branch operations and the General Services Administration.

What GAO Found

Legislative branch operations generated about 316,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents) in fiscal year 2006. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by legislative branch operations is equal to the emissions produced by about 57,455 cars and represents an increase of about 4 percent from the average annual quantity emitted in fiscal years 1998 through 2001. The largest source of these emissions (63 percent) was the consumption of electricity purchased from an external provider that relies primarily on fossil fuel combustion to generate the electricity. The second-largest source of emissions (32 percent) was the combustion of fossil fuels in the Capitol Power Plant to produce steam for the majority of the legislative branch buildings. The remaining 5 percent of emissions came from other sources that each generated 1 percent or less of emissions, such as natural gas and chilled water purchased from outside sources and business travel in government-owned and -leased vehicles. While emissions in 2006 increased 4 percent over the base year levels, emissions in the intervening years varied depending on factors such as fluctuations in weather, the fuel mix used at the Capitol Power Plant, and the quantity of renewable energy used by legislative branch operations. A strategy for reducing emissions includes conducting energy audits to identify and evaluate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, as well as evaluating other emissions-reduction projects that may fall outside the scope of energy audits. Such a strategy would also involve developing an implementation plan that considers cost-effectiveness, the extent to which the projects reduce emissions, and funding options. Energy audits are a key step because the projects identified through the audits would address the largest sources of emissions--purchased electricity and fossil fuel combustion in the Capitol Power Plant--and would include information on cost-effectiveness and the potential for reducing emissions. Agencies could finance these projects through direct appropriations or contracts with utility or energy service companies. Since fiscal year 1998, the Architect of the Capitol, GAO, and the Government Printing Office have commissioned 11 energy audits of some of their facilities, but the audits have generally not been comprehensive and the agencies have varied in the extent to which they have implemented the projects identified through the audits. Another part of a strategy would involve evaluating the cost-effectiveness, emissions reduction, and funding options of projects that may fall outside the scope of energy audits--such as acquiring fuel-efficient vehicles--on a case-by-case basis. The energy audits and evaluations of other projects would provide information for legislative branch agencies to develop plans for implementing projects to reduce emissions.