greengovchallengeEarlier this month, US President Obama signed an Executive Order on Federal Sustainability commmiting the Federal government to lead by example, adopting more eco-friendly practices and helping build a clean energy economy.

As part of its effort, the administration launched the GreenGov Challenge, in which Federal employees and members of the military are encouraged to participate by submitting their ideas and voting on others at www.whitehouse.gov/greengov.

Suggestions can be submitted in six main categories.

  • Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: New strategies for how we use energy, travel, and commute can help lower our carbon footprint;
  • Conserving Energy: Making Federal buildings, fleets, and electronics more efficient saves energy and money;
  • Conserving Water: Using native plants for landscaping and reusing water to flush toilets are just two examples;
  • Eliminating Waste: Reduce, reuse, and recycle (and compost!) are just the beginning. How can we close the loop?
  • Sustainable Products and Purchasing: How can Federal purchasing power support great clean tech companies that create American jobs?
  • Sustainable Buildings: We spend, on average, 90% of our days indoors. How can our Federal workspaces be more efficient and healthier?

For a bureaucracy the size of the US government to launch a challenge like this is, I think, most encouraging. We think of governments as affecting macro policies, creating and enforcing rules and entering into international agreements — but in this case, workers are being encouraged to think about what their employer can do, and what they can do, in their own workplaces.

The GreenGov Challenge began October 19 ands October 31. So far more than 8,000 people have submitted 3,000 ideas and cast about 100,000 votes.