Office of the Climate Change Advisor

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Performance Scorecard
Starting this year, each national forest and grassland will be tracking progress using a new 10-point scorecard. The Forest Service's research branch along with regional and national programs will provide support for this agency-wide effort.

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National Roadmap
The Roadmap will help to guide the Forest Service as it works to ensure that national forests and private working lands are conserved, restored, and made more resilient to climate change.

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Performance Scorecard: 10- Sustainable Operations

Scorecard Question

Is progress being made toward achieving sustainable operations requirements to reduce the environmental footprint of Agency operations?


What are other forests doing?

Cleveland National Forest

 

The Cleveland National Forest (R5) analyzed electricity use by zone in the Supervisor's Office and installed automatic motion sensors in all common rooms. They are also installing water meters on all Forest administration and recreation sites. They plan to recycle 3,000 tons of steel and 30,000 tons of concrete generated from the removal of the former Laguna Air Force Base. 

Nez Perce National Forest

 

On the Nez Perce National Forest (R1), the maintenance manager at the Red River Ranger Station repaired leaks on the system’s galvanized water lines. These repairs reduced water usage by 6,400 gallons per day and reduced the energy requirement because the well now runs once instead of five times per day.

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See also

The USDA Forest Service Sustainable Operations Website
The primary resource for sustainable operations information in the Forest Service, including information on each of the six target areas. This page will also lead to tools and resources located on the Forest Service intranet.

Units are strongly encouraged to report on Element 10 using the Appendix G. The Leadership in Sustainable Operations (LISO) self-reporting tool includes all 66 action items listed in Scorecard Element 10 Appendix G (additional description below). By completing LISO and answering all of the action items on Appendix G, you will have completed your Element 10 reporting requirements. 

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Resources

Video Presentations

Sustainable Operations – Our Environmental Footprint and the Climate Change Connection
A presentation introducing the concept of sustainable operations and how it connects to other aspects of the Forest Service's mission.

Sustainable Operations Peer Learning Webinars
These monthly webinars are designed to provide technical assistance in specific areas identified as ‘needs’ after reviewing FY 2011 Scorecard Element 10 reporting.  The target audience for these tool-based webinars includes Climate Change Unit Coordinators, Forest Green Team members, Forest Energy Managers, Forest Engineers, and others with an interest in, or passion for, “greening” agency business operations.

Tools & Links

Green Team Toolkit – How to Start a Green Team
A collection of resources to help get started in reducing a Unit's environmental footprint. Introductory material and 'tips' for making progress in each of the 6 target areas are included here.
Forest CarbonPlus Calculator
A tool to help calculate carbon emissions that are directly related to day-to-day operations of Forest Service facilities and activities of Forest Service employees. The calculator translates data on quantity and type of energy used into emissions data.
Utility Bill Clean Up Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
The goal of Utility Bill Clean-Up is to provide the tools necessary to understand the cost and consumption associated with a Unit’s energy use, water use, and solid waste disposal and to identify places where efficiencies can be realized. This procedure was created by a multi-disciplinary team of Forest Service employees with varied backgrounds.

Element 10 FAQs  
Responses to common questions raised during scorecard reporting in 2011 (fin the FAQ’s under ‘Climate Change’)

Sustainable Operations Training Opportunities
A list of opportunities for more in-depth training on sustainable operations.

Intranet links for FS Employees

Sustainable Operations Statistics (SOS) Tool
The SOS Tool is an online resource for Forest Service employees who are interested in data on agency energy use and cost at several organizational levels (i.e., national, regional, forest, zip code/city).  These statistics and reports use data collected from sources within and outside the Forest Service, currently including data on:

The LISO tool offers individual Forest Service Units a means to self-report and track Unit progress in Sustainable Operations (including progress on Climate Change Scorecard Element 10), as well as a platform on which to share sustainability stories, connect with “green” pros and expand their sustainability network.

Fleet Life-Cycle Expense and Efficiency Tool
A tool designed to help you compare and select vehicle options, taking greenhouse gas emissions into account.

FY12 – FY15 Element 10 Implementation Plans
Sample Implementation Plan templates that can be used to get to Yes on this element using Appendix G.

 

Scorecard questions, concerns or suggestions for
additional resources?

Inquire with the Climate Change Advisor.

All Scorecard Elements

  1. Employee Education
  2. Climate Change Coordinators
  3. Program Guidance
  4. Science-Management Partnerships
  5. Other Partnerships
  6. Assessing Vulnerability
  7. Adaptation Actions
  8. Monitoring
  9. Carbon Assessment and Stewardship
  10. Sustainable Operations

Getting to YES

To answer “yes,” your Unit should either:

  • demonstrate in the narrative that it has made progress towards the applicable sustainable operations requirements listed in the definitions OR
  • complete the Sustainable Operations Checklist (Appendix G) annually (use the narrative to provide a justification for any items deemed not applicable).

The narrative for this element asks you to answer the following questions:

  • What actions has your Unit taken to make progress towards the sustainable operations targets listed in the definitions for this element?
  • What reductions in resource use were achieved as a result of these actions?
  • What support does your Unit provide for Green Teams, sustainable operations training, recognition programs, and other activities that foster a culture of sustainable consumption?

Definitions

Environmental Footprint

Environmental footprint is a measure of human demand on an ecosystem. For the Forest Service, footprint areas include energy, water, waste, fleet/transportation, and purchasing.

Sustainable Operations as Defined by EO 13514

Sustainable operations as defined by EO 13514 are operations conducted in such a way as to create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, and that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.

Applicable

Applicable means cost effective, practicable, and appropriate and feasible within the Unit’s geographic area. For example, a Unit in a remote area may not be able to meet the requirement to use non-petroleum fuels if such fuels are not commercially available in their area.

Sustainable Operations Requirements

Sustainable operations requirements are the legal requirements of EO 13423, EO 13514, Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, summarized as follows (full list here):
  • Energy: Reduce energy intensity (BTU/GSF) by 3 percent per year or 30 percent total by FY 2015 (2003 baseline). Increase use of renewable energy to not less than 5 percent of total electric energy in FY2011-12 and not less than 7.5 percent of total electric energy in FY2013 and beyond. Renewable energy credits are doubled if the energy is produced at a federal facility, on federal lands, or on Indian land.
  • Water: Reduce potable water intensity (gal/GSF) by 2 percent per year or 16 percent total by FY2015 (2007 baseline). Reduce industrial, landscaping, and agricultural water consumption by 2 percent per year or 20 percent total by FY2020 (2010 baseline).
  • Fleet and Transportation: Reduce fuel consumption by 2 percent per year or 20 percent total by FY2020 (2005 baseline), increase use of non-petroleum fuels by 10 percent per year by 2015 (2005 baseline), right-size fleet, and increase use of low emission and high fuel economy vehicles.
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from direct sources (Scopes 1 and 2) by 21 percent and from indirect sources (Scope 3) by 7 percent by 2020 (baseline 2008).
  • Waste Prevention and Recycling: Divert 55 percent of non-hazardous solid waste in buildings by FY2015 (FY2005 baseline); by FY2015, divert 50 percent of construction and demolition debris

Geographic Scale

To reach Agency-level sustainable operations requirements, significant efforts must be made at the Unit level, with assistance, guidance, and leadership from the Regions, Stations, Area, and national level. Place-based solutions are the most effective for making operations more sustainable and implementing a culture of sustainable consumption over the long run.

Downloads

Full Guidance Document
PDF, 2.2 MB, 104 pp

Download Appendix G: Sustainable Operations Checklist
PDF, 385 K, 32 pp