On October 5, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13514, "Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance." The purpose of EO 13514 is to make various "green" initiatives a priority for federal agencies. The new EO establishes government's policy for a comprehensive approach to sustainable government practices, incorporating much of the Acquisition of Green Products and Services Policy from the Bush administration, and more, including:

• Establishing greenhouse gas reduction targets
• Increasing water use efficiency and management
• Promoting pollution prevention and eliminate waste
• Implementing high performance sustainable federal building design, construction, operation and management, maintenance, and deconstruction
• Advancing sustainable acquisition
• Promoting electronics stewardship
• Sustaining environmental management
• Tracking greenhouse gas emissions

The EO instructs agencies to "leverage agency acquisitions to foster markets for sustainable technologies and environmentally preferable materials, products, and services." To do this, the EO directs agencies to prioritize green initiatives by not only taking into account the economic benefits, but the social benefits of the initiatives as well. Therefore, federal agencies are to pursue the various green initiatives even though doing so may increase costs to the government.

The EO also directs agencies to seek to ensure that 95% of contract actions, including task and delivery orders, are either energy-efficient, water efficient, non-ozone-depleting, contain recycled content, or provide non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives, as long as "such products and services meet agency performance requirements." Another goal for agencies is the promotion of "electronics stewardship" by creating a procurement preference for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered electronic products and ensuring the procurement of Energy Star- and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated electronic equipment.

An even more dramatic goal is to use the federal government's purchasing power to reduce total green house gases. The EO mandates that each federal agency develop and implement a plan to reduce GHG emissions including GHG emissions from sources not owned or directly controlled by a federal agency but related to agency activities, such as vendor supply chains, delivery services , and employee travel and commuting (Scope 3).

In trying to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions, agencies may require contractors to provide information on the carbon footprint associated with their goods or services, including supply chains. Agencies may use this to favor "low-carbon" suppliers in making purchase decisions.

• Things to Do Now:
• Take advantage of the environmental goals established under EO 13514 by marketing your company's existing green initiatives to government customers. With a goal of 95% of contract actions, agencies will seek out opportunities to award contracts to companies implementing green initiatives.
• Decide if you have in place the contractual means to comply the coming carbon footprint reporting requirements and green initiative marking requirements.
• If you do,
• Develop a process to identify products and services complying with the varying green initiatives.
• Prepare a way to develop your carbon footprint measures.
• Make sure your GSA contract has the products or services in demand for the green initiatives in EO 13514 funds.

• If you do not:
• Locate partners now such as Technical Communities who will act for you in the market.
• Make sure they have full access to the products or services that are in demand for the all of the green initiatives.