Green United States: Pathways, Policies & Issues

Increasing concerns about global warming, energy independence and public health have contributed to a rise in public interest in so-called green products and services, and the development of a green economy. A number of federal programs and activities are relevant to that interest. In addition to well-known programs aimed at the public such as Energy Star, the federal government is itself a major consumer of goods and services, spending more than $500 billion per year on procurement. Substantial proportions of those expenditures are on goods and services with significant environmental impacts. This book explores the green policies and issues in the United States with a focus on federal green procurement; green building and energy efficiency; renewable energy as a pathway to green jobs; Executive Order 13514 on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and the greening options for the Capitol Power Plant.