Greentech Lead America: The U.S. Postal Service has reported 9.9 percent decrease, or 1.3 million metric tons, in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2008 — nearly equivalent to removing 270,000 passenger vehicles from the road for a year, according to its 2012 Annual Sustainability Report.
In addition, the Postal Service decreased facility energy use by 34 percent since 2003, achieving the goal of a 30 percent reduction by 2015. The U.S. Postal Service has also set a goal to reduce GHG emissions by 20 percent by fiscal year 2020.
“The Postal Service continues to make sustainability progress that is not only the right thing to do for the environment, but is right for our business,” said chief sustainability officer Thomas G. Day. “We are exceeding targets in key areas and are working to improve efforts across the organization every day.”
The agency has registered 800 Lean Green Teams of employees who adopt low- and no-cost green practices in their facilities and diverted 48 percent of solid waste to recycling, which generated a savings of $25 million in waste hauling and generated $23.8 million in revenue
Further the agency issued 15 stamps in the Earthscapes stamp collection, providing a reminder that the environment we share is worth protecting. It has maintained 42,218 alternative fuel-capable vehicles in the Postal Service fleet and decreased 11 trillion British thermal units (Btu) from facility energy use since 2003
The Postal Service also released its 2013 Office of Management and Budget Sustainability and Energy Scorecard.
The Postal Service has also been recognized for several environmental awards, including the 2012 GreenGov Presidential award, a 2012 EPA Wastewise recognition award and most recently, 10 Federal Green Challenge awards.