About GreenGov
GreenGov is an official trademark used by the Council on Environmental Quality and its Office of the Federal Environmental Executive to define and identify sustainablity initiatives throughout the federal government. With more than 360,000 buildings, 650,000 fleet vehicles, and $460 billion in annual purchasing power, the federal government has an obligation to lead by example when it comes to its environmental, energy and economic performance.
Demonstrating a commitment to this principle, President Obama signed the Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance Executive Order in October 2009 that directed federal agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas pollution, meet a number of energy, water, and waste reduction targets, and leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally responsible products and technologies.
GreenGov Challenge
Shortly after President Obama signed the 2009 Executive Order on federal sustainability, the White House launched the first GreenGov Challenge, asking all federal and military personnel to share ideas about how the federal community can lead by example, green the government, and meet the goals of the Executive Order.
The GreenGov Challenge demonstrated that the federal community is committed to leading by example through transforming how they work in practical ways that have real results. Overall, the GreenGov Challenge generated more than 5,000 ideas and 165,000 votes from 14,000 federal employees. The top ideas are summarized in the GreenGov Final Report.
We’re also excited to announce that the White House is holding a second GreenGov Challenge this year! Members of the federal family can share their ideas on how the federal government can lead by example in eight different categories – from climate change mitigation and resilience to water conservation to waste reduction. Find out more about this year’s Challenge here.
GreenGov Awards
The GreenGov Presidential Awards celebrate extraordinary achievement in the pursuit of President Obama's Executive Order on federal sustainability. They honor federal civilian and military personnel, agency teams, agency projects and facilities, and agency programs that exemplify President Obama's charge to lead by example towards a clean energy economy.
GreenGov Spotlight Communities
In 2013, CEQ selected six projects to highlight how collaboration on energy and sustainability across federal agencies can reduce pollution, increase performance, and save taxpayer dollars. Throughout the year, project leaders worked together to leverage regional resources to help achieve the sustainability goals of President Obama’s Executive Order on federal sustainability. The projects were showcased under the GreenGov Spotlight Communities initiative, which focused on federal entities working together to achieve a common goal.
GreenGov Collaborative
To build on the momentum created from the GreenGov Challenge, President Obama issued a new challenge to federal and military personnel to put these ideas to work. Federal employees were invited to join the GreenGov Collaborative, an online discussion group with over 1,400 members, to share ideas about how the federal community can lead by example, green the government, and meet the goals of the President's Executive Order on federal sustainability.
