Go Green Forever Stamps to Save Energy
The U.S. Postal Service saved more than $34 million and generated $24 million in 2011 by reducing energy, water, consumables, petroleum fuel use and solid waste to landfills, conservation efforts encouraged by the Go Green Forever stamps.
The Postal Service recycled 215,000 tons of material, which saved $14 million in landfill fees and yielded $24 million in new revenue. Employee lean green teams were key to helping the Postal Service achieve the savings and revenue, part of which included more than a $20 million decrease in supplies spending from the previous year.
“Across the country, postal employees are participating in more than 400 lean green teams. Motivated by our sustainability call to action, ‘leaner, greener, faster, smarter,’ they are producing significant results in energy reduction and resource conservation,” said Thomas G. Day, chief sustainability officer.
The teams help identify and implement low- and no-cost sustainable practices to help the Postal Service meet the following goals by 2015:
- Reduce facility energy use by 30 percent,
- Reduce water use by 10 percent,
- Reduce petroleum fuel use by 20 percent, and
- Reduce solid waste by 50 percent.
According to Day, the Postal Service plans to deploy lean green teams nationwide in 2012 to help achieve these goals.
