Federal Times Government Facilities Section

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Government Facilities

A vacant, GSA-owned warehouse in Washington hosted a House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee field hearing on April 25. Thomas Brown / Federal Times

Lawmakers seek quicker property disposal

Lawmakers pressed the General Services Administration Thursday to more quickly dispose of vacant buildings.

Apr. 25, 2013

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Government Facilities

After the current downsizing is complete, every state will still have at least one field office, according to HUD. File

900 HUD employees affected in plan to close 16 field offices

Nine hundred Housing and Urban Development Department employees may have to move or change jobs under a restructuring that will close 16 of 80 field offices by this fall.

Apr. 25, 2013

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Government Facilities

Dorothy Robyn, public buildings commissioner at GSA, said the agency has shifted its focus to renovating old courthouses instead of building new ones, which saves money. Staff

GAO recommends a halt to 11 courthouse projects

The General Services Administration should halt all 11 courthouse construction and renovation projects planned for the next five years to better review costs and space needs, the Government Accountability Office recommends.

Apr. 17, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

2014 budget proposal seeks $2.1 billion for construction projects

The White House is seeking more than $2.1 billion in 2014 for new construction, renovations and property purchases for non-Defense agencies.

Apr. 10, 2013

Headed by Jonathan Powers, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive is responsible for promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship throughout Federal government operations. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY

Exchanging life in camo for eco initiatives

Saying the government should “lead by example,” President Obama has ordered federal agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent by 2020. The man he put in charge of the effort a year ago is Jonathan Powers, 34, an Iraq War veteran.

Apr. 2, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

The Army is also closing 48 facilities in Mannheim, Darmstadt and Heidelberg, above, and consolidating those assets into Wiesbaden, which U.S. Army Europe headquarters now calls home. Army

Civilian employees on the move as Army closes facilities in Europe

The Army is dramatically shrinking its footprint in Europe, moving as many as 10,000 soldiers and up to 25,000 dependents back to the U.S. and shuttering billions of dollars in facilities as part of a major overhaul of forces.

Mar. 29, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

The Air Force avoided about $1.5 billion in increased fuel costs by reducing its energy use, Jamie Morin said. It also is suspending energy-efficiency upgrades as it deals with sequestration. Above are Air Force F-16s. Capt. Natassia Cherne / Air Force

Air Force scuttles energy-efficiency upgrades due to sequester

The Air Force has cut its budget for energy-efficiency upgrades by 90 percent because of the sequester.

Mar. 21, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

Parceling out old post offices

The U.S. Postal Service is trying to sell many of its historical buildings to private developers as it looks for ways to cut losses that reached a record $15.9 billion in 2012.

Mar. 21, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

The Coast Guard headquarters will be the only part of the Department of Homeland Security's planned consolidation to be completed at the former St. Elizabeth's Hospital site in Southeast Washington. File photo / Getty Images

Coast Guard headquarters is only sure part of DHS consolidation

The Coast Guard headquarters will be the only part of the Department of Homeland Security’s planned consolidation to be completed, as of now, the General Services Administration’s top official said Tuesday.

Mar. 19, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

Custom building systems control what is heated, cooled

In 2011, Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, N.M., installed occupancy sensors in a 9,000-square-foot building so the heating and cooling system would shut down when employees left a room.

Mar. 19, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

The Morgan Processing and Distribution Center in New York City features a "green" roof, complete with gardenrs and walking paths. U.S. Postal Service

Turning roofs into gardens can help agencies cut energy costs

In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service replaced the aging roof atop the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center in New York City with a 2.5-acre “green” roof, complete with native plants, grass and walking paths. The installation is projected to save the agency $30,000 a year in heating and cooling costs.

Mar. 19, 2013

FACILITIES, FLEET & ENERGY /
Government Facilities

Among renovations at the South State Street Federal Buildings in Chicago — including at 11 W. Quincy Court -- were the installation of occupancy sensors to reduce lighting loads. The building also has highly efficient heating and cooling systems that aid in the overall reduction of operational costs. Christopher Barrett / General Services Administrat

Upgrades lower bills for office lighting

In 2012, the General Services Administration partnered with the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California to install cutting-edge energy-efficient lighting systems at five of its buildings.