The White House today announced that President Obama issued a new executive order that will cut the federal government's greenhouse gas emissions 40% over the next decade (from 2008 levels) and increase the share of electricity the federal government consumes from renewable sources to 30%.

According to the White House, the President’s executive order will build on the federal government’s progress in reducing emissions to promote more sustainability actions over the next 10 years. In addition to cutting emissions, the new executive order directs federal agencies to:

• Ensure 25% of their total energy (electric and thermal) consumption is from clean energy sources by 2025.

• Reduce energy use in federal buildings by 2.5% per year between 2015 and 2025.

• Reduce per-mile greenhouse gas emissions from federal fleets by 30% (from 2014 levels) by 2025 and increase the percentage of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles in federal fleets.

• Reduce water intensity in federal buildings by 2% per year through 2025.

For more information, see the White House fact sheet and the executive order.