PROGRESS REPORT
- Texas A&M Forest Service pro-actively practices energy conservation methods and standards. All new construction is well insulated in both the walls and ceiling. Texas A&M Forest Service’s energy cost intensity (ECI) average based on 2022 data was $1.45 per square foot for property owned by the agency. Based on the most recent available data, the national average for office buildings is $1.70 per square foot.
- Texas A&M Forest Service completed the following repair and replacement project during fiscal year 2022:
- Spray foam insulation in Palestine shop
- Replaced siding for the Kirbyville office
- Energy efficient windows for the Conroe office
- Replace siding for the Conroe office
- Texas A&M Forest Service replaced two vehicles with new, more fuel-efficient vehicles during fiscal 2022. Twenty-seven more vehicles were ordered in fiscal 2022, but not received yet due to supply chain delays.
GOALS
Texas A&M Forest Service has a dispersed workforce across the state, with most staff located in very small offices.
Consumption of water and natural gas is very low and there are no opportunities to demonstrably impact their consumption in a cost-effective manner.
The agency has over the years implemented cost-effective strategies to reduce electricity consumption at its facilities. Given the small size of the agency-owned facilities and the low level of electrical consumption, there are no cost-effective opportunities to demonstrably affect electricity usage.
With regard to transportation fuels, Texas A&M Forest Service is an emergency response agency that responds to wildfires under its statutory mission and to all other hazards and emergencies (e.g., hurricanes, floods, tornados, ice storms, etc.) under the direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Fuel consumption levels are highly correlated to the level of emergency response activity each year. Given the rural and remote areas where much of the emergency response activities occur, and the fact that vehicles have to be able to go off-road (mainly pickup trucks), utilization of alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient vehicle types is not operationally feasible. There are no operationally feasible options to demonstrably reduce fuel consumption.
| Utility | Target Year | Benchmark Year | Percentage Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | FY2023 | FY2022 | Not Cost Effective |
| Electricity | FY2023 | FY2020 | Not Cost Effective |
| Transportation Fuels | FY2023 | FY2022 | Not Operationally Feasible |
| Natural Gas | FY2023 | FY2022 | Not Cost Effective |
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
Not applicable. There are no cost effective/ operationally feasible strategies to be implemented.
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
Not applicable. There are no cost effective/ operationally feasible strategies to be implemented.
AGENCY FINANCE STRATEGY
Not applicable.
EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN
Not applicable.
