U.S. Executive Order 14057 drives sustainability

White House Executive Order 14057 sets federal priorities to drive sustainability

On Dec. 8, 2021, United States President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14057 aimed at reducing emissions across federal operations, increasing investments in American clean energy industries and manufacturing, and promoting sustainable and resilient communities. The executive order focuses on aligning federal operations with five core principles: achieving climate-resilient infrastructure and operations, building a climate- and sustainability-focused workforce, advancing environmental justice and equity, prioritizing the purchase of sustainable products, and accelerating progress through domestic and international partnerships.

Executive Order 14057 sets five energy-related goals to be achieved across the federal government:

1. Use of 100-percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030, at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet ongoing demand;
2. Acquisition of 100-percent zero-emission vehicle by 2035, including 100-percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027;
3. Net-zero emissions from federal procurement no later than 2050. This includes a buy clean policy to promote the use of construction materials with lower embodied emissions;
4. A net-zero emissions building portfolio by 2045, including a 50-percent emissions reduction by 2032; and
5. Net-zero emissions from overall federal operations by 2050, including a 65-percent emissions reduction by 2030.

The energy goals established by the new Executive Order 14057 aim to lead by example and drive transition in the private sector and advance the nation’s progress toward achieving a target of a greenhouse gas-free electricity sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050.

Federal agencies currently rely on the International Codes, including the International Energy Conservation Code and International Green Construction Code as the basis for their design criteria. The International Code Council will work with the administration and relevant agencies to help provide the technical criteria necessary to achieve the goals outlined in Executive Order 14057.