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Director outlines measures to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy

ITD Director Pam Lowe today called on employees to participate in the department’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by implementing energy efficient practices.

The director’s memorandum (see attached) issued today outlines nearly a dozen measures that “employees will immediately institute.”

Those measures include turning personal computer systems and monitors off at night and on weekend hours unless they need to be left on for overnight software updates; limiting temperatures in all ITD office buildings; forming car-pools for work-related meetings; eliminating the idling of state vehicles; increased recycling; and use of video conferencing or teleconferencing capabilities whenever possible.

The memo also listed a similar number of energy conservation steps that facilities managers and building coordinators should implement immediately. They range from use of more efficient lighting, reviewing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems for efficiency; evaluation of building exteriors to ensure thermal efficiency; removal of “redundant” vending machines and turning lights off; and adding recycling containers/services where possible.

(For a list of the personal and building efficiency measures see the director’s memo.)

“The Idaho Transportation Department shall immediately institute these recommendations at all headquarters and district facilities wherever possible,” Lowe wrote in her memo. “Additionally, each employee shall review on-the-job electrical and energy usage and fleet usage, and whenever feasible, implement energy conservation strategies.”

The memo also directs that section, district or department-wide energy conservation strategies that an employee may put together should be submitted to the person’s immediate supervisor for consideration, with a copy forwarded to the Administration Division administrator.