Social Security Administration 

Strategic Sustainability Plan

June 2010 
Social Security Administration 1 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section 1: Agency Policy and Strategy 

Agency Policy Statement 3

I. Sustainability and the Agency Mission 4

II. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals 5

III. Plan Implementation 5

A. Internal Coordination and Communication 6

B. Coordination and Dissemination of the Plan to the Field 6

C. Leadership and Accountability 6

D. Agency Policy and Planning Integration 6

E. Agency Budget Integration 7

F. Methods for Evaluation Progress 7

IV. Evaluating Return on Investment 11

A. Economic Lifecycle Cost/Return on Investment 11

B. Social Costs and Benefits 11

C. Environmental Costs and Benefits 11

D. Mission-Specific Costs and Benefits 11

E. Operation and Maintenance and Deferred Investments 11

F. Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability 11

G. Other, as defined by agency 11

V. Transparency 11

Section 2: Performance Review and Annual Update 12

I. Summary of Accomplishments 12

II. Goal Performance Review: 13

A. GOAL 1: Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction 13

B. GOAL 2: Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction 18

C. GOAL 3: Develop and Maintain Agency Comprehensive 

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory 22

D. GOAL 4: High Performance Sustainable Design/Green Buildings 23

E. GOAL 5: Regional and Local Planning 26

F. GOAL 6: Improve Water Use Efficiency and Management 28
Social Security Administration 2 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

G. GOAL 7: Pollution Prevention and Waste Elimination 31

H. GOAL 8: Sustainable Acquisition 36

I. GOAL 9: Electronic Stewardship and Data Centers 39

J. GOAL 10: Agency Innovation – Agency Specific 43

Section 3: Agency Self Evaluation 44

Section 4: Appendices 

Appendix A: Agency Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2008-2013 

Appendix B: Sustainability Projects 

Appendix C: Agency Performance Plan 

Appendix D: Acronyms and Abbreviations 
Social Security Administration 3 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Section 1: Agency Policy and Strategy

THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 

STATEMENT 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) touches the lives of virtually every person in America. 

We run one of the Nation‟s largest entitlement programs and the Supplemental Security Income 

program, which provides financial support for the Nation‟s aged, blind, and disabled adults and 

children with limited resources. While fulfilling our mission to provide economic security, we 

will continue our history of promoting a clean energy economy, environmental leadership, and 

sustainability. We will work cooperatively with other Federal, state, county, and local 

governments to promote sound environmental management practices while providing a safe and 

healthy work environment for our employees. 

We are pleased to publish this Environmental Policy Statement as part of our Strategic 

Sustainability Plan, and we will complete an organizational Environmental Management System 

by September 2012. These documents provide our agency with a structured, systematic 

approach for managing environmental and regulatory responsibilities to continuously improve 

overall environmental stewardship. 

To promote environmental stewardship, SSA officials will: 

- Comply with all environmental and energy related statutes, Executive Orders (EO), and 

any applicable Federal, state, and local regulations. 

- Consider environmental aspects when making planning, purchasing, operating, and 

budgetary decisions. As examples, we plan to purchase an increased amount of 

renewable energy at the Headquarters campus and the Wilkes-Barre Data Operations 

Center and to install more efficient boilers in the Headquarters boiler plant. 

- Conserve resources and prevent pollution by educating and encouraging employees and 

contractors to reduce energy consumption and water usage, reduce the amount of waste 

produced, and promote re-use and recycling whenever possible. 

- Continue improving environmental stewardship by setting environmental goals, 

measuring progress, taking corrective action when necessary, and communicating the 

results. We have set a greenhouse gas reduction goal of 21 percent through 2020. 

- Communicate and reinforce this policy throughout the agency. 

We are pleased to promote environmental leadership and sustainability at SSA. 

 /s/ 

Michael Gallagher 

 Senior Sustainability Officer 
Social Security Administration 4 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

I. Sustainability and the Agency Mission 

We have a responsibility to the public to conduct business in an efficient, economical, and 

environmentally sound manner. As discussed in our agency Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 

2008-2013 (See Appendix A), we understand that “going green” benefits the environment, 

improves the Nation‟s sustainability, and saves taxpayer dollars by minimizing waste and 

reducing energy consumption. 

For years, SSA has implemented projects benefitting the environment: we recycle; purchase 

environmentally friendly products; use energy efficient lighting, electronics, and appliances; and 

power our vehicles with alternative fuels (See our Sustainability Projects, Appendix B). 

We will continue our tradition of sustainability by expanding projects that: 1) reduce petroleum 

consumption; 2) increase use of alternative fuels; 3) reduce GHG emission; 4) reduce water 

consumption; 5) increase our procurement of bio-based or environmentally sound products; 

6) reduce use of toxic materials; 7) ensure our computers and monitors have energy star features; 

and 8) reuse, donate, sell, or recycle our electronic products using environmentally sound 

management practices. We will also build or renovate our facilities in accordance with 

environmentally sustainable strategies. Using the green solutions in our daily operations is a 

sound environmental stewardship decision that we will continue to embrace. The agency will 

lead by example in advancing these energy and environmental practices. 

Our sustainability goals will support the agency‟s mission. One example directly tied to our 

mission is to increase use of technology to provide our services. Enabling claimants to file for 

benefits online reduces the need for the public to visit an office, thereby decreasing the use of 

fossil fuels, and enables us to provide services to the increasing number of applicants filing for 

benefits. 

As we strive to ensure environmental sustainability, we must be mindful of our mission to 

advance the economic security of the Nation‟s people. Our challenge is to manage those 

situations where the two are at odds. According to the Agency Performance Plan (Appendix C), 

given the Nation‟s current economic challenges, individuals are seeking our services and 

applying for Social Security benefits in increasing numbers. Serving more than 165 million 

workers and the 60 million current beneficiaries requires significant use of utilities. At the same 

time, our strategic planning also recognizes the need to preserve the public‟s trust in our 

programs by using “green” solutions to improve our environment. 

The current statutory goals of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and 

Security Act (EISA) of 2007 use a base year past the date of many of SSA‟s previous energy 

reductions. Thus, achieving additional energy reductions is a challenge. With increasing 

workloads and retirement waves, we are seeing fluctuations in employee populations. These 

changes mean fluctuations in water and energy use in our facilities. 

As reported at the February 3, 2010 Sustainability Steering Committee meeting, SSA as a whole 

uses much less water and energy than other agencies. We are offsetting increases and reducing 
Social Security Administration 5 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

GHG emissions by purchasing more renewable energy in our facilities, including our largest 

energy use facilities located at our main campus in Baltimore, Maryland. As feasible, we will 

implement power management technologies for SSA computers and will pursue on-site 

renewable energy projects. 

II. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals 

On January 4, 2010, we submitted to the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive a 

projection of a 21.2 percent GHG reduction goal from Scope 1 and 2 sources between 2008 and 

2020. We believe we can meet this target by purchasing more renewable energy, conducting 

energy audits and complying with the recommendations, and instituting other energy control 

measures. We also expect reductions as we move into more energy efficient buildings. 

For Scope 3 emissions, we project a 12.7 percent GHG reduction goal between 2008 and 2020. 

At this time, this percentage does not include information on airline business travel due to 

limitations with travel management software. We will incorporate this information into the plan 

once we resolve the limitation. We base this goal on expected energy Scope 1 and 2 reductions 

as outlined under Goal 1. Such changes will reduce our transmission and distribution losses. We 

also expect increases in the fuel efficiency of cars used for employee commuting and business 

travel. 

III. Plan Implementation 

We are effectively implementing EOs 13423 and 13514, as well as other applicable EOs and 

statutes, through our scorecard/sustainability workgroups that ensure compliance with the 

scorecard reporting process, other related statutes, and environmental regulations. The following 

describes how we will implement environmental plans throughout the agency: 

Plan Methodology:

SSA-delegated buildings or buildings “covered” by the EO are buildings that the General 

Services Administration (GSA) owns or leases, but delegates building operations and 

maintenance to SSA. SSA is responsible for paying the utility bills for these facilities. 

For purposes of the Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG reduction goals, agency scorecards, and the 

Sustainability Plan, SSA follows the Federal Energy Management Program, Guidelines 

Establishing Criteria for Excluding Buildings from the Energy Performance Requirements of 

Section 543 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act dated January 27, 2006. Based on 

this guidance, SSA is responsible for reporting energy related information for nine buildings for 

which we are responsible for paying the energy bills. 
Social Security Administration 6 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

In addition to these buildings, our approximately 66,000 employees work across the country in 

over 1,500 buildings that we lease through GSA. Our Sustainability Plan (Plan) differentiates 

when the information refers to covered buildings or all buildings. 

A. Internal Coordination and Communication: 

We will coordinate and communicate the goals in the Plan through the agency‟s

sustainability workgroup, which is composed of representatives from applicable agency 

components. Sub-groups will also convene as needed (e.g., the SSA energy workgroup). 

The Associate Commissioner, Office of Facilities Management (OFM), has primary 

responsibility for completing and tracking the agency‟s Sustainability Plan. OFM will 

coordinate Plan implementation and ensure the accomplishment of timely updates. 

B. Coordination and Dissemination of the Plan to the Field: 

The sustainability workgroup has representatives from each goal area who are 

responsible for gathering and reporting data to OFM. Each regional office will designate 

a sustainability representative who will work with OFM in gathering data and 

information on field initiatives. The energy workgroup works under the direction of the 

sustainability workgroup to gather data from energy representatives in the SSA-covered 

buildings. We trained members of the sustainability workgroup and energy

representatives for covered buildings on the Sustainability Plan template during 

workgroup meetings in February and May 2010. Representatives from the workgroups 

will gather information to complete the Plan. We will train all members of the 

sustainability and energy workgroups on the final Plan once approved. 

C. Leadership and Accountability: 

The Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance and Management (BFM) is the Senior 

Sustainability Officer (SSO) for the agency. The Deputy Commissioner for BFM is also 

the agency Chief Financial Officer, Chief Acquisition Officer, and the Senior Real 

Property Officer. The Deputy Commissioner for BFM reports directly to the 

Commissioner of Social Security. 

The Associate Commissioner for OFM reports directly to the Deputy Commissioner for 

BFM and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of EOs 13423 and 13514. 

In accordance with EO 13423, performance plans for appropriate senior staff and other 

agency officials include specific measures related to greening and sustainability. 

D. Agency Policy and Planning Integration: 

Since 2008, the agency‟s Strategic Plan has included greening and sustainability under 

strategic goal 4, objective 6, entitled, Use “green” solutions to improve our environment. 

We track this goal through the Agency Performance Plan (See Appendix C). 
Social Security Administration 7 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

E. Agency Budget Integration: 

Representatives from the agency‟s budget office are members of the sustainability 

workgroup and received training on the requirements of the Sustainability Plan and the 

need for budget integration. The agency‟s budget office reviewed the budgetary figures 

provided in the Plan. We are also in discussion with our Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) examiner to ensure the examiner has a complete understanding of the 

Plan‟s relationship to the budget. 

F. Methods for Evaluation of Progress: 

We will develop a tracking process for the Plan using computer software that allows 

component representatives to report on the progress of each goal element and provide 

updates as necessary. The sustainability workgroup will meet quarterly to determine the 

overall progress and report on each goal element. We will track each goal through 

internal spreadsheets. We will maintain the spreadsheets in a format such as SharePoint 

that will allow those responsible for the various goals to access and update the 

information. We will complete an Environmental Management System (EMS) by 

September 2012. We will integrate the EMS with the Sustainability Plan to enable 

tracking of each element. 

The following is a list of responsible offices and staff involved with developing, 

implementing, evaluating, and updating the Plan: 

Oversight of all Goals

DCBFM/OFM/Office of Environmental Health and Occupational Safety (OEHOS) - 

Overall development and updating of the Plan. 

Goal 1 - Scope 1 and 2 GHG Emissions

DCBFM/OFM/Office of Realty Management (ORM), the Office of Buildings 

Management (OBM), and DCO regional energy managers – Energy - related information. 

DCBFM/Office of Publications and Logistics Management (OPLM) - Fleet information.

Goal 2 - Scope 3 GHG Emissions

DCBFM/Office of Financial Policy and Operations (OFPO)/Office of Travel – Work - 

related travel information. 

Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources (DCHR) - Employee data/Work at 

home/Transit subsidies. 

DCBFM/OFM/OBM and DCO - Car pool/Commuter information (future). 
Social Security Administration 8 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Goal 3 - Comprehensive GHG Inventory

DCBFM/OFM/ORM and DCO – Regional energy manager‟s inventory of equipment. 

Goal 4 - High Performance Sustainable Design/Green Buildings

DCBFM/OFM/ORM - Architect and engineering staff/Project management staff. 

Goal 5 - Regional and Local Planning 

DCBFM/ORM and DCO – Regional energy managers for energy planning. 

DCO - Delegated building transportation planning (future). 

DCBFM/OFM/Office of Protective Security Services (OPSS) - Headquarters 

transportation planning. 

DCBFM/OFM/ORM - Realty management transportation planning for field buildings. 

Goal 6 - Water Use Efficiency and Management

DCBFM/OFM/ORM, OBM, and DCO energy managers - Energy related information. 

DCBFM/OFM/OEHOS - Storm water management. 

Goal 7 - Pollution Prevention and Waste Elimination

DCBFM/OFM/ORM and OBM, and DCO energy managers - Waste related information. 

DCBFM/OFM/OEHOS - Hazard waste disposal/Pest management. 

DCBFM/OPLM - Paper purchasing. 

DCBFM/OPSS, Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), OEHOS, and ORM - Report 

on Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). 

Goal 8 - Sustainable Acquisition

DCBFM/Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) - Green purchasing information. 

Goal 9 - Electronic Stewardship and Data Centers

DCBFM/OFM/ORM and OBM - Sub-metering and Power Usage Efficiency ranges. 

Chief Information Officer (CIO) - Data center consolidation. 
Social Security Administration 9 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Deputy Commissioner for Systems (DCS)/Office of Telecommunications and Systems 

Operations (OTSO) - Power management/Electronic stewardship. 

DCBFM/OPLM - Electronics disposal. 

DCBFM/OAG - Purchasing. 

Goal 10 - Agency Innovation

DCO - Number of retirees filing online (future). 

DCBFM/OPLM - Office Supply Amnesty Day. 

CIO - Office of Innovation (future discussion). 
Social Security Administration 10 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Table 1: Critical Planning Coordination 

This table illustrates the relationship between the sustainability plan and other planning and 

reporting efforts across the agency. This table illustrates opportunities for integrating 

sustainability requirements into existing planning documents and vice versa. In the future, the 

EO instructs departments and agencies to use this table as a guide for ensuring that sustainability 

programs are supported in the appropriate planning processes. Departments and agencies should 

respond with „yes, „no‟, or „n/a‟ in the box for whether the EO goal is relevant to and has been 

integrated into listed report/plan listed. Use „yes‟ for integrated, „no‟ for not yet integrated, and 

„n/a‟ for not applicable. 

Originating Report / 

Plan

Scope 1 & 2 GHG 

Reduction

Scope 3 GHG 

Reduction

Develop and Maintain 

Agency 

Comprehensive GHG 

Inventory

High-Performance 

Sustainable Design / 

Green Buildings

Regional and Local 

Planning

Improve Water Use 

Efficiency and 

Management

Pollution Prevention 

and Waste 

Elimination

Sustainable 

Acquisition

Electronic 

Stewardship and Data 

Centers

Agency Specific 

Innovation

“Sample Plan” Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes No

GPRA Strategic Plan Yes No No No No No No No No Yes

Agency Capital Plan n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

A-11 300s n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a

Annual Energy Data 

Report Yes n/a Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

EISA Section 432 

Facility 

Evaluations/Project 

Reporting

Yes n/a Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Budget Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No

Asset Management 

Plan / 3 Year 

Timeline

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Circular A-11 

Exhibit 53s n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a

OMB Scorecards Yes n/a n/a Yes n/a Yes No Yes Yes No

DOE's Annual 

Federal Fleet Report 

to Congress and the 

President

Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Data Center 

Consolidation Plan Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a

Environmental 

Management Plan* Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

* Will be included in the EMS when completed. 
Social Security Administration 11 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

IV. Evaluating Return on Investment 

We evaluate construction projects conducted directly by SSA by taking into account economic, 

environmental, social, and mission-related costs and benefits. We use OMB Circular A-94 to 

determine the Life-Cycle Cost-Benefit Analysis (LCCA). We use LCCA to select the design 

that will provide the lowest overall costs of a facility‟s ownership consistent with its quality and 

function. We also apply LCCA within a life-cycle assessment framework that accounts for both 

the costs over the asset life and the environmental consequences of investment decisions on 

upstream (e.g., extraction, production, transportation, and construction), ongoing (e.g., health 

effects on tenants and the community), and downstream (e.g., decommissioning and disposal) 

costs. 

To evaluate other forms of value specific to projects, the agency‟s Office of Quality Performance 

provides guidance on conducting Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Benefit Value Scoring 

(BVS). Under the CBA guidance, factors such as environmental impact costs are identified. 

Under the BVS, the scoring provides insight and understanding to support the selection of 

investments. BVS complements the current CBA process by providing a method for considering 

issues and benefits not addressed through the development of a CBA. To ensure that the 

methodology reflects the priorities of the current leadership, management prioritized each of the 

factors and measures using the analytical hierarchy process. The factors considered in the BVS 

include direct user or mission-specific priorities, e.g., strategic, political, social, and 

foundational. 

When we conduct a CBA, we will consider the following factors:

A. Economic Lifecycle Cost/Return on Investment 

B. Social Cost and Benefits 

C. Environmental Costs and Benefits 

D. Mission-specific Costs and Benefits 

E. Operation and Maintenance and Deferred Investments 

F. Climate Change Risk 

G. Vulnerability

V. Transparency 

On April 7, 2010, the Commissioner unveiled the agency‟s Open Government Plan and 

associated website-- http://www.socialsecurity.gov/open?p. We plan to expand this website and 

provide information on sustainable and environmental initiatives. The agency intends to make 

the GHG reduction goals and highlights of other environmental/sustainability projects public 

information. The sustainability workgroup established a transparency sub-workgroup that will 

determine the appropriate documents to place on the public website. 
Social Security Administration 12 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

We also developed an intranet website--SSA is Getting Greener --which we update frequently to 

keep agency employees abreast of our activities. This website also provides employees with 

links to greening and sustainability websites to help them reduce energy use in the office and at 

home. We also sponsor an annual Earth Day celebration and use that opportunity to highlight 

information on sustainability and greening efforts. 

Section 2: Performance Review and Annual Update

I. Summary of Accomplishments 

We continued to make new strides in the area of environmental sustainability in 2009/2010. To 

comply with EO requirements, the agency developed an Electronic Stewardship Plan that

outlines our plans for disposing electronic products and implementing power management on all 

computers at the agency. We developed a Green Purchasing Plan that outlines the agency‟s 

requirements for purchasing environmentally friendly products and completed a Sustainable 

Building Implementation Plan (SBIP) that outlines our commitment to sustainable building 

practices. These documents successfully formalized and set the framework for the agency to 

continue its efforts in sustainable practices. In addition, we developed a GHG reduction goal for 

Scopes 1 and 2 of 21 percent between 2008 and 2020. The agency continues to make efforts to 

ensure compliance with EOs by conducting energy audits at its facilities and instituting new onsite renewable energy projects, such as installing wind turbines and using grey water. We are 

evaluating the use of an energy consumption review process to reduce energy nationwide. We 

also plan to conduct additional training for energy and project managers. 
Social Security Administration 13 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

II. Goal Performance Review 

A. Goal 1: Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gas Reduction 

1. Goal Description:

We are striving to achieve a 21 percent reduction of Scope 1 and 2 GHGs 

between 2008 and 2020. We will achieve this through a combination of energy 

reduction strategies. 

Our strategy for GHG reductions includes adding renewable on-site energy 

generation, purchasing additional renewable energy, and implementing useful

recommendations from an upcoming energy audit. Our strategy also includes 

disposing of buildings in the covered building agency inventory and adding a 

more energy efficient data center. Please note that while we do not own any 

facilities, GSA has delegated to us the responsibility to manage the operations and 

maintenance of some larger facilities. Although SSA has developed a SBIP,

which requires a minimum Leadership in Environmental and Engineering Design 

(LEED) Silver Certification for newly constructed buildings and certain sized 

renovations, we complete all changes to our building inventory and major 

renovations and upgrades in conjunction with GSA. For this reason, the building 

inventory changes associated with our reduction goal are projected. These 

projections could change based on funding, staffing changes, or other factors. 

SSA is also reducing our use of petroleum for fleet vehicles based on projections 

of fleet vehicle changes and our increased use of alternative fuels in the field, 

which we attribute to recent educational efforts. We show the reduction in the 

planning table. 

2. Agency Lead for Goal: 

The Associate Commissioner of OFM is the lead for target development and 

implementation of this goal. The Director of ORM and the Director of OEHOS,

OFM are responsible for the overall goal and energy related information. The 

Associate Commissioner of OPLM has oversight of the agency‟s fleet vehicles 

nationwide and supports this goal. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

ORM is the lead for building energy management. It will track the energy portion 

of this goal nationwide. We established energy managers under DCO in all SSAcovered buildings and have a computer-based system to gather energy-related 

data from these facilities to ensure tracking as required under the EISA. ORM 

will conduct an energy education seminar on the SSA system and the latest 

technologies in July 2010 for all agency energy managers. We expect to complete 
Social Security Administration 14 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

an energy audit by August 2010 for our main campus, which is our largest energy 

user and includes our oldest buildings. 

OPLM is the agency‟s lead for transportation and fleet management nationwide. 

We maintain fleet vehicles nationwide that are used by a variety of agency 

components. OPLM has established fleet liaisons by component at Headquarters 

and in the regions that are responsible for tracking vehicle utilization. Fleet 

liaisons submit information about the vehicles to the Federal Automotive 

Statistical Tool system, which provides tracking for vehicle and fuel use. They 

also remind users to use alternative fuel stations whenever possible. OPLM 

provides training two to three times per year for the fleet liaisons to ensure they 

are up to date on the status of the agency and statutory goals related to the fleet. 

As a result, we improved our score in this area on the last OMB scorecard. 

The agency‟s Administrative Instructions Manual System requires the use of 

teleconferencing, if possible, and the use of shuttle services when employees 

travel to and from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. We also share a shuttle 

service with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to save fuel. 

OPLM has an automated request system for fleet vehicles at Headquarters, which 

tracks requests and consolidates trips, if possible. We also use small, off-road 

utility vehicles, including a newly purchased electric vehicle, for maintenance 

personnel to travel around the main campus. 

We will track the building energy and fleet portions of this goal through the 

agency scorecard/sustainability workgroup and incorporate it into the 

organizational EMS. We discuss the implementation of each goal in the sections 

below.

We expect to meet the goals outlined in EOs 13423 and 13514 and achieve the 

targets outlined in the planning chart with the exception of energy intensity, 

which we explain below. We requested funding to meet the goals through 

leverage, incremental, and alternative investments in FYs 2010-2012. We 

requested the funding to implement energy audit recommendations and to install 

new energy projects. We also requested funding for alternative fuel purchasing, 

infrastructure and training to meet the agency goals. 

4. Positions: 

At this time, we currently utilize 4.25 full-time equivalents (FTE) for the energy 

portion of the goal. This includes support from the five covered buildings in the 

field. For fleet management, we utilize .5 FTE. To fully staff and track this goal, 

we require an additional seven FTEs. 
Social Security Administration 15 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

5. Planning Table: 

a. Buildings 

i. Reduce Facility Energy Intensity: 

Meeting the current EO 13423 and the EISA energy intensity 

reduction goals relative to FY 2003 baselines is challenging for 

SSA. It is important to note that we are in the forefront of energy 

reduction and achieved many sizeable reductions prior to the 

current requirements. (See Appendix B for more information.) 

The agency received the 2006 Presidential Award for Leadership 

in Federal Energy Management for use of energy efficient tools 

identified under EO 13123. 

We will continue our commitment to reducing energy intensity and 

have instituted a number of energy reduction projects at facilities 

nationwide over the past several years. 

We formed an energy sub-workgroup to identify additional areas 

of reduction. Currently, we have two energy audits underway. 

Since 2009, we increased funding for energy conservation 

measures by 76 percent. We will use this funding to complete 

recommendations from the current energy audits. 

We project a 4 percent energy reduction through 2011 and 

7 percent in both 2012 and 2013 based on implementing additional 

Energy Conservation Measures (ECM). We continue to develop 

an agency Energy Reduction Plan and will provide target 

reductions for FY 2014 and FY 2015 when we update our 

Sustainability Plan in 2011. 

ii. Renewable Electricity Installation and Use: 

We are currently meeting the Energy Policy Act and EO 13423 

requirements related to the installation and use of renewable 

electricity. We have renewable energy projects in place at four of 

our delegated facilities. We obligated funds to add renewable 

projects in the form of solar and wind energy. We currently 

purchase renewable energy for the main complex in Baltimore and 

all delegated Baltimore-area buildings through GSA area-wide 

contracts. By 2012, we will purchase a minimum of 5 percent 

renewable energy through area-wide GSA contracts for all SSAdelegated buildings nationwide with the exception of California 

due to the regulation of energy use. In 2012, we will 

increase the purchase of renewable energy for the main complex 
Social Security Administration 16 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

and delegated Baltimore area buildings from 5 to 10 percent. This 

will enable SSA to meet the goals of 5 percent renewable energy 

use through 2012 and 7.5 percent in 2013. 

b. Fleet 

i. Reduce Petroleum Use in Fleet Vehicles: 

To meet requirements of EO 13423, SSA has continually exceeded 

the goals for petroleum reduction since the 2005 baseline and 

expects to exceed the outlined petroleum use reduction goals by 

continuing a 4 percent reduction in use through 2020. We will 

continue to achieve this by right-sizing our fleet and replacing 

gasoline vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) and hybrids. 

We also installed fuel control systems that allow other agencies 

(e.g., CMS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) to access our 

alternative fuel pumps. 

ii. Increase Use of Alternative Fuel in Fleet AFVs: 

As mentioned above, we installed AFV pumps at the main campus 

to increase the use of alternative fuels in Headquarters. To 

increase the use of alternative fuel in the field, we are training fleet 

liaisons to monitor the use of alternative fuels and enforce the 

requirements. These measures resulted in an increase of 

alternative fuels used by 42,800 gallons from FY 2009 to FY 2010, 

which is well above the EO 13423 requirements. We plan to 

increase this measure by a minimum of 17 percent each year from 

the base year of 2005 through FY 2015. 

iii. Optimize Use of Vehicles and Right-Size Fleet: 

To maintain an appropriate fleet size, our fleet liaisons ensure that 

we return underutilized vehicles to GSA in a timely manner. We 

also replaced Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) with light duty AFVs 

such as minivans or sedans. In FY 2009, we replaced 50 gasoline 

vehicles with 50 AFVs. 

iv. Increase Use of Low Emission and High Fuel Economy 

Vehicles: 

SSA plans to improve fuel efficiency of the fleet by acquiring up to 

28 hybrid vehicles to replace current fleet vehicles from GSA in 

FY 2010. 
Social Security Administration 17 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

GHG PLANNING TABLE Unit FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 .... FY 20

Buildings

Energy Reduction Goals 

(BTU/SF reduced from FY 03 base 

year)

% 15% 18% 21% 24% 27% 30% hold .... hold

Planned Energy Reduction 

(BTU/SF reduced from FY 03 base 

year)

% 4% 4% 7% 7% TBD TBD hold hold

Renewable Electricity Goals

(Percent of electricity from renewable 

sources)

% 5% 5% 5% 7.5% hold hold hold hold hold

Planned Renewable Electricity Use

(Percent of electricity from renewable 

sources)

% 5.02% 5.02% 5.02% 7.5% hold hold hold hold hold

Fleet

Petroleum Use Reduction Targets

(Percent reduction from FY 05 base 

year)

% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20% 22% .... 30%

Planned Petroleum Use Reduction

(Percent reduction from FY 05 base 

year)

% 36% 40% 44% 58% 52% 56% 60% 74%

Alternative Fuel Use in Fleet AFV 

Target

(Percent increase from FY 05 base year)

% 61% 77% 95% 114% 136% 159% hold ..... hold

Planned Alternative Fuel Use in Fleet 

AFV

(Percent increase from FY 05 base year)

% 66% 83% 100% 117% 138% 160% hold hold

Scope 1 & 2 - Reduction Targets 

(reduced from FY 08 base year) % 1.3% 1.8% 5.9% 17.6% 17.6% 10.9% 10.9% 20.4%(2018) 21%

Agency Status: SSA plans to complete an energy audit at its main campus by the end of 2010 to 

define additional ECMs. As reported in our last scorecard submission, we awarded new energy 

reduction projects since January 2010 and will conduct energy training for all energy managers 

by the end of the year. 
Social Security Administration 18 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

B. GOAL 2: Scope 3- Greenhouse Gas Reduction 

1. Goal Description: 

SSA will strive to meet the Scope 3 GHG reduction goal of 12.7 percent. We 

based this goal on a weighted average for employee travel (minus airline business 

travel), waste disposal, and Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses for the 

agency between 2008 and 2020. For individual reductions, we will strive to meet 

12.3 percent, 12.1 percent, and 18.6 percent respectively. 

2. Agency Leads for Goal: 

Various components within SSA have responsibility for target development, 

implementation, and oversight of the Scope 3 GHG reduction goal. 

The Associate Commissioner of OFM will track this goal, supported by OEHOS 

and ORM. The following organizations will provide information related to the 

goal: 

Federal Employee Travel: 

DCHR will provide information on the employee population, transit subsidies,

and work at home programs for the entire agency. DCBFM/OFPO/Office of 

Travel will provide business air and ground travel information for the entire 

agency. 

Contracted Waste Disposal: 

DCBFM/OFM/ORM, OBM, and DCO will provide contracted waste information 

gathered from the energy and waste contract project officers in our Headquarters 

campus and delegated buildings. We will use employee population data provided 

by DCHR to calculate the wastewater portion of the goal. 

T&D Losses: 

ORM will supply information on electricity use in our covered buildings to 

calculate the T&D losses. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

OEHOS is the lead for tracking this goal and will develop a tracking system using 

the agency EMS. We plan to develop a transportation survey to refine the 

information for the goal. We developed the reduction goal using expected 

industry changes in fuel efficiency for employee and business travel vehicles. We 

calculated T&D loss reductions using expected energy reductions related to our 

projected Scope 1 and 2 reductions. We associate waste reductions with 

projected increases in waste diversion. 
Social Security Administration 19 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

We will track the goal through the scorecard/sustainability workgroup and 

incorporate it into the agency EMS. We have no additional funding requirements 

for this goal. 

4. Positions: 

We will use existing staff to support the Scope 3 GHG reduction goal using 

existing staff. 

5. Planning Table:

a. Federal Employee Travel (We used all SSA employees in this 

calculation) 

Airline Travel: Airline travel information was not available as of the date 

of this Plan. We will use expected new airline fuel efficiency standards to 

project any reductions. 

Employee Personal Ground Travel: We used the following assumptions to 

calculate the goal for employee ground travel: 

i. All commuters use cars (Please note that we were unable to use 

current agency information on transit subsidies to reduce the 

number of commuters due to a lack of information on the 

actual distance traveled on public transit. We will provide this 

information in future versions of the Plan as it becomes 

available.) 

ii. All employees commute to and from work using one round trip 

per day; 

iii. The average commute is 13.3 miles one way based on U.S. 

Department of Transportation averages; 

iv. Work from home staff account for 1.59 percent of the 

employee population after calculating work days; 

v. We calculated a fuel efficiency increase of 5 percent per year 

starting in FY 2011 through 2015 using a change of cars to 

more efficient models for 10 percent of employee cars each 

year; 

vi. At this time, information on carpooling is not available. We 

will update the Plan as information becomes available; 

vii. We expect the employee population to increase by 2 percent 

from the baseline through 2020. 

Employee Work-Related Ground Travel: 

i. We used only personal-use vehicles for business purposes 

mileage reimbursement data, intercity train travel, and rental 
Social Security Administration 20 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

car gas reimbursement information (Data was not available on 

other forms of transit in the form of mileage.); 

ii. We calculated a fuel efficiency increase of 5 percent per year 

starting in FY 2011 through 2015 using a change of rental cars 

to more efficient models; 

iii. We used only gasoline vehicles in the car-related calculations. 

Based on increased fuel efficiency standards for cars, we project a total 

GHG emissions reduction from 2008 to 2020 of 12.3 percent for the 

Federal employee travel portion of the goal. 

b. Contracted Waste Disposal (We used only covered buildings to 

calculate the waste sent to landfills, while we used the entire SSA 

employee population to calculate contracted wastewater.) 

Based on information available on waste disposal in covered buildings and 

adjustments to the employee population related to work at home and 

alternative work schedules, our GHG emissions related to the 2008 

wastewater baseline is 166 metric ton carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e) 

and the GHG emissions related to waste disposal are 2,050 mtCO2e. 

Based on projected changes in employee population and increases in waste 

diversion as discussed in Goal 7 of this Plan, the projected reduction for 

contracted waste disposal is 12.1 percent. 

c. T&D Losses from Purchased Energy (Only includes information for 

covered buildings) 

We determined that the 2008 baseline for electrical energy use (submitted 

with the agency Scope 1 and 2 GHG reduction target) was 195,394 megawatts hours (MWh) and the projected 2020 reduction in electricity will be 

159,092 MWh, which is a 28.6 percent reduction. 

Calculating a 6.5 percent T&D loss of 8,234 mtCO2e in 2008 and the 

T&D loss in 2020 of 6,703 mtCO2e, we project an 18.6 percent reduction 

in Scope 3 GHG emissions based on T&D losses. 

d. Other: Nothing to report. 

e. Other Planned Actions: 

We expect to refine our tracking related to this goal over the next year and 

conduct a transportation survey to better define employee commuting 

information. 
Social Security Administration 21 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

SCOPE 3 GHG TARGET Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 .... FY 20

 Overall Agency Scope 3 Reduction 

Target (reduced from FY 08 base 

year)

% 0.1% 0.1% 1.8% 4.4% 6.2% 12.7%

Sub-Target for Federal Employee 

Travel % 0% 0% 1.5% 3.7% 5.5% .... 12.3%

Sub-Target for Contracted Waste 

Disposal % 0% 0% 1.3% 3.7% 5.5% .... 12.1%

Sub-Target for Transmission and

 Distribution Losses from 

Purchased Energy

% 1.6% 1.6% 6.8% 16.3% 16.3% .... 18.6%

Agency Status: This is a new goal so we did not complete any activity this year. SSA plans to 

implement a transportation survey to gather more data and refine our goal. 
Social Security Administration 22 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

C. GOAL 3: Develop and Maintain Agency Comprehensive GHG Inventory 

Agencies may elect to add comments regarding development and management of their 

comprehensive GHG inventory. This should include a discussion in changes to the 

calculation methodology, especially as agencies are able to refine the data collection 

methods. A plan for continual improvement in data collection and emission estimation, 

particularly for Scope 3 indirect emissions, should be outlined with agencies considering 

addition of new Scope 3 categories to their inventories as data becomes available. 

Discuss any anticipated issues related to establishing a comprehensive GHG inventory 

and how the agency plans to integrate GHG reduction strategies into overall planning 

practices. Specific instructions for FY 2011 will be provided to agencies. 

In accordance with EO 13514 CEQ/OMB guidance, we will report on this element by 

January 2011. 
Social Security Administration 23 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

D. GOAL 4: High-Performance Sustainable Design / Green Buildings 

1. Goal Description:

SSA does not own or directly lease any facilities, but does have delegated 

responsibility for managing the operations and maintenance of our larger facilities 

through delegation agreements with GSA. Therefore, we are not reporting on the 

assigned goals for this measure. We have set an agency goal, indicated on the 

planning table, to track the number of our leased and delegated buildings that 

meet the guiding principles nationwide by 2010. 

We developed an SBIP that outlines the agency‟s policy related to highperformance and sustainable design/green buildings. The Plan outlines our 

commitment to requesting that GSA ensure newly constructed SSA buildings and 

improvement projects obtain a third party certification that meets the requirements 

of the Guiding Principles as defined under EO 13423 and the EISA of 2007. We 

will make these requests for newly constructed buildings and improvement 

projects that have a total project cost equal to or greater than $10 million and/or 

affecting 40 percent or more of the overall floor area. 

2. Agency Lead for Goal: 

The Associate Commissioner of OFM is the lead for target development and 

implementation of this goal. The Director of ORM and the Director of the 

Division of Architect and Engineering Services (DAES), OFM are responsible for 

the overall goal and energy related information. Five LEED-certified staff 

members support them in this effort. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

DAES will coordinate with the GSA realty specialist to obtain information 

regarding SSA facilities nationwide that meet the guiding principles. 

We will track this goal through the agency scorecard/sustainability workgroup 

and incorporate it into the organizational EMS.

We have no additional funding requirements, as existing staff will absorb the 

effort. 

4. Positions: 

At this time, we expect to utilize .25 FTE on this measure through 2012. 
Social Security Administration 24 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

5. Planning Table:

a. Beginning in FY 2020, we will design all new Federal buildings to 

achieve zero-net energy by FY 2030. 

SSA does not own or directly lease buildings. 

b. All new construction, major renovation or repair, and alteration of 

Federal buildings complies with, “Guiding Principles for Federal 

Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings (Guiding 

Principles).” 

c. At least 15 percent of agency‟s existing buildings and building leases 

meet guiding principles by FY 2015 [5,000 GSF threshold for existing 

buildings and building leases]. 

SSA does not own or directly lease buildings. 

d. Demonstrate annual progress toward 100 percent conformance with 

Guiding Principles for entire building inventory. 

SSA does not own or directly lease buildings. 

e. Demonstrate use of cost-effective, innovative building strategies to 

minimize energy, water and materials consumption.

f. Manage existing building systems to reduce energy, water and 

materials consumption in a manner that achieves a net reduction in 

agency deferred maintenance costs.

To meet the requirements of the Guiding Principles within the next 2 

years, we will establish an energy-use baseline using American Society of 

Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers 90.1-2007 for 

covered facilities. We will conduct an assessment to determine the need 

for additional metering devices that measure consumption of potable 

water, electricity, and thermal energy within the next 2 years. 

g. Optimize performance of the agency‟s real property portfolio –

examine opportunities to decrease environmental impact through 

consolidation, reuse and disposal of existing assets prior to adding new 

assets. 

SSA does not own or directly lease buildings. 
Social Security Administration 25 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

h. Ensure use of best practices and technology in rehabilitation of historic 

Federal properties. 

SSA does not own or directly lease buildings. 

BUILDINGS MEETING GUIDING

PRINCIPLES Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15

Owned Facilities Targets % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Leased Facilities Targets % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Total Facility Targets % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Begin tracking the number of buildings 

meeting guiding principles nationwide 

by 100% of regions

% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Agency Status: We developed an SBIP that indicates our intent to meet specific sustainable 

building practices for new and renovated facilities. We will share this information with GSA, 

with whom SSA collaborates on all new and larger renovation projects. We will work with GSA 

to begin tracking all SSA occupied buildings to determine the number that meets the guiding 

principles by 2011. 
Social Security Administration 26 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

E. Goal 5: Regional and Local Planning 

1. Goal Description:

We will participate in regional and local planning initiatives. 

Please note that SSA does not own any facilities but was delegated the 

responsibility to manage the operations and maintenance of our larger covered 

facilities through delegation agreements with GSA. In delegated facilities, we are 

actively involved with local and regional transportation and energy planning. 

We integrated regional and local transportation planning requirements into our 

Solicitations for Offer (SFO) and Space Allocation Standards (SAS) documents,

which outline SSA requirements for GSA to use in field facility leases. 

For new building construction and existing building renovations, our staff works 

with GSA to ensure we consider planning requirements. 

2. Agency Lead for Goal: 

The Associate Commissioner of OFM is the lead for this goal. Under OFM, the 

Directors for OPSS, ORM, and the Office of Long-Range Facilities Planning are 

responsible for the overall transportation, energy, and new and existing building 

construction planning, respectively. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

We integrate planning into our existing workloads. 

4. Positions: 

We will support this goal using existing staff. 

5. Planning Table:

a. Incorporate participation in regional transportation planning 

(recognition and use of existing community transportation 

infrastructure) into existing policy and guidance. 

For new facilities, our GSA lease requirements include a request for 

access to public transportation when it exists within two blocks of a 

facility. This requirement facilitates public and employee access to our 

facilities and promotes the use of public transportation. We actively work 

with local and regional authorities to ensure adequate public 

transportation. 
Social Security Administration 27 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

b. Align agency policies to increase effectiveness of local energy 

planning. 

For covered facilities, we work with local energy suppliers to establish 

policies/agreements on energy curtailment/load shedding plans under the 

facilities management plan and building operating procedures. We 

completed two Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts with local 

power companies in our covered buildings to reduce energy intensity for 

the facility and reduce grid load for the local energy companies. 

c. Incorporate sustainable building location into policy and planning for 

new Federal facilities and leases. 

We do not build new facilities or directly hold leases. We work with GSA 

to plan the location of new Federal facilities and leases. 

d. Update agency policy and guidance to ensure that all environmental 

impact statements and environmental assessments required under the 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for proposed new or 

expanded Federal facilities identify and analyze effects associated with 

energy usage and alternative energy sources. 

We do not build new facilities or directly hold leases. We work with GSA 

to plan all new or expanded Federal facilities to identify and evaluate 

environmental and energy effects.

e. Update agency policy and guidance to ensure coordination and (where 

appropriate) consultation with Federal, State, tribal, and local 

management authorities regarding effects to local ecosystems, 

watersheds, and environmental management associated with proposed 

new or expanded Federal facilities. 

We do not build new facilities or directly hold leases. We work with GSA 

to evaluate effects to local ecosystems, watersheds, and environmental 

management with proposed new or expanded Federal facilities. 

REGIONAL AND LOCAL 

PLANNING Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 .... FY 20

Participate in regional and local planning 

initiatives N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Agency Status: We continue to participate in regional and local initiatives. 
Social Security Administration 28 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

F. GOAL 6: Water Use Efficiency and Management 

1. Goal Description:

We strive to reduce the amount of water used at our covered facilities. Please 

note that while we do not own any facilities, GSA has delegated to us the 

responsibility to manage the operations and maintenance of some larger facilities. 

2. Agency Lead for Goal: 

The Associate Commissioner of OFM is the lead for target development and 

implementation of this goal. The Director of ORM and the DCO regional energy 

managers at our delegated buildings are responsible for the overall goal and water 

related information. The Director of OEHOS will support the storm water 

management portion of the goal. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

DCBFM/OFM/ORM is the lead organization for building energy management of 

our facilities nationwide and will track the water use portion of the goal 

nationwide. ORM established energy managers in all SSA covered facilities and 

has a computer-based system to gather water related data from these facilities to 

ensure we meet EISA tracking requirements. To evaluate our water use, we 

established an energy sub-workgroup, including Headquarters and DCO regional 

representatives. This group will also evaluate future projects for water/energy 

needs. ORM also completed an energy seminar in May 2010 to provide agency 

energy managers training on the SSA system and the latest technologies. In 

September 2010, SSA will sponsor an energy management certification class,

which will review current energy statutes for all SSA designated energy 

managers. We expect to complete an energy audit of our main campus by August 

2010, which is our largest user of energy and houses our oldest buildings. 

We will track this water reduction goal through the agency 

scorecard/sustainability workgroup and incorporate it into the organizational

EMS. We do not have any other internal goals related to this measure at this time. 

We discuss the implementation of each goal below. 

We expect to meet the goals outlined in EOs 13423 and 13514 and achieve the 

targets outlined in the planning chart with the exception of the planned potable 

water reduction goal. 

We requested funding to meet the goals through leverage, incremental, and 

alternative investments in FY 2011-2012. We also requested funding to 

implement recommendations in the energy audit and to install new energy 

projects. 
Social Security Administration 29 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

4. Positions: 

We will utilize .5 FTE for this goal. In addition, the FTE described under goal 

one, Scope 1 and 2 GHG Emissions, will support this goal. 

5. Planning Table:

a. Reduce potable water use intensity by at least 26 percent by FY 2020. 

Based on benchmarking against the Federal community, we use the lowest 

amount of water per gross square foot of any other agency. We already 

instituted numerous water conservation measures at our facilities (see 

Appendix B). To evaluate potential for additional reductions, we are 

developing a water intensity reduction plan. We are also conducting 

energy audits to identify reduction strategies. We budgeted leverage 

investment funding to implement any water reduction strategies identified. 

We project an increase in water use of 1.3 percent in 2010 due to a 

metering problem. We expect to maintain current use levels nationwide 

through 2020, but will continue to look for areas of improvement. 

b. Reduce industrial, landscaping, and agricultural water use by at least 

20 percent by FY 2020. 

We expect to meet the goal established in EO 13514 for reduction of 

landscaping water use by 2020. Currently, we have no water use for 

agricultural purposes and limited water use for landscaping. The majority 

of delegated buildings use native grasses and plants, which do not require 

watering. For those facilities that do water landscaping, we will install 

sub-metering to determine the amount of water use. We will also 

investigate reusing water for landscaping. At the Headquarters campus, 

we are evaluating the installation of water sensors to determine the need 

for watering. 

c. Identify and implement water reuse strategies. 

We instituted water reuse strategies in our facilities. These included 

measures such as the reuse of grey water to flush toilets at some facilities. 

We are reviewing a project to capture grey water from cooling towers at 

the main complex to use for watering landscaping. 

d. Achieve objectives established by the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) in storm water guidance for Federal facilities.

We will comply with all Federal, State, and local storm water management 

requirements. 
Social Security Administration 30 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

WATER USE EFFICIENCY & 

MGMT Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 ...

.

FY 20

Potable Water Reduction Targets (gal/SF 

reduced from FY 07 base year) % 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% ....

26%

Planned Potable Water Reduction 

(gal/SF reduced from FY 07 base year) % (1.3%) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Industrial, Landscaping, and Agricultural 

Water Reduction Targets (gal reduced 

from FY 10 base year)

% - 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% ...

.

20%

Planned Industrial, Landscaping, and 

Agricultural Water Reduction (gal 

reduced from FY 10 base year)

% - 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 20%

Agency Status: We instituted various water conservation measures in all of our covered 

buildings. These include grey water reuse, waterless urinals, and hands-free faucets. To look for 

other reduction strategies, we are conducting an energy audit at our Headquarters campus and 

expect to develop a water intensity reduction plan to ensure adequate tracking and evaluation of 

its water use at all facilities. We will also provide training for all SSA energy managers by 

September 2010. 
Social Security Administration 31 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

G. GOAL 7: Pollution Prevention and Waste Elimination 

1. Goal Description: 

SSA commits to diverting 50 percent of non-hazardous solid waste by 2015. 

Through our delegations agreements with GSA, we are responsible for waste 

management in the Headquarters and delegated buildings. We do not directly 

renovate or construct buildings. Therefore, we cannot report on the construction 

and demolition (C&D) debris portion of the goal. Our SBIP does indicate our 

requirements for LEED Silver certification of large renovations and new 

construction projects. As part of this Plan, we will ensure recycling of C&D 

waste. 

2. Agency Lead for Goal: 

The Associate Commissioners, OFM, OAG, and OPLM are co-leads for target 

development and implementation of this goal. 

Under OFM, the Director of ORM is responsible for the non-hazardous waste and 

recycling programs at Headquarters and in our delegated buildings. Recycling 

coordinators and waste contract project officers in the Headquarters and delegated 

buildings support ORM. Purchasing staff and contracting officers support OAG 

and OPLM. 

Under OFM, the Director of OEHOS is responsible for the hazardous waste and 

pest management portion of the goal. OEHOS is supported by staff members 

including a hazardous waste coordinator and employees who are Certified 

Pesticide Applicators and Certified Hazardous Materials Managers. 

Under OPLM, the Director of Publications is responsible for purchasing paper for 

the Headquarters facilities. OAG provides guidance in the agency Green 

Purchasing Plan related to purchasing paper with 30 percent post consumer fiber 

and ensures the acquired printers must contain a double-sided print function to 

reduce the use of paper. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

DCBFM/OFM/ORM will track the waste diversion measure through the recycling 

coordinators and waste contract project officers at each facility. 

DCFBM/OFM/OEHOS will track the hazardous waste through the hazardous 

waste coordinators and applicable staff members. 

DCBFM/OPLM and OAG will track this measure through applicable staff 

members. 
Social Security Administration 32 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

We will track the entire goal through the agency scorecard/sustainability 

workgroup and incorporate it into the organizational EMS.

We have no additional funding requirements for this goal. 

4. Positions: 

Existing staff will support this goal. 

5. Planning Table:

a. Increase source reduction of pollutants and waste. 

We strive to increase source reduction as outlined under goals one and two 

in the Plan. We will accomplish this through reducing emissions from 

newly refurbished boilers, purchasing renewable energy, and reducing 

building inventories. We will reduce waste through increasing waste 

diversion as discussed below. 

b. Divert at least 50 percent non-hazardous solid waste by FY 2015, 

excluding C&D debris.

We currently divert 50 percent of non-hazardous solid waste on average at 

the Headquarters and delegated buildings. GSA currently holds the leases 

for the smaller leased SSA buildings. Thus, we do not have control over 

waste disposal at those buildings. Within the next 2 years, we plan to 

ensure that all delegated facilities divert 50 percent of waste across the 

board rather than on average. 

c. Divert at least 50 percent C&D materials and debris by FY 2015. 

We do not renovate or construct new buildings. GSA manages all such 

projects and our agency SBIP requires GSA to meet LEED requirements. 

We strive to recycle C&D materials and debris as part of the LEED 

certification process for any SSA renovation/construction projects. 

d. Reduce printing paper use. 

To help reduce printing paper use, the Green Purchasing Plan requires that 

all acquired printing products including copier machines, faxes, and 

printers must contain a double-sided print function. 
Social Security Administration 33 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

e. Increase use of uncoated printing and writing paper containing at least 30 

percent postconsumer fiber.

Our Green Purchasing Plan requires acquisition of products containing a 

minimum of 30 percent postconsumer fiber. 

f. Reduce and minimize the acquisition, use, and disposal of hazardous 

chemicals and materials. 

We have reduced our acquisition, use, and disposal of hazardous 

chemicals. This reduction resulted from an enhanced agency hazard 

communication program in place since 1992, which provides an 

automated means of reviewing and approving chemical Material Safety 

Data Sheets. The program requires training for regional and local hazard 

communication coordinators nationwide in delegated and field offices. 

The program also requires chemical inventory reviews at our Headquarters 

facilities (the largest use of chemicals), which involves determining the 

need for stored chemicals and disposing of them as necessary. We added 

requirements for appropriate handling and waste disposal to custodial and 

maintenance contracts for each covered building. 

Our Headquarters buildings have mechanical shops that purchase and use 

chemicals. Our delegated buildings no longer have maintenance shop 

areas that require purchasing or stocking chemicals. The majority of the 

delegated buildings have outside contractors who manage the facilities and 

are responsible for disposing of any related chemicals. The majority of 

chemicals disposed of are oils and grease. The reduction in chemical use 

has also resulted from the change from print shops to computerized 

printing and the removal of older machinery that required more hazardous 

chemicals for operation (e.g., chillers). 

OEHOS has been working with OAG to reduce over-purchasing of 

chemicals and ensuring contractors remove chemicals brought on-site 

upon completion of work. Instituting our Green Purchasing Plan further 

enhanced efforts to purchase environmentally friendly products and reduce 

purchasing hazardous chemicals. 

g. Increase diversion of compostable and organic materials from the 

waste stream. 

We currently compost yard waste at our Headquarters facilities. We use 

the composted waste for planting beds and topsoil fill. We are researching 

the feasibility of a composting program at our Headquarters cafeteria. 
Social Security Administration 34 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

h. Implement integrated pest management and landscape management 

practices to reduce and eliminate the use of toxic and hazardous 

chemicals and materials. 

We have an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for our 

Headquarters and delegated buildings. Contractors conduct all pesticide 

applications and all contracts require the use of IPM. To ensure 

appropriate application, the program requires a review and approval of all 

pesticide applications through the agency hazard communication program. 

i. Increase agency use of acceptable alternative chemicals and processes. 

Our Green Purchasing Plan requires agency purchasers to purchase 

alternative chemical products such as bio-based products. 

j. Decrease agency use of chemicals to assist agency in achieving FY 

2020 GHG reduction targets [See section two - one and two above].

Our Headquarters is a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act small 

quantity generator and other SSA facilities generate less waste than 

Headquarters. We do not believe that reductions in this area will have a 

large effect on our reduction of GHG, so we have focused on other efforts 

to meet our goals. 

k. Report in accordance with Sections (301-313) of the Emergency 

Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986.

Sections 301 to 303 -- Emergency Planning

SSA has a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan posted on 

our internal website with information on how to prevent and respond to 

hazardous materials spills. In addition, we have internal emergency 

procedures, that address environmental health and safety emergencies 

such as chemical spills, floods, hazardous fibers releases, fumes, and 

odors, such as sewer gas, confined space entries, and gas detection system 

alarms. 

We inventoried our hazardous materials and determined that there is one 

chemical in our facility considered extremely hazardous and above the 

threshold quantity on site. The chemical is sulfuric acid in the 

Uninterruptible Power Supply systems. We forwarded this information to 

the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and the Local 

Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). SSA emergency planning, 

security, and environmental staff participate in the LEPC in Baltimore and 

Baltimore City. We will ensure that the covered buildings also participate 

on their LEPCs. 
Social Security Administration 35 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Section 304 -- Emergency Notification

SSA has not had a release of an extremely hazardous substance. 

Sections 311 and 312 -- Community Right-to-Know Requirements

Since SSA has above the threshold planning quantity of an extremely 

hazardous substance on site, we notified and will update the SERC and 

LEPC by March 1 of each year via a Tier II form. 

Section 313 -- Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)

SSA inventoried its hazardous materials and determined that there are no 

TRI chemicals used above the applicable threshold quantities. Therefore, 

there is no requirement that we submit toxic chemical release inventory 

forms. 

Section 322 -- Trade Secrets

SSA does not claim any trade secrets. 

POLLUTION PREVENTION & WASTE 

ELIMINATION Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15

Non-Hazardous Solid Waste Diversion Targets 

(non C&D) % 48% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%

C&D Material and Debris Diversion Targets % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 50%

Agency Status: We are currently diverting solid waste and plan to increase our efforts through 

enhanced education and increased monitoring. 
Social Security Administration 36 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

H. GOAL 8: Sustainable Acquisition 

1. Goal Description: 

DCBFM/OAG commits to ensure 95 percent of new contracts address sustainable 

acquisition practices as outlined in the planning table below. We will update our 

Green Purchasing Plan, policies, and programs to ensure we include all federally 

mandated products and services in relevant acquisitions. 

2. Agency Lead for Goal: 

OAG‟s Director, Office of Acquisition Support, is the lead for target development 

and implementation of this goal. Procurement analysts in OAG will ensure 

implementation, oversight, and reporting on the goal. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

OAG is our centralized acquisition office and is responsible for acquisitions made 

throughout the agency. OAG will ensure integration of the sustainable acquisition 

goal. We will track this goal through the agency scorecard/sustainability 

workgroup and incorporate it into the organizational EMS. We discuss the 

implementation methods following each goal below. 

We expect to meet the goals outlined in EOs 13423 and 13514 and achieve the 

95 percent target of new contract actions meeting sustainable acquisition 

requirements during the period of 2012 through 2020. We do not expect to incur 

any costs associated with implementing this goal. We will integrate training and 

additional requirements into existing programs, policies, and procedures. 

Therefore, the planning table does not include budgetary numbers. At this time, 

we do not have any other internal goals related to this measure. 

4. Positions: 

We expect to use .25 FTE on this measure annually through 2020. 

5. Planning Table: 

a. Ensure 95 percent of new contract actions, including task and delivery 

orders under new contracts and existing contracts, require the supply 

or use of products and services that are energy efficient (Energy Star 

or FEMP-designated); water efficient; bio-based,; environmentally 

preferable (excluding Electronic Product Environmental Assessment 

Tool (EPEAT)-registered products), non-ozone depleting, contain 

recycled content, or are non-toxic or less toxic alternatives. 
Social Security Administration 37 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

We recently issued a new Green Purchasing Plan, which replaced our 

outdated Affirmative Procurement Plan. Our Green Purchasing Plan is 

available on the agency‟s intranet website and is easily accessible to 

all personnel. Beginning in May 2010, OAG notified all SSA 

contracting officers (CO), contracting officer technical representatives 

(COTR), and members of the agency‟s senior management staff of the 

new Green Purchasing Plan and the requirement to adhere to the 

guidelines contained within it. In this notification, we recommended 

that all COs and COTRs take an online green purchasing training 

course to familiarize themselves with current green purchasing 

requirements. This course will be available in the summer of 2010. 

OAG will alert COs and COTRs when it is available online. Finally, 

we are exploring the possibility of incorporating green purchasing 

goals as a data element in the performance expectations of our contract 

specialists. If adopted, the change would be effective in FY 2011. 

Additionally, the agency has historically found it difficult to gather 

data relating to the environmental attributes of our purchases. To 

improve this process, OAG changed its contract writing system in May 

2010. These changes enhanced our monitoring of the environmental 

attributes of our procurements. Through this new process, we will 

ensure the agency reaches the goal that 95 percent of new contract 

actions meet sustainable acquisition requirements. 

b. Update agency affirmative procurement plans (also known as green 

purchasing plans or environmentally preferable purchasing plans), 

policies, and programs to ensure that all Federally mandated 

designated products and services are included in all relevant 

acquisitions. 

OAG included active hyperlinks in the Green Purchasing Plan to 

provide readers access to the most up-to-date lists of all federally 

mandated designed products and services. OAG will regularly 

monitor environmental policy changes and update the Green 

Purchasing Plan (and its hyperlinks) accordingly. 

This goal is tied to the agency‟s Electronic Stewardship Plan, which 

requires SSA employees to purchase 95 percent of electronic products 

as EPEAT-registered equipment, for products where EPEAT standards 

exist. This Plan also stipulates that SSA will strive to procure EPEAT 

Silver-rated electronic products or higher if/when available. 
Social Security Administration 38 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

SUSTAINABLE ACQUISITION Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 .... FY 20

New Contract Actions Meeting Sustainable 

Acquisition Requirements % 85% 95% hold hold hold

Energy Efficient Products (Energy Star, 

FEMP-designated, and low standby power 

devices)

% 95% 99-

100% hold hold hold

Water Efficient Products % 95% 95% hold hold hold

Bio-based Products % 80% 95% hold hold hold

Recycled Content Products % 95% 95% hold hold hold

Environmentally Preferable Products/Services 

(excluding EPEAT) % 95% 95% hold hold hold

SNAP/non-ozone depleting substances % 80% 95% hold hold hold

Agency Status: We developed a Green Purchasing Plan that outlines requirements for green 

purchasing agency-wide. We are working to educate agency personnel on the Plan including 

refresher training for contracting officers. We also improved our contract writing system to 

improve tracking of environmental procurements. 
Social Security Administration 39 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

I. GOAL 9: Electronic Stewardship and Data Centers 

1. Goal Description: 

We will strive to meet the electronic stewardship and data center goals set forth 

by EOs 13423 and 13514 as outlined below. 

2. Agency Leads for Goal: 

Various components within SSA have responsibility for target development, 

implementation, and oversight of electronic stewardship and data center goals. 

DCS‟sAssociate Commissioner for OTSO manages the SSA Electronics 

Stewardship Plan and provides leadership for our electronics stewardship team. 

OTSO is also responsible for the operations and maintenance lifecycle elements 

(e.g., power management and duplex printing) described in the Plan. 

The Associate Commissioner for OAG is responsible for the acquisition lifecycle 

elements (e.g., Energy Star and EPEAT) described in the Plan. 

The Associate Commissioner for OPLM is responsible for the end-of-life 

lifecycle elements (e.g., sound disposition practices) described in the Plan. 

The Chief Information Officer is responsible for the data center elements 

introduced in EO 13514. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

We are in the process of implementing our comprehensive SSA Electronics 

Stewardship Plan, which addresses the goals of the three electronics lifecycle 

phases set forth by EO 13423: 

 

a. Acquisition: 

Purchase 95 percent of electronic products as EPEAT-registered 

equipment, for products where EPEAT standards exist. 

b. Operations and Maintenance: 

Enable Energy Star® features on 100 percent of computers and monitors 

or to the maximum degree possible based on mission needs. Extend the 

useful lifetime of electronic equipment to 4 or more years. Implement 

procedures to ensure the timely reuse and transfer of equipment within the 

Federal government. 
Social Security Administration 40 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

c. End-of-Life Management: 

Donate usable electronics to qualified organizations such as public 

schools. Sell usable or re-furbishable equipment through GSA and the 

Federal asset sales. Recycle unusable, unsold equipment using sustainable 

environmental practices that help keep components out of the landfill and 

recover materials for use in the manufacture of new products. 

The SSA Electronics Stewardship Plan elaborates on the above goals, clearly 

defines roles and responsibilities, defines current and proposed policies, and 

specifies actions and milestones. We completed all milestones with the exception 

of the implementation of Energy Star power management features on 100 percent 

of desktop/laptop computers and monitors, which has a target for completion by 

December 2010. 

With respect to duplex printing, the majority of our current network printer base 

includes duplex printing capabilities while our desktop printer base does not. 

Future contracts will require duplex printing for all printers (network and desktop 

printers). Where duplex printing capabilities exist, printers are configured for use 

at the users‟ discretion depending on hardcopy requirements; some documents are 

required to be printed single-sided. 

We expect to meet the goals outlined in EOs 13423 and 13514 and surpass the 

95 percent target of acquisition of energy star and EPEAT products through 2012. 

We are also planning to dispose of 100 percent of our electronics using sound 

disposition processes. All electronic stewardship activities are already integrated 

into our budget so we do not have any budgetary numbers on the chart at this 

time. We do not have any other internal goals related to this measure. 

4. Positions: 

Existing staff support the electronic stewardship portion of the Plan and complete 

it as collateral duty. 

5. Planning Table: 

a. Establish and implement policy and guidance to ensure use of power 

management, duplex printing, and other energy efficient or 

environmentally preferred options and features on all eligible agency 

electronic products. 

As mentioned above, SSA‟s Electronic Stewardship Plan currently 

outlines our milestones toward meeting power management goals. Our 

Plan for implementing duplex printing is mentioned above. 

b. Update agency policy to reflect environmentally sound practices for 

disposition of all agency excess or surplus electronic products. 
Social Security Administration 41 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

The SSA Electronic Stewardship Plan currently reflects the agency‟s 

commitment to environmentally sound disposition practices. As we have 

since 1996, we will continue to follow the Federal Management 

Regulations for the donation, sale, and recycling of electronic equipment 

no longer needed by the Federal government. We will make maximum 

use of our program to donate used electronics in accordance with 

EO 12999. We will perform due diligence to ensure electronic products 

that have reached the end of their useful life are recycled by companies or 

organizations that use environmentally sound management practices. 

c. Update agency policy to ensure implementation of best management 

practices for energy efficient management of servers and Federal data 

centers. 

We are developing a data center inventory and consolidation plan to 

submit on schedule that will outline the agency policy. 

d. Goals should identify how the agency intends to meet technology 

energy consumption reduction goals in its data centers. 

We are developing a data center inventory and consolidation plan to 

submit on schedule that will outline the agency policy. 

e. Discuss how the agency is planning on meeting the technology energy 

reduction goals in data centers. Include details on the investment plan, 

covered vs. non-covered facilities, and how the agency identified the 

covered facilities. 

We are developing a data center inventory and consolidation plan to 

submit on schedule that will outline the agency policy. 

f. Discuss how the agency will increase the quantity of electronic assets 

disposed through sound disposition practices. Include in the 

discussion how your agency is using or plans to use programs such as 

disposal through GSA Xcess, recycling through Unicor, donation 

through GSA‟s Computer for Learning (CFL) or other non-profit 

organizations, and/or recycling through a private recycler certified 

under the Responsible Recyclers (R2) guidance or equivalent. 

We dispose of 95 percent of electronic assets through sound disposition 

practices and plan to dispose of 99 percent for each of FY 2011 and 

FY 2012. The agency uses GSA‟sCFL program. We have been very 

successful with using this program, but if we are not able to donate the 

equipment, we utilize UNICOR, Federal Prison Industries, which is a 

certified Responsible Recycler, to reclaim and recycle the computers. We 
Social Security Administration 42 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

have a contract to shred hard disks that cannot be sanitized. Under this 

contract, the company recycles everything after the shredding process. 

ELECTRONIC STEWARDHIP & DATA CENTERS Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13

% of covered electronic product acquisitions that meet current 

Energy Star specifications % 95% 99% 99% hold

% of electronic assets covered by sound disposition practices % 95% 99% 99% hold

% of cloud activity hosted in a data center % 95%195% 95% hold

% of agency data centers independently metered or advanced 

metered and monitored on a weekly basis % 100%2

90% 100% hold

Reduction in the number of agency data centers % 0%320% 40% hold

% of agency, eligible electronic products with power 

management and other energy-environmentally preferable 

features (duplexing) actively implemented and in use

% 50% 95% 95% hold

% of agency data centers operating with an average CPU 

utilization of 60-70% % 0%4

50% 75% hold

% of agency data centers operating at a PUE range of 1.3 – 1.6 % 0%5625% 50% hold

% of covered electronic product acquisitions that are EPEATregistered % 95% 99% 99% hold

% of agency data center activity implemented via 

virtualization % 70% 30% 40% hold

Note: EPEAT devices apply to workstations and laptops only. There are no data center devices (mainframes, data storage, servers) on the 

EPEAT registry. 

 Agency Status: We are implementing the milestones outlined in our Electronic 

 Stewardship Plan by continuing a proof of concept for implementation of power 

 management on agency personal computers and expect full implementation by December 

 2010. We continue to use sound disposition practices by donating or recycling 95 

 percent of our electronic products. The agency is developing an agency data center 

 inventory and consolidation plan to submit through the Federal CIO. 

 

1 When viewed from the perspective of the SSA business operations customer, we can classify all activity as private cloud based and estimated 

that the data centers host 95 percent of all activity.

2

Our data centers are sub-metered or monitored but are not necessarily monitored on a weekly basis.

3

SSA is consolidated through FY 2012 and we are continually looking at ways to improve. We will re-evaluate this goal in future years.

4

Only mainframes operate with average CPU utilization above 60 percent. The mainframe host is approximately 85 percent of SSA business 

transactions.

5

The older center does not meet this requirement. The second support center, a leased facility, was not designed to meet a specific PUE range. 

We will calculate a PUE range for the second support center within 2011. 
Social Security Administration 43 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

J. GOAL 10: Agency Innovation

1. Goal Description: 

Amnesty Day Office Supply Drive: 

This campaign began 2 years ago to coincide with Earth Day. During the drive, 

we collect unwanted usable office products throughout the main complex. We 

package these products for redistribution to other SSA offices including field 

offices. This prevents unwanted products from entering the waste stream and 

reduces agency costs for the purchase of new products. 

2. Agency Leads for Goal: 

OPLM is the lead for the Amnesty Day Office Supply Drive initiative. 

3. Implementation Methods: 

Annually, SSA will collect, redistribute, or recycle excess serviceable office 

supplies including task lights. This green initiative will continue to divert waste 

from our landfills and reduce waste. It promotes good citizenship as we collect 

usable supplies and offer them to SSA offices and other agencies. We integrate 

this program into existing budgets so no funding is required. 

4. Positions: 

This goal is an agency initiative that will not require additional staffing. 

5. Planning Table: 

AGENCY INNOVATION Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 .... FY 20

Achieve goal of holding an office supply 

amnesty day through 2010 X X X X TBD TBD

Agency Status: We completed the Amnesty Day program over the last 2 years and plan to 

continue through 2012. 

We will evaluate the feasibility of incorporating an online claims filing initiative in the next 

version of our Sustainability Plan. Nearly 80 million baby boomers will file for retirement 

benefits over the next 20 years--an average of 10,000 per day--making it necessary to transform 

the way we deliver service by developing a wide range of online and automated services. 

Providing this type of service will also reduce the use of personal vehicles and other forms of 

transportation to visit SSA offices leading to a reduction in GHG emissions by our claimants. 

The agency has committed to increasing the percentage of retirement claims filed online. 
Social Security Administration 44 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Section 3: Agency Self Evaluation

Note: OMB and CEQ will update these questions annually to reflect administration priorities. 

For 2010, please respond to the following items. Each agency‟s total response for this section 

should be limited to one or two pages. 

I. Please answer „yes‟ or „no‟ to the following questions. If the answer is „no‟, provide an 

explanation below. 

Does your plan provide/consider overarching strategies and approaches for achieving 

long-term sustainability goals? Y

Does your plan identify milestones and resources needed for implementation? Y

Does your plan align with your agency‟s 2011 budget submission? Y

Is your plan consistent with your agency‟s FY 2011 budget and appropriately aligned to 

reflect your agency‟s planned FY 2012 budget submission? Y

Does your plan integrate existing EO and statutory requirements into a single framework 

and align with other existing mission and management related goals to make the best use 

of available resources?

Y

Does your plan provide methods for obtaining data needed to measure progress, evaluate 

results, and improve performance? Y

Narrative requested: 

II. What are your agency‟s planned actions for the following year (in 6 month increments, 

July-Dec 2010 & Jan-June 2011) to achieve the sustainability and energy standards for 

success on the OMB Scorecard? Please use short, descriptive, and action-oriented bullets 

for key milestones and associated target dates. Agencies may highlight text within its 

Sustainability Plan to emphasize these key actions and milestones. 

During July - December 2010, we will: 

 Reduce the use of petroleum, increase the use of alternative fuels, and add hybrids to 

the fleet. 

 Educate our energy managers on energy and water reduction strategies. 

 Complete energy audits. 

 Work on our GHG inventory. 

 Begin tracking SSA sustainable buildings. 

 Implement power management on computers nationwide. 

During December 2010 - June 2011, we will: 

 Conduct water evaluations at our covered buildings to determine potential water 

reduction strategies and investigate more metering.

 Purchase renewable energy. 
Social Security Administration 45 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

APPENDIX A 

AGENCY STRATEGIC PLAN 

THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK 

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/asp08-pr-alt.pdf
Social Security Administration 46 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

APPENDIX B 

SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS 

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY 
Social Security Administration 47 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Target Description Year

Energy Retrofit lighting throughout office area with high efficiency lighting. FY92

Energy Replace 24 hour chillers with energy efficient chillers. FY01

Energy Replace lighting and motors with high efficiency. FY04

Energy Building Control System (BCS) upgrade FY05

Energy Replace Air Handling Unit (AHU) dampers FY05

Energy Replace entire building cooling chillers with efficient model FY07

Water Install waterless urinals FY08

Energy/Water Energy Audit FY08

Energy Basement and penthouse light replacement with efficiency lighting FY07

Energy

Upgrade Building Automation Controls, install energy efficient VAV 

controllers FY08

Energy Replace domestic water pump system with variable speed motors FY08

Energy

Replace variable speed drive and replace with high efficiency drive motors 

at the air handling units FY08

Energy/Water Energy Audit FY08

Water Replace water closets with water efficient models FY09

Energy Miscellaneous energy projects FY09

Energy S/ESPC project: Stairwell/parking garage lighting retrofit FY05

Energy S/ESPC project: Griswold valve re-commissioning FY06

Energy S/ESPC project: Install a 17 KVA photovoltaic panel array FY06

Energy S/ESPC project: Reduce primary air FY06

Energy S/ESPC project: Replace variable frequency drives and pumps FY06

Energy S/ESPC project: boiler replacement/conversion FY07

Energy S/ESPC project: Install a cogeneration system (COGEN) FY07

Energy Golden Gate training center lighting FY08

Energy Exterior induction lighting FY09

Energy Air handling unit replacement FY09

Energy Replace AC package units FY09

Energy Install photovoltaic panels on guard booths FY10

Energy/Water Energy Audit FY10

Energy Upgrade ceiling lights from T-12 to high efficiency T-8 FY00

Energy Install sub-meters on cooling tower and install vending misers FY03

Energy Cabinet and unit heater replacement FY04

Energy Install photovoltaic lighting system in salt shed FY04

Energy Cabinet and unit heater replacement FY05

Energy Replace venetian blinds with solar shades FY06

Energy Replace air handling unit drives with high efficiency drives FY06

Energy Install solar film on windows FY08

Energy Replace chiller motors, control panels, and starters FY08

Energy Replace Obsolete Modular Diffusers with Fan Power Boxes FY08

Energy Replace exhaust fans with high efficiency units FY08

Energy Replace chilled and hot water pumps FY08

Energy Replace heating and cooling valves on air handling units FY08

Energy Replace M-cell control units on air handling units FY09

Energy Replace exterior, bollards and façade lighting FY09

Energy Upgrade lighting control system FY09

Energy Replace chilled water pumps with high efficiency pumps FY09

Energy Refurbish cooling tower FY09

Energy/Water Energy Audit FY10

Energy Connect chiller controls to ATC system FY10

Energy Replace air handlers and radiant heat pumps FY10
Social Security Administration 48 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Target Description Year

Energy Replace weather-stripping on all exterior entrance doors FY03

Energy Replace CSI light fixtures with more efficient light fixtures FY03

Energy

Replace return air fans R-1 and R-2 with more efficient fans and electric 

motors FY03

Energy

Install photoelectric controls for plaza lights for better control of on/off 

times FY03

Energy

Replace return air fans with new more efficient fans and electric motors 

new VFDs FY04

Energy Install 100- KWH Photo-voltaic power generation system. FY05

Water

Install waterless urinals in men's washroom as part of washroom remodel 

project FY05

Energy

Installed more efficient lights as part of the 10th floor elevator and 

corridor ceiling replacement project FY05

Energy

Replace existing washroom exhaust fans with more efficient fans and 

motors FY05

Energy install solar hot water system on roof FY08

Energy Replaced automated lighting panels on 3rd through 10th floors FY09

Energy

Replace 4 AC unit motors and fans with new more efficient fans and 

motors FY09

Water

Installed gray water recovery system for cooling tower make-up water and 

toilet flushing. FY09

Energy Install high efficiency lighting throughout the campus FY03

Energy Install Energy Star rated motors throughout the campus FY05 FY09

“ Installed building automation system (BAS) throughout the campus FY06

Energy Installed photovoltaic panels for lighting at the supply building FY06

Energy/Water

Building renovation obtained LEED certification for the operations and 

annex building. FY07

Energy Installed electronic lighting controls throughout the campus FY07

Energy Install high voltage capacitors for energy savings FY08

Energy Installed motion sensors in the operations building FY08

Energy Study: use hydrogen fuel cells to power computer rooms FY10

Energy Energy/Water Audit FY10
Social Security Administration 49 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

APPENDIX C 

AGENCY PERFORMANCE PLAN 

THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK 

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/budget/ANNUAL%20PERFORMANCE%20PLAN.pdf
Social Security Administration 50 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

APPENDIX D 

ACRONYMNS/ABBREVIATIONS 

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY 
Social Security Administration 51 of 56 Strategic Sustainability Plan 

Appendix D 

Acronyms and Abbreviations 

AFV Alternative Fuel Vehicle

ARRA American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009

BTU or Btu British Thermal Unit

C&D Construction and Demolition

CBA Cost Benefit Analysis

CFL Computer for Learning

CIO Chief Information Office

ECM Energy Conservation Measure

EISA Energy Independence and Security Act

EMS Environmental Management System

EO Executive Order

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act

EPEAT Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool

ESPC Energy Services Performance Contract

EUL Enhanced Use Lease

FTE Full Time Employee

FY Fiscal Year

GHG Greenhouse Gas

GSA General Services Administration

GSF Gross Square Feet

IPM Integrated Pest Management

LCCA Life-Cycle Cost Benefit Analysis

LEED Leadership in Environmental and Engineering Design

LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee

mtCO2e Metric tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

O&M Operations and Maintenance

OMB Office of Management and Budget

PPA Power Purchase Agreement

PSC Program Service Center

PUE Power Usage Efficiency 

SAS Space Allocation Standards

SBIP Sustainable Building Implementation Plan

SERC State Emergency Response Commission

SF Square Feet

SFO Solicitation for Offers

SSO Senior Sustainability Officer

T&D Transmission and Distribution

UESC Utility Energy Services Contract