Commodity Futures Trading Commission

2018 Sustainability Report

Executive Order 13834, Efficient Federal Operations

Submitted: September 14, 2018 

Candace Turner

Chief Sustainability Officer

 

POC: Margie Yates

202-418-5671

myates@cftc.gov
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 Commodity Futures Trading Commission 

2018 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Executive Summary

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC” or the “Agency”) is an independent, small

agency formed in 1974, which regulates futures and option markets. All four of CFTC’s locations, 

Washington, DC (headquarters); New York, NY; Chicago, IL and Kansas City, MO, consisting of 

434,679 sq. feet, are leased through commercial real estate companies. As tenants, our ability to control 

some of our sustainable efforts are limited, however, CFTC identifies and understands sustainability 

related issues that are most critical to the ongoing success and viability of its program. 

CFTC pledges to continue its strategic priorities with regard to energy and environmental performance 

in FY2019-2020: 

• To comply with and where practicable, all applicable legislation, regulations and codes of 

practice

• To integrate sustainable matters into our business decisions where applicable and feasible 

• To minimize the impact of sustainability in all office and transportation activities

• To review, annually report, and continue to strive and improve our sustainability performance 

• Make decisions based on the best information, resources and financial ability available to us 

The Agency’s headquarters continues to partner with the landlord and property management company 

by adopting sustainable practices, capitalizing on operational efficiencies, benchmarking and assessing 

performances with respect to the laws, codes, performance standards and voluntary initiatives. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has once again named Beacon Capital Partners, an 

affiliate of the property owner, and Cushman & Wakefield, the Property Management firm ENERGY 

STAR 2018 Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence. This is the 7th consecutive year 

Beacon and Cushman and Wakefield has received the Partner of the Year award.

This award was due to many energy conservation and sustainability programs that have been 

implemented at the property since Beacon’s ownership. These achievements by our landlord which the 

CFTC supports and contributed towards made this recognition possible: 

• Building ENERGY STAR and LEED GOLD building energy efficiency/sustainability 

certification

• Tenant participation in our energy load reduction program 

• Lower utility consumption in rebidding electricity contracts

• Energy efficient tenant renovations, e.g. switching incandescent lamps to LEDs 
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• Robust trash recycling programs 

• Lowering their carbon footprint by providing bike storage facilities and

• Installation of beehives at 19 of its properties which promotes pollination, of which 6 are located 

on top of the Agency’s headquarters complex. 

CFTC also has programs that provide sustainable results. To name a few: 

Travel/Transportation Programs: 

In order to fulfill much of the CFTC’s mission and goals, business travel between office locations, 

domestic and international is required. However, where alternative options are available and practical, 

such as video teleconferencing, webcasting, and WebEx, for internal and external participation, CFTC 

avoids physically travelling to meetings/conferences. These options are time efficient and do not 

sacrifice the benefits of regular contact. It also eliminates costs associated with travel and reduces 

energy usage. When travel is necessary, the agency combines meetings, activities, and appointments 

into one trip if possible. 

Under the guidance of Executive Order 13150, Federal Workforce Transportation, CFTC has 

implemented a mass transportation and vanpool transportation fringe benefit program that encourages 

use of public transportation. Currently, 78% of the eligible workforce in Washington, DC; New York, 

NY; and Chicago, IL offices participate in the program. Another sustainable endeavor that reduces 

energy consumption, production of air pollutants and the impact on CO2 global warming is biking to 

work which CFTC supports by offering 16 bike lockers and secured storage space for 20 bikes in its 

headquarters. There are additional bike space and racks that accommodate another 95 bikers in our 

office building complex. CFTC regional offices also have accommodations for bikers. 

Teleworking and Alternative Work Schedules: 

As mentioned in prior sustainable reports, the Agency offers teleworking and alternative work schedules 

which also contributes to the reduction of energy consumption, GHG, and improves air quality. Of 

CFTC’s eligible workforce, 76% participate in the telework program and 84% of CFTC’s workforce 

has alternative work schedules. 

Facilities:

CFTC’s is committed to minimizing its impact on landfills by reducing, reusing, and recycling: 

• CFTC in conjunction with its landlord participates in the recycling program that is in place in the 

three-building complex where headquarters reside. The property management company reports 

that the property continues to recycle 60% of its waste. 

• CFTC’s contracted shredding company, Shred-it, recycles its confidential and sensitive material. 

This year, we have saved 90 trees by recycling shredded paper. 

• CFTC also advocates minimizing the use of paper and other office consumables by double-sided 

printing, option to eliminate header pages, and re-use of folders and notebooks. 
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Electronic Stewardship:

CFTC’s Office of Data and Technology (“ODT”), has exceptional control over its complex mixed IT 

environments. The control requires visibility into the power, space and cooling of the data center, which 

enables ODT to more effectively manage capacity, mitigate risks and improve overall efficiency. 

CFTC equipment addressed by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) meets 

most requirements. As reported in 2017, CFTC would launch its efforts in 2018 to replace desktops with 

laptops as staff’s primary workstation limiting the number of computers to one per user and CFTC is in 

the process of replacing aged desktop pc’s with laptops which reduces the power requirements from 

305W power supply for a desktop to a 65W adapter for the laptops. To date there has been 302 laptop 

setups deployed. CFTC’s schedule to complete its deployment is January 31, 2019. In addition, the 

computers are set to automatically balance performance with energy consumption and monitors are 

configured to turn off after 20 minutes of inactivity. 

This past year CFTC replaced 50% of its network communication equipment and 60% of its servers 

with higher energy efficient equipment. (As mentioned previously in 2016 CFTC replaced 90% of its 

network storage equipment and 10% of its servers with higher energy efficient equipment.) CFTC also 

reduced costs by trading in the equipment as the vendor recycles and reuses the electronic components 

instead of going to a landfill, as well as, surplus and dispose through GSA. 

CFTC also reduces the environmental impact with the following Federal Green Challenge (FGC) target 

areas: 

• Require energy efficient electronic equipment in acquisition and procurement documents. 

• Develop or update purchasing policies, procedures and guidance, to require acquisition of 

energy efficient electronic equipment.

• Gather information about electronic equipment that must be power managed (computer 

desktops, notebooks/laptops and monitors). 

• Investigate implementation options for local and/or network power management. 

• Activate power management (printers and copiers). 

• Enable duplexing (double-sided) features on imaging equipment and connected 

computers. 

• Streamline acquisition and use of imaging equipment. 

• Extend the life of existing electronic equipment.

• Evaluate requests for new electronic equipment purchases.

• Evaluate remote desktop solutions (e.g., thin client) to reduce hardware and software 

distribution to individual users. 

• Educate employees on how to improve operation and maintenance of electronic 

equipment.