Sustainability

Other DoD and Federal Policy and Guidance

Sustainable Buildings

DoD Policy

In November 2013 the Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment) published a new sustainable buildings policy which supercedes the policy from Oct 2010. This revision establishes Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 1-200-02 as the sustainability standard for all DoD construction projects and requires DoD Components to establish an auditable process to ensure compliance. The policy also states clearly that a building which complies with the UFC has met all applicable federal standards for sustainability including the Guiding Principles for High Performance Sustainable Buildings.

In October 2010, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment) published a policy to build, operate, maintain, reuse, demolish, or deconstruct DoD buildings in a sustainable manner, as outlined by DoD Instruction 4170.11, Installation Energy Management, and UFC 4-030-01.  The memo also established supplementary Department policy on sustainable buildings and specified DoD Component actions necessary for compliance.

Federal Policy

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions
February 26, 2016

The 2016 Guiding Principles update and replace the December 2008 Guiding Principles with the intent to reflect the evolution of sustainable building design, construction, and operating practices since 2008 and to better incorporate other building-related Executive Order 13693 requirements.

High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Guidance
December 1, 2008

The 2008 Guidance updates and replaces the 2006 MOU based on recommendations by the Interagency Sustainability Working Group (ISWG). This guidance includes a revised set of Guiding Principles for New Construction and Major Renovations and a new set of Guiding Principles for Sustainable Existing Buildings.

Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
January 2006

The signing of this MOU marks the first interagency effort supporting sustainable design practices in Federal facilities. The MOU establishes a common set of sustainable Guiding Principles for integrated design, energy performance, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and materials aimed at helping Federal agencies and organizations.