There are some in the community who have gone above and beyond working towards an emission-free environment, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program recently recognized them with the 2021 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards.

The 18 winners this year included individuals, teams and organizations, a press release from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy said. The awards are given to those who reduce energy waste and costs, optimize energy performance, and advance the mission of attaining net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050.

“As the largest energy consumer in the country, the federal government has an outsize responsibility to set the standard for sustainable energy and water management," Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman said in the release. "I offer my warmest congratulations to my federal colleagues for their exceptional contributions to our effort to fulfill that responsibility.”

The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards are given to members of the public and private sectors each year. They are meant to recognize employees who “exemplify federal leadership in efficient energy management,” the release said. The nominations are reviewed and selected by a federal evaluation panel.

This year’s recipients implemented cost-effective projects and programs leading to achievements in energy and water efficiency, as well as resilience, technology, distributed energy, cybersecurity and vehicle fleet management, the release said.

The recipients come from eight agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the U.S. Department of the Interior; the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Defense, which includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency, according to the release.

A complete listing of the award recipients can be found on Energy.gov.