本月初，美國郵政總長波特(John Potter)在一場美國郵政管理局(U.S. Postal Service)的活動中，表示將提升節能意識並致力於節約能源。波特號召所有員工、供應商與合作夥伴，一起加速「綠化」的腳步。
該活動在郵政管理局總部舉行，不僅有優美的音樂節目，更展出局內所使用的太陽能光電設備。現場還展示了「T3」等使用替代燃料的交通工具。「T3」是款測試中的電動三輪車，可望在未來取代在佛州、加州、德州與亞歷桑納州等所使用的傳統燃油貨運車輛。
郵政管理局為自己設定了一個目標，計畫於2015年達到減少三成能源的使用。未來每年將為各項節能措施編列預算，並以提升照明與高壓交流電設備為主要目標。
為了達成這個目標，波特要求局內34,000個部門的685,000位員工進行節能運動，將非使用中的設備、燈具的電源關閉，隨手關門，並調整恆溫器，更重要的是讓員工具備「個人的節能責任感」。
2008年初啟用的能源管理系統(Utility Management System)為一實驗性計畫，藉由記錄電力、天然氣、燃油的耗用量與其成本，以提供較佳的能源管理方案。
最耗能的500棟郵政建築正在進行詳細的能源審查，這些建築物佔地4000萬平方英呎－大約是所有郵政設施40%，並且消耗了郵政系統中60%的能源。
郵政管理局的高層表示，在可能節省的能源之中，已經確定省下超過10億英熱(British thermal unit, BTU)的能量。
在郵件處理中心裡，正對照明設施與控制設備進行改善，藉由使用活動式節能日光燈，創造出高層人士所謂的「乾淨明亮的環境」。
郵政管理局正在考察數個節能系統，其中包括使用光電電池、太陽能板、地熱與風力渦輪發電。 目前，該機構已在節能工作上獲得一些成就，他們設計並製造環保信封與郵箱，使得該局成為運輸業中唯一獲得「從搖籃到搖籃認證」(Cradle to Cradle Certification)的企業。(編按：「從搖籃到搖籃認證」是指產品在生產的過程中節省能源或是運用再生能源、使用對環境無害的原料、產品能夠回收或再利用、有效率的使用水並將汙染降到最低，為社會盡一份心。)
未來，郵政管理局將採購通過能源之星(Energy Star)認證的節能產品，並且將節能的需求加入郵件處理設備的設計中。
擁有全美最大車隊的郵政管理局，不但擁有43,000輛使用替代燃料的交通工具，且光是2007年共消耗超過一百萬加侖的替代燃料，同時也增加40%的E85（一種含85%乙醇、15%汽油的燃料）使用量。
郵政管理局的領導階層正在審查一個橫跨全美的能源管理計畫，該計畫一旦實施後，將設定建築物能源減量的目標，建立車隊燃料耗用的標準。
作為一個獨立的聯邦機構，美國郵政管理局是唯一一間運輸企業能夠將郵件送達全美任何一個地址－總共1.46億個家庭與公司的住址，而且他們每週還上六天班！ 該局擁有37,000個營運據點，憑藉郵資、產品與服務的收入來支付營業費用－而非依賴稅收，每年有750億美元收益，投遞世界上近半數的郵件。
Postmaster General John Potter today showed the greener side of the U.S. Postal Service at an event to increase awareness and create results for energy conservation. Potter called on employees, suppliers and partners in the mailing industry to step up their efforts to "go green."
The event at Postal Service corporate headquarters showcased acoustic musical performances and demonstrated solar photovoltaic equipment used throughout the Postal Service.
On display were alternative fuel vehicles, including the T3, an electric three-wheeled vehicle being tested as a possible replacement for traditional fuel delivery vehicles in Florida, California, Texas and Arizona.
The Postal Service has set a goal to reduce energy use 30 percent by 2015. Scheduled capital investments will be made annually in energy conservation measures, primarily for lighting and HVAC upgrades.
To help achieve that goal, Potter is asking the 685,000 employees at the U.S. Postal Service's 34,000 facilities to turn off lights and unused equipment, close doors, adjust thermostats and especially become "personally responsible for conservation."
A Utility Management System pilot project to capture consumption and cost data for electricity, natural gas and fuel oil was started earlier this year to enable better energy management.
Detailed energy audits are ongoing at 500 of the postal buildings that consume the most energy. These buildings encompass 40 million square feet of facility space - about 40 percent of all postal facilities - and consume about 60 percent of the energy used by the postal system.
More than 1 trillion BTUs of potential energy reductions already have been identified, postal officials said.
Lighting and lighting controls in processing plants are being upgraded to include energy-efficient fluorescent track lighting, creating what officials are calling "a cleaner and whiter environment."
The Postal Service is exploring several energy saving systems in facilities around the country, including the use of photovoltaic cells, solar panels, geothermal energy and wind turbines.
The Postal Service has already has some conservation success. It is the only shipping company that has earned Cradle to Cradle Certification for the environmentally-friendly design and manufacturing of its boxes and envelopes.
In the future, the Postal Service will purchase EnergyStar energy-efficient products, and the agency is incorporating energy-efficiency requirements into mail processing equipment designs.
With 43,000 alternative fuel-capable vehicles on the road, the nation's largest civilian fleet, the Postal Service used more than one million gallons of alternative fuel and increased E85 fuel consumption by 40 percent last year.
A national energy management plan is being reviewed by Postal Service leadership. When implemented, it will identify goals and standards for energy reduction and consumption for buildings and vehicle fleets.
An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week.
It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. The Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world's mail.
