Alabama Governor Robert Bentley announced by Executive Order Wednesday that all state departments and agencies must reduce energy consumption by Fiscal Year 2015, as the state works to implement energy efficient practices and reduce wasteful and inefficient uses of energy.

Under Executive Order 25, all state agencies and departments must designate an Energy Officer to study, investigate and recommend energy saving procedures and practices for their agency. Agencies must reduce energy consumption by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2015, which is expected to save taxpayers an estimated $5.4 million in utility expenses.

“State government is a major consumer of energy,” Bentley said. “My administration is working hard to make government more efficient with taxpayer dollars and conserving energy at state facilities is one way we can help make government more efficient. State agencies can take the lead and foster ideas on ways to conserve energy and become a model on energy efficiency.”

All state agencies must implement the use of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to measure and report energy efficiency for facilities. The latest energy conservation practices must be used in the design, construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of state facilities and ENERGY STAR labeled equipment must be used when replacing or purchasing new equipment.