Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Department

School of Environment

Sub-Department

Earth and Environmental Resources Management

First Advisor

Philip E. Barnes

Abstract

Due to growing concerns caused by high energy prices, oil crises and the threat of global climate change, several U.S. government policies are directed towards increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. Two recent presidential directives, Executive Order 13423 and Executive Order 13514 address Federal environmental and energy performance and require that all Federal agencies set a good example for efficient energy use. In November 2009, some University of South Carolina faculty and students conducted a preliminary energy audit at U.S. Naval Hospital Beaufort, South Carolina to assist the facility management determine best locations to incorporate energy savings measures in order to meet the Executive Order goals.

In order to demonstrate the relationship between policy development at the executive level and management of policy directives, this thesis assesses the effectiveness of Executive Order 13423 and Executive Order 13524 in achieving energy reduction in the Department of Defense. The use of Environmental Management Systems as a management framework for achieving compliance with the Executive Orders is also examined. Naval Hospital Beaufort is presented as a case study to show the extent to which the installation has met goals of Executive Order 13423 and Executive Order 13514, progress made in recent past and how the installation plans to meet these goals in the future. Information gathered from the energy audit is used to provide recommendations on appropriate targets for energy use improvements in the installation. The expectation is that the results of the analysis will enable the hospital to make informed and appropriate decisions about implementing cost effective energy conservation measures to meet the goals of the Executive Orders.

Rights

© 2010, Onanwa Nneka Egbue

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