The US Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) shows total delivered-to-site energy use by the federal government fell to 0.96 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in fiscal year 2013, the lowest recorded since 1975, the earliest year for which data are available.
Energy consumed in federal government facilities has generally been declining over the past four decades, according to the Energy Information Administration. The reduction stems from both the total square footage occupied by the federal government, which continues to fall from its peak in FY 1987, and from the energy consumed per square foot inside federal buildings, which has been declining since FY 1975.
After reaching a record low in FY 2000 of $9.4 billion (adjusted for inflation), energy costs for the federal government generally increased over the next 13 years - FY 2013 total energy costs were $24 billion. Since most energy used by the federal government is petroleum based, the price of crude oil is a large factor in overall energy costs.
