Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990                   TAG: 9007120435
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A16   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GOVERNMENT DROPPING BACK IN SAVING ENERGY

Witnesses told two House subcommittees Wednesday that since 1985 programs by some federal agencies to conserve energy have virtually disappeared - especially at the Defense Department which accounts for 80 percent of the government's energy requirements.

According to Energy Department estimates, the federal government spent $3.5 billion last year to heat, light and cool more than 500,000 buildings, while spending only $44.5 million to make buildings more energy-efficient. The government's total energy bill came to more than $8 billion, including fuels for the military.

Two years ago energy conservation efforts by the government "slowed to a crawl" and continue to lag despite a law that requires the government to cut energy costs by 10 percent by 1995, said Rep. Philip Sharp, D-Ind., chairman of the House energy and power subcommittee.

Jeffrey Jones, director of energy policy at the Defense Department, said the Pentagon plans soon to establish new programs aimed at improving energy efficiency. He expressed confidence the 10 percent energy reduction goal by 1995 can be met.

-Associated Press