Federal agencies lack accurate baseline information for charting their green information technology initiatives, according to the Government Accountability Office. But the onus is only partially on agencies; the Office of Management and Budget and the White House's council on environmental quality are at fault for not developing specific guidance or establishing performance measures for green IT efforts, according to a July 28 GAO report only released publically Aug. 5.

"Without such guidance, the effectiveness of these efforts and their contribution to overall federal sustainability goals will remain unclear," write report authors.

All six agencies reviewed by GAO--the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration--have sustainability performance plans in accordance with Executive Order 13423 (.pdf) and Executive Order 13514 (.pdf) and are making significant improvements reducing emissions and energy consumption.

But the effectiveness of plan implementation cannot be measured because baseline information and consistent, measurable performance targets do not exist.

Insufficient data also calls into question OMB's oversight--OMB reviews and approves agency plans--and the accuracy of scorecards CEQ uses to track agencies' progress toward achieving federal green IT goals.

In response to GAO's recommendations that OMB and CEQ improve green IT measurement guidance, CEQ disagreed that agencies needed additional guidance. The office's comments, submitted by email, were not included in the document.

"CEQ did not concur that this guidance should direct agencies to develop baselines for their green IT-related goals and, where possible, targets that measure energy or cost savings or other quantifiable benefits. However, as we stated in this report, our research has shown that baselines are needed to measure progress. We also maintain that identifying and tracking benefits resulting from green IT-related efforts is needed to determine their effectiveness," say GAO authors.

For more:
- see the report GAO-11-638 (.pdf)

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