Lt. Governor Gary Herbert lauded the government's sustainable-energy initiatives and challenged state employees to find ways to save more energy in their workplaces next year.

A Wednesday news conference on the Utah Saving Energy Initiative praised state departments for reducing their combined carbon-dioxide output by more than 200 metric tons by streamlining their fleet use during the past year.

The Utah State Mail and Distribution Services' station between Ogden and Spanish Fork reduced its stops by 20 percent and saved 14 gallons a day, said program manager Jeff Mottishaw. Sal Petilos, deputy director for Utah's Department of Administrative Services, assured that customers along the eliminated stops were made aware of the change and that the state mail services eliminated or moved stops to accommodate customer input.

It's one small step toward the state's goal of reducing its energy consumption by 20 percent by 2015.

"What we're about here today is a generational thing," Herbert said. When he was growing up, not everyone recycled or wore seat belts, but times can change. So he challenged state employees from all departments, colleges and services to find ways to reduce energy consumption and create more sustainable lifestyles at their place of work.

Not only is it meant to turn Utah into a greener state, it's supposed to save the government money. Utah State Mail and Distribution Services' station saved about $223,000 a year, Mottishaw said. The University of Utah saved $4.5 million by adopting more energy-efficient behaviors, such as turning off the lights, said University President Michael Young.

But all of the state's changes have added up to about a 4 percent reduction in energy consumption — still a far cry from the quickly approaching goal. No one can flip a switch and become an environmental organization overnight, not even state government, said Talley Goodson, chief executive and president of 3form, a surfacing company in Salt Lake City that showcased its sustainable materials at Wednesday's conference.

But Herbert is not daunted.

"I certainly believe that as we all do a little, we can save and improve a lot," Herbert said.

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