Texas A&M Forest Service

PROGRESS REPORT

Texas A&M Forest Service practices energy conservation methods and standards. All new construction is well insulated in both the walls and ceiling. Texas A&M Forest Service’s energy cost intensity (ECI) average based on 2025 data was $1.36 per square foot for property owned by the agency. Based on the most recent available data, the national average for office buildings is $1.70 per square foot.

Texas A&M Forest Service completed the following repair and replacement projects during fiscal 2025:

1. Replaced office flooring at the New Boston office.
2. Installed new insulation for Palestine shop.

The following repair and replacement projects are planned for fiscal 2026:

1. Repair roof and replace windows at the Idalou office.
2. Replace lighting with LED lighting at the Kountze and Huntsville offices.
3. Repair ceiling at the Carthage office.

Texas A&M Forest Service replaced 30 vehicles with new more fuel-efficient vehicles during fiscal 2025.

GOALS

Texas A&M Forest Service has a dispersed workforce, with most staff located in very small offices. Consumption of water and natural gas is very low and there are no opportunities to demonstrably and cost-effectively impact their consumption.

The agency has over the years implemented cost-effective strategies to reduce electricity consumption at its facilities. Given the small size of the agency-owned facilities and the low level of electrical consumption, there are no cost-effective opportunities to demonstrably affect electricity usage.

With regard to transportation fuels, Texas A&M Forest Service is an emergency response agency that responds to wildfires under its statutory mission and to all other hazards and emergencies (e.g., hurricanes, floods, tornados, ice storms, etc.) under the direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Fuel consumption levels are highly correlated to the level of emergency response activity each year. Given the rural and remote areas where much of the emergency response activities occur, and the fact that vehicles have to be able to go off-road, utilization of alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient vehicle types is not operationally feasible. There are no operationally feasible options to demonstrably reduce fuel consumption.

STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS

Not applicable. There are no cost effective/operationally feasible strategies to be implemented.

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Not applicable

AGENCY FINANCE STRATEGY

Not applicable

EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN

Not applicable