HR0929 LRB093 22143 BDD 50909 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Improvements in the energy efficiency of
3 institutional buildings will provide short-term and long-term
4 operating cost reductions, reduce the overall use of energy in
5 Illinois, and improve building comfort; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Reducing the use of energy promotes the reduction
7 of air pollution from power plants and green house emissions
8 and saves important environmental resources; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Illinois' public universities should lead by
10 example in promoting the implementation of cost-effective
11 energy efficiency measures; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Public universities use more than 50% of the
13 energy consumed by State government, therefore cost savings
14 through improvements in energy efficiency and conservation
15 could make additional funds available for education programs at
16 universities; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The Public University Energy Conservation Act
18 authorizes public universities to enter into guaranteed energy
19 savings contracts or energy performance contracts for
20 preliminary analyses, recommendations of energy conservation
21 measures, implementation of these measures, and monitoring by
22 the contractor of savings; and
 
23     WHEREAS, House Resolution 222 (2003) directed the
24 Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (Department)
25 to assess energy conservation measures taken at each of the
26 State's public universities; after documenting energy
27 consumption and cost data for each of the State's public
28 universities since 1995, the Department concluded that the
29 universities could save an estimated $18 to $25 million a year
30 in energy costs; and
 

 

 

HR0929 - 2 - LRB093 22143 BDD 50909 r

1     WHEREAS, The Department's principal recommendation, in its
2 January 2004 Report to the General Assembly, is that the
3 State's public universities should adopt a shared uniform total
4 utility management plan to reliably track energy information
5 and enable quick analysis for continuous efficiency and
6 purchasing improvements; the implementation of such a plan
7 would allow for easily identifiable improvements that would
8 result in significant savings for the State; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 the State's public universities are encouraged, with the advice
12 of the Department, to prepare an energy efficiency and
13 conservation plan for their buildings that sets specific annual
14 efficiency goals for 3-year periods; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That we urge the State's public universities to
16 cooperate with the State Board of Higher Education and
17 Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to prepare a
18 request for funding proposal to develop an energy efficiency
19 and conservation plan for the State's public universities and
20 then submit the proposal to the Illinois Clean Energy Community
21 Trust for funding; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23 presented to the Director of the Commerce and Economic
24 Opportunity, the Executive Director of the Illinois Board of
25 Higher Education, the Executive Director of the Illinois Clean
26 Energy Community Trust, and the Board of Trustees of each
27 public university in the State.