HR0929 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0929 LRB093 22143 BDD 50909 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Improvements in the energy efficiency of institutional buildings will provide short-term and long-term operating cost reductions, reduce the overall use of energy in Illinois, and improve building comfort; and

WHEREAS, Reducing the use of energy promotes the reduction of air pollution from power plants and green house emissions and saves important environmental resources; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' public universities should lead by example in promoting the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency measures; and

WHEREAS, Public universities use more than 50% of the energy consumed by State government, therefore cost savings through improvements in energy efficiency and conservation could make additional funds available for education programs at universities; and

WHEREAS, The Public University Energy Conservation Act authorizes public universities to enter into guaranteed energy savings contracts or energy performance contracts for preliminary analyses, recommendations of energy conservation measures, implementation of these measures, and monitoring by the contractor of savings; and

WHEREAS, House Resolution 222 (2003) directed the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (Department) to assess energy conservation measures taken at each of the State's public universities; after documenting energy consumption and cost data for each of the State's public universities since 1995, the Department concluded that the universities could save an estimated $18 to $25 million a year in energy costs; and

WHEREAS, The Department's principal recommendation, in its January 2004 Report to the General Assembly, is that the State's public universities should adopt a shared uniform total utility management plan to reliably track energy information and enable quick analysis for continuous efficiency and purchasing improvements; the implementation of such a plan would allow for easily identifiable improvements that would result in significant savings for the State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the State's public universities are encouraged, with the advice of the Department, to prepare an energy efficiency and conservation plan for their buildings that sets specific annual efficiency goals for 3-year periods; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the State's public universities to cooperate with the State Board of Higher Education and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to prepare a request for funding proposal to develop an energy efficiency and conservation plan for the State's public universities and then submit the proposal to the Illinois Clean Energy Community Trust for funding; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Director of the Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Executive Director of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Trust, and the Board of Trustees of each public university in the State.