July 28, 2003
VA Handbook 0055
with oversight and guidance from a central energy board.
d. To ensure that the CAA process is current, administrations and staff offices are required
to contract for CAA for all energy-consuming assets to be updated on a regular (but no less
then annual) basis, through independent consultants. The original CAA and the updates will
be the basis for commodity acquisition actions by the regional energy boards.
e. The criteria for prioritizing energy investments for each administration and staff office
will be based on energy consumption, coordination with other studies, low scoring facilities for
the Energy Star buildings, and meeting the energy audit cycle requirements.
f.
All administrations and staff offices will conduct annual utility audits to reconcile
consumption and costs associated with matching utility bills. Also, these audits will verify that
a facility is paying the rates agreed to in contracts between VA and the utility provider.
g. A central energy board will be created, comprised of the designated energy liaisons for
each administration and staff office. This board will be responsible for establishing policies,
procedures and guidelines for the regional energy boards.
h. Regional energy boards will be created, comprised of designated board members from
each administration and staff office, located within the designated region (number and
locations to be determined). These boards will be responsible for the administration and
implementation of policies, procedures, and guidelines set forth by the central energy board.
3. ENERGY INVESTMENTS. Energy investments will aid in fully accomplishing the goals and
requirements of the energy conservation program. The energy investment strategies will be
accomplished through financial decisions ranging from the use of appropriated funds (major
construction, minor construction, non-recurring maintenance) to third-party alternative
financing (enhanced-use leases, energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), and utility
energy savings contracts). A five-step energy investment process is outlined as follows:
1
Commodity acquisition best practices will be developed through an ongoing pilot program.
2
More information on Energy Boards can be found in paragraph 5 of the handbook.
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