093_HR0222

 
                                     LRB093 11375 HSS 13714 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The State has a number of unique climate  types,
 3    all  of  which  require  energy for both cooling and heating;
 4    there are many cost-effective measures that can  reduce  peak
 5    energy  use  and  reduce  cooling,  heating, and other energy
 6    costs in buildings; and

 7        WHEREAS,  Improvements  in  the  energy   efficiency   of
 8    institutional buildings will provide long-term operating cost
 9    reductions  and reduce the overall use of energy in Illinois;
10    and

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

14        WHEREAS,  The  American  Council   for   Energy-Efficient
15    Economy  projects  that  if  steps  are taken in the State to
16    improve energy efficiency, it  would  reduce  overall  energy
17    spending and generate a positive cost benefit ratio; and

18        WHEREAS,  The  Government Buildings Energy Cost Reduction
19    Act of 1991 is intended  to  reduce  energy  consumption  and
20    costs   by   promoting   energy  conservation  in  government
21    buildings, including public universities; the Act created  an
22    Interagency  Energy Conservation Committee, consisting of the
23    Secretary  of  Human  Services,  the  Directors  of   Central
24    Management  Services and Corrections, the Executive Directors
25    of the Illinois Board of Higher  Education  and  the  Capital
26    Development  Board, and chaired by the Department of Commerce
27    and Economic Opportunity  (formerly  Commerce  and  Community
28    Affairs); and

29        WHEREAS,  The  Interagency  Energy Conservation Committee
30    publishes an annual assessment of  opportunities  for  energy
31    cost  reduction  in  state-owned  and  leased  buildings  and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11375 HSS 13714 r
 1    designated  facilities,  including  public  universities, and
 2    reports to the Governor and General Assembly every 2 years on
 3    the status of energy cost reduction in government  buildings;
 4    and

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

11        WHEREAS,   The   Department   of  Commerce  and  Economic
12    Opportunity provides  matching  technical  assistance  grants
13    that  are  designed  to  help  local  schools,  colleges, and
14    universities   finance   comprehensive   studies   to    find
15    opportunities  for energy conservation and to implement those
16    measures; the institution and DCEO share  the  cost  equally;
17    therefore, be it

18        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
19    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
20    the  Department  of  Commerce  and  Economic  Opportunity  is
21    directed to assess energy conservation measures taken at each
22    of the State's public universities since 1995, and report its
23    findings  to  the General Assembly by January 1, 2004; and be
24    it further

25        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
26    presented   to   the   Director   of  Commerce  and  Economic
27    Opportunity and the Executive Director of the Illinois  Board
28    of Higher Education.