U.S. Department of Energy Announces Energy Savings Performance Contracting Campaign
New Initiative Will Advance Critical Investments in Public Buildings to Reduce Energy Costs, Create Jobs, Cut Emissions Across the Nation, and Achieve $1 Billion in Measured and Verified Savings
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is opening enrollment for the Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign, which will help public building owners pay for today’s building upgrades with tomorrow’s guaranteed energy savings. The ESPC Campaign is a voluntary initiative that engages and supports state and local governments, universities and colleges, school districts, hospitals, and other market stakeholders in expanding and enhancing the use of ESPC to modernize public buildings. Participants can access expert-led training, peer exchange opportunities, and other resources and tools to support best practice approaches for ESPC projects and state programs to drive sustainable long-term impact. Today’s announcement underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued efforts to enhance the efficiency and resilience of public buildings and grow our clean energy industry. This initiative will support progress toward state and local environmental and economic goals, while creating healthier indoor environments and saving taxpayer dollars.
“Around the country, cash-strapped facility owners are often forced to kick building and energy efficiency upgrade plans down the road,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The ESPC Campaign brings shared resources and best practice approaches to pay for healthier, more efficient buildings instead of utility bills. It’s a win for underserved communities, for the environment, and for everyone’s wallet.”
ESPC provides a budget neutral approach to pay for infrastructure investments that reduce energy waste and pollution and save taxpayers money. Today’s call for enrollment will set participants on a course to achieving $1 billion in measured and verified savings from energy savings performance contracts by 2030. This goal represents a significant investment in public building energy improvements while aligning with the cornerstone of an energy savings performance contract, the savings guarantee, and serves to quantify and demonstrate the value of these energy efficiency investments.
Through this initiative, partners will maximize the energy, environmental and cost savings benefits of facility upgrades by leveraging existing programs from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act in addition to other federal, state and local funding and financing resources.
Led by the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP), the ESPC Campaign engages both public and private sector stakeholders through participant and supporter partnership pathways to support, expand, and enhance ESPC and cultivate a network of experienced ESPC practitioners.
For more information, visit the ESPC Campaign webpage.