Consultation on Energy Savings Performance Contracting

As local officials investigate utilizing Energy Service Companies, CAER’s staff will serve as a liaison/project manager on the local government’s behalf. This will include participating in initial meetings between the ESC and government officials, providing explanations of technical matters and analyzing proposals from ESCs. CAER can provide the facility owner information on benefits and potential risks involved in performance contracting. CAER can facilitate conversations between officials with completed or underway energy saving performance contracting projects and ones considering undertaking a project. Such conversations may result in site visits to the completed or underway project site and discussions with the ESCO as well as local officials. CAER will be available to arrange such visits and participate as necessary. In the event the considering agency is unable to travel, CAER is able to conduct visits on behalf of the considering agency and provide written documentation to all parties as necessary. CAER can advise facility owners on possible ESCO requirements related to the project building’s use, function, occupancy and other unanticipated necessities. A theoretical example is the ESCO contract guarantees the prescribed energy savings only if such building is operated and occupied under the contract’s provision. In the event the building’s occupancy is increased or is used for additional or alternative purposes during the contract period, unforeseen contract repercussion may ensue that may void the contract and hold the owner liable for the ESCO’s incurred expenses and profit. CAER will work with trusted associations to develop and deliver technical assistance to develop, to the extent practical, standardized materials (e.g. RFPs and contracts) and processes, but also help with procurement, vendor selection, negotiation of contracts, assessments, monitoring and verification, etc. CAER under the Local Government Energy Retrofit Program will strive to participate in at least three city and three county ESPCs funded through partner KLC’s and KACo’s facility bonding pool that will implement strategies to promote a comprehensive whole-building approach to energy efficiency and conservation retrofits and upgrades. Program success will be reported and a guide to energy saving performance contracting for local governments will be published. Other goals of LGERP are to raise awareness of energy efficiency opportunities in local government facilities reducing the use of energy in local public facilities, increase awareness of funding mechanisms available to public entities for energy efficiency activities and create a model easily replicated in other states.