42 U.S.C. § 8256 — Incentives for agencies

(a) Contracts — (1) Each agency must set up a program of incentives that reward saving energy through contracts made under subchapter VII of this chapter. (2) Within 18 months of October 24, 1992, the Secretary, after talking with the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of Defense, and the General Services Administration, had to create procedures for agencies to use these incentives. (b) Federal Energy Efficiency Fund — (1) The Secretary must set up a Federal Energy Efficiency Fund that gives grants to help agencies meet the energy requirements in section 8253. (2) By June 30, 1993, the Secretary had to issue guidelines for agencies applying for these grants; every agency can apply. (3) The Secretary awards grants after comparing how technically and economically effective each agency's proposal is, weighing: (A) how cost-effective the project is; (B) how much energy and money it would save the federal government; (C) how much funding the agency itself is putting in; (D) how much the proposal brings in financing from non-federal sources; and (E) any other factor that would produce the biggest energy and cost savings. (4) Congress authorized up to $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and whatever is needed for later years, to fund this Fund. (c) Utility incentive programs — (1) Agencies are allowed and encouraged to join efficiency and water-conservation or demand-management programs run by gas, water, or electric utilities that are open to the utility's regular customers. (2) Agencies may accept financial incentives, goods, or services that the utility generally offers, to boost efficiency or manage water or electricity demand. (3) Agencies are encouraged to negotiate with utilities to design incentive programs that fit their own facilities' needs. (4) If an agency meets the same criteria as other customers, the utility cannot refuse to give it rebates or other incentives. (d) Financial incentive program for facility energy managers — (1) The Secretary, working with the Interagency Energy Management Task Force, must create a bonus program that rewards outstanding federal facility energy managers, in agencies and at the Postal Service. (2) By June 1, 1993, the Secretary had to set the rules for this award program, including how to pick winners — people who have (A) improved energy performance through efficiency; (B) put proven efficiency and conservation methods into practice; (C) built training programs for energy staff; (D) built employee-awareness programs; (E) generated utility incentives and approved performance-based energy savings contracts; (F) worked to meet energy-reduction laws, including section 8253; and (G) succeeded in carrying out the guidelines under section 8262e. (3) Congress authorized up to $250,000 for this bonus program for each of fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995. (e) Retention of energy and water savings — An agency may keep money that Congress gave it for energy, water, or wastewater treatment costs, at buildings covered by section 8253(a) and (b), if that money was not spent because of energy or water savings. Unless another law says otherwise, the agency can only use these kept savings for energy efficiency, water conservation, or projects using unconventional or renewable energy. These projects must also follow the rules in section 3307 of title 40.