OA Outlines Goals to Drop Energy Costs

Jefferson City - Responding to Gov. Matt Blunt’s request to improve energy conservation at all state facilities, Office of Administration (OA) Commissioner Michael Keathley and Director of Facilities Management, Design & Construction David Mosby submitted a letter to Blunt outlining their goals for state energy conservation. 

            “Maximizing our energy conservation allows us to be good stewards of limited resources – both natural and fiscal,” Keathley said.  “Improving efficiency, making the most of all we have, is paramount as we work to ensure the state is using every taxpayer dollar to its greatest advantage.”

            In FY00 the state spent $48 million on utility costs.  That number climbed to $66 million in FY05.  The increase represented a 37 percent growth, and OA officials are confident the state can reduce their energy use.

            Their letter reads, “These goals…would have an immediate impact on controlling the inflationary spiral of the state’s utility bill.  We believe that within 12 months of the implementation of this plan there would be a noticeable reduction in the amount of energy used in the state.”

OA’s objectives include:

• Establish a program for an energy analysis for all state facilities in order to identify opportunities to conserve energy;
• Establish a program that requires regular maintenance on all lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems;
• Create an ongoing program to conduct energy audits and install energy efficient equipment;
• Dedicate up to 10 percent of each year’s Facility Maintenance Reserve Fund to finance energy projects;
• Develop partnerships with local utilities to investigate opportunities to bundle the purchase of utilities at reduced rates;
• Develop partnerships with utilities to develop opportunities for co-generation and combined heat and power systems. 

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