I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 292 
To improve energy and water efficiencies and conservation throughout the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2009 
Mr. BUYER (for himself, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. WALZ, Mr. BROWN of South 
Carolina, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. HARE, Mr. 
BUCHANAN, and Mr. MILLER of Florida) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve energy and water efficiencies and conservation 
throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability 
Act of 2009’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Department of Veteran Affairs Sustainability Program. 
Sec. 3. Database on energy and water usage and expenditures. 
Sec. 4. Annual energy usage audit requirements. 
Sec. 5. Office of Energy Management. 
Sec. 6. Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability. 
Sec. 7. Compliance with Executive Order 13423 and Department of Veterans 
Affairs Directive 0055. 
Sec. 8. Report on installation of fueling stations for alternative fuels. 
Sec. 9. Installation of energy efficient and renewable energy systems in Depart-
ment buildings. 
Sec. 10. Use of electrical sub-metering of buildings of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
Sec. 11. Energy Star acquisition requirements. 
Sec. 12. Grants for adaptive housing to encourage use of high efficiency sys-
tems and products and other energy reduction items. 
Sec. 13. Grants for adaptive vehicles to encourage purchase of alternative fuel 
vehicles. 
Sec. 14. Study on water and energy consumption by National Cemetery Admin-
istration. 
Sec. 15. Use by Department of Veterans Affairs of expertise of the national 
laboratories regarding energy and water efficient technologies. 
Sec. 16. Pilot program for the sale of air pollution emission reduction incentives 
and retention of proceeds from sales. 
Sec. 17. Submission of reports to Congress by Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
electronic form. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS SUSTAIN-
ABILITY PROGRAM. 
(a) SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.—Not later than two 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall implement a comprehen-
sive program (to be known as the ‘‘Energy Sustainability 
Program’’) throughout the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs for the purpose of using resources in a manner so 
that the resources are used in a manner that minimizes 
consumption and encourages the use of alternative sources 
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of energy while still meeting the responsibilities of the De-
partment. 
(b) GOALS OF PROGRAM.—The goals of the Sustain-
ability Program are— 
(1) to reduce overall energy consumption by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, per unit of measure 
determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 
(2) to reduce overall water usage by each of the 
Veterans Health Administration, National Cemetery 
Administration, and Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion, per unit of measure determined by the Sec-
retary; 
(3) to reduce the non-bio hazard and non-toxic 
waste stream generated by activities of the Depart-
ment; 
(4) to increase, whenever appropriate, the use 
of products that promote and support an integrated 
approach to sustainability; and 
(5) to cooperate to the maximum extent pos-
sible with State and local jurisdictions in matters of 
sustainability. 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall take immediate action to inform all personnel of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs about the need for the 
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Sustainability Program and its goals and to encourage 
feedback from Department personnel. 
(d) MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a manage-
ment organization, to be led by the Assistant Secretary 
for Management, to develop the Sustainability Program. 
To assist the management organization, the Secretary 
shall appoint an advisory committee, to be comprised of 
Government employees, private persons, and industry offi-
cials with experience and expertise in developing sustain-
ability programs. 
(e) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) PLAN REQUIRED.—As part of the Energy 
Sustainability Program, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall develop a strategic plan for energy sus-
tainability for the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the progress made by the Secretary in developing 
the plan required by subsection (a). 
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SEC. 3. DATABASE ON ENERGY AND WATER USAGE AND EX-
PENDITURES. 
(a) DATABASE REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall establish and maintain a database to 
track and report on energy and water expenditures by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. The database will provide 
a baseline to compare changes in Department energy and 
water expenditures. 
(b) DATABASE CATEGORIES.—At a minimum in 
maintaining the database, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall maintain summary statistics by facility type, 
major census region, size and age of facility, and energy 
and water source. In the case of health care facilities, the 
Secretary shall use subcategories of inpatient, outpatient, 
nursing home, and domiciliary care. Data on energy 
sources shall include the percentage of energy supplied by 
petroleum, natural gas, coal, and alternative energy. 
SEC. 4. ANNUAL ENERGY USAGE AUDIT REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) BASELINE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2010, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall complete an audit of energy usage by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs during fiscal year 
2010. 
(2) SUBMISSION.—Not later than March 30, 
2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, in 
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electronic form, a report containing the results of 
the energy audit. 
(3) USE.—The energy audit shall serve as a 
baseline for the Sustainability Program required by 
section 2 and identify the potential impact of the 
Sustainability Program on the budget of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) ANNUAL ENERGY AUDIT UPDATE
AND RE-
PORT.—As part of the annual report required to be sub-
mitted under section 546(e)(b) of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by section 5, the Secretary shall include 
a report comparing energy usage by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs during the last fiscal year that ended be-
fore the submission of the report to the fiscal year 2010 
baseline. 
SEC. 5. OFFICE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—Chapter 3 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 323. Office of Energy Management 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 
an Office of Energy Management. 
‘‘(b) HEAD.—There is at the head of the Office a Di-
rector, who shall be a Deputy Assistant Secretary. The 
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