Department of Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6937
Sponsor: Rep. Buyer, Steve [R-IN-4]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air pollution control
Alternative energy sources
Armed Forces and National Security
Cemeteries and funerals
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disabled
Electric appliances
Electric vehicles
Electronic government information
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Executive orders
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal office buildings
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Governmental investigations
Health
Heating
Housing and Community Development
Housing for the disabled
Lighting
Natural gas vehicles
Science, Technology, Communications
Service stations
Solar energy
Technology assessment
Transportation and the disabled
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' hospitals
Waste reduction
Water Resources Development
Water conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Department of Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) implement in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an energy sustainability program to minimize energy consumption and encourage the use of alternative energy sources; (2) establish and maintain a database to track and report on VA energy and water expenditures; (3) complete an audit of VA energy usage during FY2009; (4) ensure VA compliance with an Executive Order and VA Directive concerning energy efficiency goals and objectives; (5) install alternative fueling stations on at least 35 VA medical facility campuses; (6) submit to Congress a plan for increasing the use of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies in VA facilities and operations; (7) provide for the installation of individual electric sub-metering equipment at VA facilities; (8) ensure that energy-efficient products meeting VA requirements are purchased whenever the VA purchases items that consume electricity; and (9) conduct a study on water and fuel consumption by the National Cemetery Administration and ways to reduce such consumption.
 
Establishes in the VA: (1) an Office of Energy Management; and (2) the Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability.
 
Authorizes an increase in the dollar limit of VA grants for: (1) adaptive housing to encourage the use of high-efficiency systems and products or other energy-use reduction items; and (2) adaptive vehicles to encourage the purchase of alternative use vehicles.
 
Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy to enter into a memorandum of understanding to improve and facilitate the use of expertise of the national laboratories to evaluate energy- and water-efficient technologies for use by the VA. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to sell economic incentives that reduce the emission of air pollutants attributable to a VA facility.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1836)
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House