2. Federal contracts for energy-saving retrofits. The National Energy Conservation Policy Act, first made law in 1978 and regularly updated, requires that federal buildings must reduce their energy intensity by 30 percent in 2015, compared to 2003 levels. To help meet that mandate, federal agencies are required to conduct energy audits to see where efficiency upgrades are needed most. This amendment would allow the DOE to use funds from the budget to perform such audits. Sponsor: Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.)

"The point of this amendment is to have [federal agencies] that have already been directed to do the energy audit to get on with it," Welch told the House.