MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s auditor says the state government is failing to save energy and make state buildings more efficient.
In 2014, state lawmakers required the state government to conduct efficiency upgrades in state buildings, addressing wasteful spending in state government and cutting pollution.
But a new audit shows the Department of Buildings and General Services is not even tracking its progress in making buildings efficient. In the last three years, the audit shows that only five projects have been accomplished out of hundreds of buildings.
The audit also says BGS overstated about $1.6 million in savings.
“When then you find out that those savings were fantastical, people didn’t have the ability to say, ‘Whoa, something’s not right. This is not what we hoped to see from this program.’ I hope the audit reignites the conversation from the Legislature and the governor’s office to say we have to save taxpayers money in this way,” Deputy Vt. Auditor Tim Ashe said.
WCAX News reached out to the Department of Buildings and General Services and we are awaiting a response.
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