July 17, 1998

The U.S. Department of Energy's Value Engineering Program

Value Engineering (VE) is defined as the organized analysis of the functions of a program, project, system product, item or equipment, building, facility, service, or supply of an executive agency. This analysis reduces these functions to their most basic elements and then looks for cost-efficient alternatives. VE contributes to the overall management objectives of streamlining operations, improving performance, reliability, quality, safety and reducing life-cycle costs. Further, it can result in the increased use of environmentally-sound and energy-efficient practices and materials. VE benefits have been documented by the General Accounting Office, which reported that VE usually produces a net savings of 3 to 5 percent of project costs.