The overall majority of public works construction projects in Japan nowadays include an overall greatest value assessment or are conducted using a (technical) proposal method/Comprehensive Evaluation Bidding Method. For ESCO Projects it is more specifically for projects where suppliers provide comprehensive energy-saving designs for public buildings. The designs need to ensure a reduction in expenditures for ulitilies such as electricity, fuel) that is greater tha the cost needed to design, install and maintain the structure and equipment in the building.

There are also two variations of ESCO-projects identified by ENV:

• Equipment replacement type projects
• Bulk-Type projects (bundling of multiple public facilities as a single ESCO project)