Bill Text: HI HB2321 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: School Construction; School Renovation; Alternative Energy Design

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-22 - (H) Referred to EDN, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 4 [HB2321 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB2321-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2321
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ENERGY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds despite Hawaii's unique advantage in consistent access to alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, the State remains about ninety per cent dependent on imported fossil fuels.  State facilities, including public schools, are a major consumer of resources such as water and electricity.  Compared to traditional schools, green schools can create healthier environments that are conducive to learning while saving energy, resources, and money.

     Nationally, many schools are increasingly demonstrating environmental responsibility and realizing cost savings through green building.  The U.S. green building council has established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for schools rating system as a tool to set standards for the design and construction of schools.  The LEED for schools rating system scores school buildings in the areas of sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.  Waipahu intermediate school's cafeteria, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine, Case middle school (Punahou School), Hawaii Baptist Academy middle school, and Ewa makai middle school are the schools and school projects that have already been LEED certified or registered to attain LEED certification.  The legislature finds that expanding alternative energy use in more of Hawaii's public school buildings is the next important step in reducing Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels and energy costs in the long term.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to incorporate alternative energy use designs into the construction of new schools and into major renovations to existing schools.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, part VI, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A‑    School construction and renovation; alternative energy design requirement.  The department shall implement alternative energy designs for the construction of all new school buildings and school renovations exceeding $           for which the planning and design of the project begins on or after July 1, 2010.  Alternative energy use in newly constructed or renovated school buildings under this section shall generate a minimum of       per cent of the building's total energy consumption.

     For purposes of this section, "alternative energy designs" means building plans that use geothermal, solar, wind, ocean power, or biomass and solid waste energy as the dominant sources of energy generation for the building or facility."

     SECTION 3.  Section 36-35, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

     "(f)  The superintendent of education shall ensure that all repair and maintenance projects achieve maximum cost-efficiency by emphasizing functional or performance criteria, conformance to alternative energy design requirements under section 302A‑  , uniformity of design, and commonality of products, and by avoiding unique or custom requirements that increase long-term costs.  The superintendent of education shall develop project specifications based on generic specifications or prescriptive specifications using standard commercial products.  Prescriptive specifications may include a qualified product list.

     For the purposes of this subsection:

     "Generic specification" means a technical specification that is written in a clear, unambiguous, and nonrestrictive manner establishing:

     (1)  Design, performance, or functional requirements to identify the work to be performed; and

     (2)  Material standards to be used on a project.

     "Prescriptive specification" means a technical specification:

     (1)  Establishing that the required work to be performed is written in a clear, unambiguous, and nonrestrictive manner; and

     (2)  Listing manufacturers or products that are acceptable for use on the project.

     "Standard commercial product" means a product or material that in the normal course of business is customarily maintained in stock by, or readily available for marketing from a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer.

     This subsection shall not apply to any school facility designated a historic property pursuant to section 6E-5.5."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

School Construction; School Renovation; Alternative Energy Design

 

Description:

Requires the department of education to incorporate alternative energy designs into the construction of new schools and major renovations at existing schools for which planning and design begins on or after July 1, 2010.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.