Bill Text: VA SB832 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

Virginia Senate Bill 832 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Green Public Buildings Act; definitions, building standards.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-02-22 - House: Left in General Laws [SB832 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2011-SB832-Comm_Sub.html

11104162D
SENATE BILL NO. 832 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology on January 26, 2011) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Petersen) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183, relating to the Green Public Buildings Act.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183, as follows:

Article 8. Green Public Buildings Act.

§ 2.2-1182. Short title; definitions.

A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the Green Public Buildings Act.

B. As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Green building certification program" means a public building design, construction, and renovation program that meets the requirements of VEES.

"VEES" means the Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards developed by the Department of General Services considering the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED) green building rating standard, the Green Building Initiative "Green Globes" building standard, and other appropriate requirements.

§ 2.2-1183. Building standards; exemption.

A. Any executive branch agency or institution entering the design phase for construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or renovating such a building where the cost of renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, shall conform to VEES and the buildings shall be designed, constructed, verified, and operated to achieve the green buildings certification program targets for new construction and major renovation as defined in VEES.

B. The Director of the Department of General Services may grant an exemption from the design and construction standards required by subsection A upon a finding of special circumstances that make construction or renovation to the standards impracticable.